Yet the Las Vegas Raiders signed him to a three-year, $21 million deal with a $7 million salary-cap hit in his first season with the organization.The 24-year-old continues to stuff the stat sheet while operating under a third-round rookie contract with the 62nd-highest salary-cap hit among off-ball linebackers for the '20 campaign.The Steelers defense went from an average unit to a dominant one with Fitzpatrick serving as a playmaker at all three levels.As a performer, King is an outstanding nickel corner and doubles as a second-team All-Pro punt returner.Phillip Lindsay should be slightly miffed by the Denver Broncos' offseason direction.The '19 first-team All-Pro's $10 million salary-cap hit for the '20 season ranks 10th among off-ball linebackers. Maye is scheduled to make $1.4 million in the final year of his rookie contract. He's turned out to be an excellent three-down linebacker and an ideal defender for today's game.The Atlanta Falcons spent the 26th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft to acquire Ridley, who hasn't disappointed. Jamal Adams may be the New York Jets safety creating all the headlines, but fellow 2017 draftee Marcus Maye deserves more attention for his level of play and contract status. The Panthers should be happy Moton is on the roster with a meager $1.3 million salary-cap hit this fall.The Bears drafted Smith with the eighth overall pick in 2018. Over the next two seasons, the Titans will have a top target whose salary-cap hits combine for $2.8 million.Neither of those supposed issues became problematic during his rookie campaign. Marcus Maye is coming off one of the best seasons of his career after an injury-plagued 2018 left him with just six games. Kendricks won't even be the highest-paid linebacker on the Vikings roster this fall; Anthony Barr will be.More actual money will go to Chase Daniel and A.J. with the ability to stretch the field and demand safety help.Nick Chubb is easily one of the NFL's best running backs, but he's not paid like it and probably won't be for some time.More importantly, the 2018 third-round pick is a complete defender who consistently disrupts both opposing ground and passing attacks.New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara wasn't included among those considered potential holdout candidates. Last year’s ranking: 14. A long-term deal is more likely once Dunlap is off the books after the '21 campaign since the franchise's all-time leader in sacks has a salary-cap hit above $10 million for the next two seasons.Patrick Mahomes' current contract is the best deal in all of professional sports.Donald, DeForest Buckner, Chris Jones, D.J. But he and the team have yet to reach that point.T.J. Adams serves as Mr. Everything, and the former 39th overall pick excels working along the back line as an eraser for any mistakes made in front of him.As such, the majority of the best-value contracts will belong to players still in their first four seasons.Compared to other receivers, those numbers aren't overly impressive.
Jets safety Marcus Maye, 27, is two years older than the typical NFL player nearing the end of his rookie contract. He seems to be a team guy. Running back David Johnson, whom the Texans received in return, has a cap number of $11.2 million. Veterans Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard are more effective working out of the slot, whereas Slayton is a slightly bigger target (6'1", 190 lbs.) Thankfully, the team should be able to rely on its inexpensive top target as Dwayne Haskins continues his development to form an exciting young duo.Often lost among the wonderful story that is the Griffin twins playing together for the Seattle Seahawks is the fact Shaquill Griffin is one of the league's best young cornerbacks.The 36th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft carries a $2.2 million salary-cap hit this season, the final year of his rookie contract.Despite all of Lindsay's early accomplishments, the Broncos signed fellow running back Melvin Gordon III to a two-year, $16 million free-agent contract.The Miami Dolphins are a young team in the middle of a rebuild with decisions to make at multiple positions, specifically those deserving of contract extensions.The 2017 third-round pick has a chance to establish an identity this fall, even after making his first Pro Bowl in 2019.The beauty of a rookie breaking out so early is the team can't even approach him about an extension until after his third year in the league.