Analyst names Aaron Rodgers and $55,500,500 Cowboys star among most overpaid NFL stars in 2024
Aaron Rodgers faced an unfortunate situation last year when he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in his first game with the New York Jets. Injuries are a part of the game and can't be fully avoided, but Rodgers' setback completely derailed the Jets' season before it ever really began.
Further complicating the situation is that the franchise went all-in to acquire him from the Green Bay Packers, surrendering significant draft capital in return. They also agreed to pay him a massive contract, including $68.7 million in cap hit across his next two years in New York.
His high salary has resulted in NFL analyst Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report listing Aaron Rodgers as one of the most overpaid players in the NFL in a recent article. He noted that his injury last year had nothing to do with that label for the upcoming 2024 NFL season.
"We can't really hold last year's injury against him, but we're still talking about a 40-year-old who hasn't put up strong numbers since 2021 and will count $68.7 million against the cap in 2024 and 2025," Gagnon wrote.
Aaron Rodgers won two consecutive NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021 before a disappointing final season with the Packers in 2022. He then essentially missed the entire 2023 season with his injury, so it has been two years since he has looked elite. Considering the severity of his injury and his alarming age, Gagnon is suggesting that those days aren't coming back.
This is likely why he is included on this list of the NFL's most overpaid players. Some other notable names jumped off the page, including Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, whose reported salary takes up $55,500,500 of the Cowboys' salary cap.
Dak Prescott joins Aaron Rodgers on most overpaid NFL players list
Aaron Rodgers wasn't the only superstar quarterback included on Bleacher Report's list of the most overpaid players in the NFL. Dak Prescott also made an appearance after another early exit in the NFL playoffs last year.
"Prescott is coming off a good season overall, but the 30-year-old again threw multiple interceptions in a playoff game and that $55.5 million 2024 cap hit is pretty hard to get beyond," Gagnon wrote.
Dak Prescott finished among the finalists for the NFL MVP award last season, but he failed once again to find the postseason success that has evaded him. He's hoping that the Dallas Cowboys don't also see him as overpaid at this point, as he is reportedly seeking a massive contract extension.