The NFL’s 10 Most Underpaid Players

With the 2011 NFL season halfway over, the first 10 weeks have been marked by injuries, disappointments but also breakout performances. Of this year’s breakout players, many have only been in the league for a few seasons, and for these elite players their current contracts may be working against them.

Although these premier players may not be making all-star salaries, when it comes time for them to negotiate a new contract you can expect their compensation will be more in line with their abilities. This list focuses on identifying underpaid offensive players at skill positions as their stat lines are more quantifiable.

So what offensive players are making the least, but making the most of it? Here's our rundown of the best bang for the buck in the league.

By Darren RovellPosted 18 Nov 2011

Position: Tight End, New England Patriots
2011 salary: $450,000
Weekly paycheck: $26,741

Gronkowski is an absolute machine, moving his 6-foot-6, 265-pound body with ridiculous agility. In the last four games, against the Cowboys, Steelers, Giants and Jets, Gronkowski has caught at least seven passes and has averaged 95.5 yards a game. Gronkowski got a $1.76 million signing bonus and a $830,000 playing time bonus but he's still making the $450,000 minimum salary.

Position: Tight End, New Orleans Saints
2011 salary: $450,000
Weekly paycheck: $26,471

When his name was called as the 95th pick in the 2010 draft, the tight end from Miami didn't even become a millionaire. The four-year, $2.45 million contract only had a $665,140 signing bonus attached. This year he's making the minimum salary for a second-year player of $450,000. What do the Saints get for that? Only 873 yards receiving and six touchdowns through the first 10 games.

Position: Running Back, Buffalo Bills
2011 salary: $1.75 million
Weekly paycheck: $102,941

Two losses in a row have put the Bills at 5-4 but it's not necessarily Fred Jackson's fault. The Bills running back, who is in his third year out of small Coe College, leads the league in rushing with 917 yards. He's so much of an underdog that his wife, Danielle, reportedly waited until the fifth round of her fantasy draft to draft her husband. The $1.75 million he makes this year means he's the 10th highest paid player on the team. While quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick just got a new deal, Buffalo is still unsure about Jackson with one more season left on his contract.

Position: Running Back, Philadelphia Eagles
2011 salary: $600,000
Weekly paycheck: $35,294

McCoy had an impressive second season last year hitting the 1,000-yard mark, and although the Eagles are playing as bad as they can play, it's not McCoy's fault. In fact, McCoy just might hit the 1,000-yard mark in Week 10. As the 53rd pick of the 2009 draft, McCoy got $1.72 million in guaranteed money and picked up a $357,000 incentive for playing in at least 45 percent of the offensive plays last year. But his base salary is only $600,000. He'll make $685,000 next year and then he's a free agent.

Position: Quarterback, Carolina Panthers
2011 salary: $375,000
Weekly paycheck: $22,059

The Panthers 2-7 record is not that impressive but Newton certainly is with 2,609 yards passing and 11 touchdowns with 311 yards rushing and seven rushing touchdowns. Newton's yearly contract of $375,000 is a little bit deceptive because he did receive a $14.5 million signing bonus and his contract is fully guaranteed for $22 million. But even at that price Newton might be a bargain since the Panthers really need a turnaround quickly.

Position: Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
2011 salary: $480,000
Weekly paycheck: $35,294

Wallace, a 2009 third-round draft pick is an absolute stud for the Steelers. He signed a three-year contract worth $1.7 million with a $550,000 signing bonus. Wallace has had at least 70 yards receive in 8 of the team's 10 games, averaging 17.4 yards per catch. How valuable is Wallace? Luckily for him it's a contract year.

Position: Running Back, Chicago Bears
2011 salary: $600,000
Weekly paycheck: $35,294

Forte has three rushing touchdowns but his 869 yards rushing is only behind Fred Jackson and LeSean McCoy. With the Bears on a four-game winning streak there's been plenty of debate whether the team has to sign him to a huge deal next year. Forte's backup, Marion Barber, is making almost four times what he makes this season.

Position: Running Back, Houston Texans
2011 salary: $525,000
Weekly paycheck: $30,882

Arian Foster continues to be a stud after a stellar Pro Bowl season last year in which he ran for 1,616 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. In the eight games he has played in this season, he only failed to reach a combined 100 yards rushing or receiving in the season opener. Foster was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and that means he's not among the top 40 highest-paid players on the Texans this year. He's making $525,000 this year, but expect him to get paid more soon.

Position: Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
2011 salary: $7.5 million
Weekly paycheck: $441,176

Sure, the Green Bay Packers are paying Aaron Rodgers $7.5 million this year, which is more than anyone on this list, but the team wouldn't be 9-0 without him. In 6 1/2 years, the Packers have now paid Rodgers almost $39 million, but it's not what you pay it's what you get. Thanks to having Rodgers, the Pack is predicted to defend its Super Bowl title and is using the success to launch a stock sale that will seek $143 million in improvements to Lambeau Field.

Position: Wide Receiver, New England Patriots
2011 salary: $2.15 million
Weekly paycheck: $127,647

When the Patriots gave up a second round draft pick to get Wes Welker, many fans thought it was too much. Well, that deal and Welker's five-year, $18 million contract is now proving to be a bargain. This year, the lightning-fast, 5-foot-9-inch receiver is making a measly $2.15 million in the last year of that contract. He's pulled in 72 receptions for 1,006 yards receiving to go along with six touchdowns.