When I posted in another thread that Solomon Thomas has versatility to play the second most valuable and third most valuable positions in the NFL I was referring to a Sports Illustrated article from a few years back that had DE and DT right after QB. I just noticed, however, that the Spotrac database, which seems to be pretty reliable has its own breakdown. Here is how positions rank in terms of value according to the NFL market, which I think is as good a barometer as any on the relative importance of positions (average salary in parentheses):
QB ($5.441 million)
LT ($4.128 million)
DE ($2.311 million)
OLB ($2.194 million)
CB ($2.120 million)
RT ($2.144 million)
FS ($2.079 million)
WR ($2.009 million)
C ($1.920 million)
SS ($1.919 million)
DT ($1.844 million)
OG ($1.837 million)
ILB ($1.741 million)
P ($1.726 million)
K ($1.666 million)
TE ($1.645 million)
RB ($1.221 million)
FB ($.798 million)
LS ($.762 million)
It appears from some of the ways the numbers are listed that there may be some quirky sample issues when they try to break down by specific position so it's helpful that they also have rankings for overall position groups. I won't overload with numbers, but the ranks in that analysis are:
1. QB
2. OL
3. DL
4. WR
5. LB
6. DB
7. TE
8. Special Teams
9. RB
10. FB
Data behind my long-held view that football is the consummate team game but that QB and the trenches are the most important. Hilarious how much mindshare RB has for football fans at all levels. So unimportant and replaceable compared to other positions.
QB ($5.441 million)
LT ($4.128 million)
DE ($2.311 million)
OLB ($2.194 million)
CB ($2.120 million)
RT ($2.144 million)
FS ($2.079 million)
WR ($2.009 million)
C ($1.920 million)
SS ($1.919 million)
DT ($1.844 million)
OG ($1.837 million)
ILB ($1.741 million)
P ($1.726 million)
K ($1.666 million)
TE ($1.645 million)
RB ($1.221 million)
FB ($.798 million)
LS ($.762 million)
It appears from some of the ways the numbers are listed that there may be some quirky sample issues when they try to break down by specific position so it's helpful that they also have rankings for overall position groups. I won't overload with numbers, but the ranks in that analysis are:
1. QB
2. OL
3. DL
4. WR
5. LB
6. DB
7. TE
8. Special Teams
9. RB
10. FB
Data behind my long-held view that football is the consummate team game but that QB and the trenches are the most important. Hilarious how much mindshare RB has for football fans at all levels. So unimportant and replaceable compared to other positions.
