The final year of the contract can provide more impetus for NFL players to look forward to their next payday. These 25 players will enter that situation in 2022, playing for their next contract.
1 out of 25
Saquon Barkley, RB, Giant
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Barkley has seen injury after injury since winning Attacking Rookie of the Year in 2018. After averaging just 3.7 yards per take last season, he has a big season ahead of him to prove he’s worthy of an important contract.
2 out of 25
Jessie Bates, S, Bengals
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Bates has been franchised by the Bengals, but the two sides have some opportunity to seek a multi-year agreement. He’s the second All-Pro team in 2020, although Bates has shown some inconsistencies last season.
3 out of 25
James Bradberry, CB, Eagle
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Enduring Bradberry is a Pro Bowler with the Giants in 2020 and will try to recover his worth with the Eagles this season. Almost 30 years old, he still has time for another big contract.
4 out of 25
Derek Carr, QB, Raiders
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It’s hard to believe the Raiders will move on from Carr, but Josh McDaniels’ history running the Broncos and killing Jay Cutler shows that anything is possible. Carr won three Pro Bowls and led the Raiders to the knockout stages last season.
5 out of 25
Bradley Chubb, OLB, Broncos
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Chubb’s first four seasons have been plagued with injuries, although he’s already an All-Pro in the rookie season and a Pro Bowler in 2020. Another healthy season will go a long way for him. earn a big day salary.
6 of 25
Marcus Davenport, DE, Saints
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Davenport has finally grown as the Saints hoped, scoring nine bags in just 11 games last season. Proving his endurance could be key to a big deal, as Davenport has yet to play more than 13 games in a season.
7 of 25
Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, Invoice
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Still only 24, Edmunds has established himself as a stellar domestic defender in his first four seasons with two Pro Bowls and more than 100 tackles each season. He should be one of the highest-paid domestic defenders in the league with a good 2022.
8 of 25
Lamar Jackson, QB, Raven
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The Ravens and Jackson have been negotiating long-term contracts for a while, and it’s hard to believe that 2019’s MVP won’t be getting a historic contract sooner or later. However, he played for more money this season until he re-signed.
9 of 25
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers
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Garoppolo will almost certainly be traded this season, as he tries to find the best chance of his walking year. He led the 49ers to deep playoffs in two of the previous three seasons, but injuries and inconsistent play have also hindered Garoppolo. He’s clearly an NFL beginner, though the gameplay up to this point is still far off.
10 of 25
Kareem Hunt, RB, Browns
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However, Hunt found a good partnership with Nick Chubb in the Browns’ backyard, which he missed more than half of last season due to injury. He will need to show more persistence to find significant payoffs next season.
11 of 25
Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders
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Once a first-round pick, Jacobs’ production has gone wrong since he was enlisted in 2019. He’s still 1,200 yards from last season’s script, but Jacobs has to prove it. prove he’s a bull back to freelancing.
12 of 25
Derwin James, S, Charger
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James is back in Pro Bowl form after missing most of 2020 through injury, scoring 118 tackles and two picks last season. He quickly established himself as an elite safe and had another year to increase his worth.
13 of 25
Elgton Jenkins, OG, Packer
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Jenkins has done a great job protecting Aaron Rodgers for three seasons, including the Pro Bowl in 2020. The Keeper is trying to recover from a shortened 2021 season due to injury.
14 of 25
Baker Mayfield, QB, Panthers
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Mayfield was recently traded to Carolina, where he will be competing for the starting job. He is hoping to get another chance at starting after struggling last season with an injury. Mayfield has played good football in the past and can maintain his role as a well-paid player with a good 2022 season.
15 of 25
Mike McGlinchey, RT, 49ers
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McGlinchey has been strong on the right side of San Francisco’s attack for four seasons. The former first-round player entered his final season before being freed after missing much of last year due to injury.
16 of 25
David Montgomery, RB, Bears
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Montgomery has been a reliable bull for the Bears, even though he’s only averaged 3.9 yards per make over three NFL seasons. He will need to show more production this season in a Bad Bears roster to make significant money.
17 of 25
Yannick Ngakoue, DE, Colts
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Ngakoue had another strong year in 2021, scoring 10 achievements for Raid. He is having a more talented defense this season with the Colts, which could allow him to land a bigger deal during this time in free agency.
18 of 25
Quenton Nelson, OG, Colts
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Nelson has been a Pro Bowler in all four of his NFL seasons and is arguably the most dominant player in his position. After missing four games last season, Nelson is hoping to get back on track and earn a contract as the highest-paid keeper in the game.
19 of 25
Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks
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Injuries have plagued Penny in his first three seasons, but the former first-round player was dropped at the end of last season. He’s averaging 6.3 yards per league best practice and will be trying to land a long-term contract with a full production season in 2022.
20 of 25
Jordan Poyer, S, Bills
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Age is not on Poyer’s side at 31, but he has never played better football. Poyer became an All-Pro for the first time last season, with 93 tackles and five interceptions. He will try to repeat in 2022 before entering free agency.
21 of 25
Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles
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Sanders leads a rerun committee in Philadelphia and has averaged an impressive 5.1 yards per take over his three NFL seasons. The Eagles don’t look like they’re going to bring in any big bucks, but that doesn’t mean another team won’t take a hit if Sanders performs well in his walking year.
22 of 25
Roquan Smith, LB, Bears
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Smith is now the face of the Chicago defense following the departures of Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks. He was the second All-Pro team for consecutive seasons, including 163 tackles and three pitches last season. Smith is set for a major contract after this season.
23 of 25
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Chair
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Smith-Schuster played on a one-year contract with Pittsburgh last season but missed most of the year due to a shoulder injury. He’ll try again in 2021, this time with an explosive Chiefs offense. With a year of catching multiple passes from Patrick Mahomes, Smith-Schuster could earn a multi-year contract.
24 of 25
JJ Watt, DE, Cardinal
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Watt is the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, but his recent seasons have been defined more by injuries. He has missed key times in three of the last five seasons, including 2021, but has proven he can still be a top player in his 30s.
25 of 25
Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Raiders
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Ya-Sin has been a solid corner cover for three seasons with the Colts and is set to end his rookie contract in Las Vegas. Helping turn around the struggling Raiders’ second situation will go a long way in earning Ya-Sin a big deal next season.