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
Baltimore Ravens
Mike Wallace
Pos: WR | Exp: 8th season
2016 stats: 35 catches, 490 yards, 3 TDs
2016 cap hit: $3,500,000
The Ravens found a real bargain with Wallace, who flamed out with both the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings and was considered damaged goods. So far Ozzie Newsome's team has gotten more than it paid for. Wallace and Joe Flacco have developed great chemistry, with Flacco's big arm complementing Wallace's downfield prowess. The Ravens have a club option to retain Wallace at a cap hit of $8 million next season. They might consider exercising it.
Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton
Pos: QB | Exp: 6th season
2016 stats: 2,349 passing yards, 9 TDs, 3 INTs
2016 cap hit: $13,100,000
Remember the uproar when Dalton signed a six-year, $96-million extension in 2014? That deal looks pretty good right now. Dalton's 2016 cap hit is well below inferior passers like Alex Smith, Jay Cutler, and Colin Kaepernick. Dalton still hasn't won a playoff game, but he's helped take the Bengals to the postseason every year of his five seasons as a pro. He's underpaid.
Cleveland Browns
Terrelle Pryor
Pos: WR | Exp: 5th season
2016 stats: 41 catches, 532 yards, 3 TDs
2016 cap hit: $1,671,000
The Browns found a true gem in Pryor, a failed quarterback who most teams wrote off. Pryor's transition to wideout has been so fast and so effective he has a strong case for getting a big raise after his one-year deal expires - and maybe before. The Browns should pay him.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Antonio Brown
Pos: WR | Exp: 7th season
2016 stats: 48 catches, 592 yards, 5 TDs
2016 cap hit: $11,883,333
Brown signed a five-year, $41.9-million contract with the Steelers in 2012. He's vastly outplayed that deal and the Steelers know it - they have essentially promised to rip it up and give Brown a raise after this season. To further appease Brown, the Steelers pushed $4 million of his 2017 money into this year. But even with that raise, Brown still ranks ninth among wide receivers in cap hit this year. Arguably the NFL's best pass-catcher, Brown's cap hit is in the range of players like Vincent Jackson and Pierre Garcon.
(Contract details courtesy: Spotrac)
