Undisputed Value is a series that identifies every NFL team's best contract, factoring in dollar value, term, and the player's past and future performance, among other criteria.
Players on rookie contracts aren't being considered.
AFC Best Contracts
East | North | South | West
NFC Best Contracts
East | North | South | West
Atlanta Falcons
Alex Mack
Pos: C | Exp: 8th season
2016 stats: 2 holding penalties, 1 sack allowed
2016 cap hit: $4,050,000
Mack was one of the more underrated offseason signings, as he has stabilized the Falcons' offensive line. The 10th-highest paid center in the game could have made more money staying in Cleveland, but agreed to a five-year, $45-million deal with the Falcons. Atlanta will only get this value for one season, however, as his cap hit climbs to $9 million next season and north of $10 million the three years after.
Carolina Panthers
Greg Olsen
Pos: TE | Exp: 10th season
2016 stats: 40 catches, 621 receiving yards, 2 TDs
2016 cap hit: $5,100,000
There are not 11 tight ends playing better than Olsen, but there are 11 at his position being paid more than him. He leads the Panthers in receiving and is performing like the best tight end in the league not named Rob Gronkowski. The 31-year-old is thriving later in his career - and he's due to be paid for it, too. His cap hit doubles to $10.3 million next season.
New Orleans Saints
Nick Fairley
Pos: DT | Exp: 6th season
2016 stats: 21 tackles, 3.5 sacks
2016 cap hit: $1,510,000
The Saints are lacking in a lot of areas on defense. They desperately need someone to get to the quarterback, and thankfully, their free-agent signee Fairley has. Fairley leads the team with 3.5 sacks in his first year in New Orleans. The Saints signed him to a one-year, prove-it deal, which was designed as a three-year contract with his signing bonus spread out over the course of the deal.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jacquizz Rodgers
Pos: RB | Exp: 5th season
2016 stats: 393 rushing yards, 4.5 YPC, 1 TD
2016 cap hit: $715,294
Tampa Bay picked Rodgers up off the scrap heap and proceeded to run him 75 times in three games for 324 yards. The Bucs had no idea they would come to rely on the fifth-year rusher to be their lead back for three weeks, but he provided starter's numbers in helping the team to two wins. That's undisputed value.
(Contract details courtesy: Spotrac)
