Last week I broke down the Redskins' salary cap by position and how it compared to the rest of the NFL. This is one more extension of that so you can see how the Redskins' top cap hit compares to the five biggest cap hits at each position. For the most part, the Redskins have more bargains offensively in part because they've found younger contributors through the draft or they landed players such as DeSean Jackson after they'd been cut, thereby lowering their price. The Redskins have only one player who will count among the top five at their position in 2014 -- left tackle Trent Williams.
Quarterback
NFL's top five cap hits
Eli Manning, New York Giants, $20,400,000
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh, $18,895,000
Jay Cutler, Chicago, $18,500,000
Drew Brees, New Orleans, $18,400,000
Sam Bradford, St. Louis, $17,610,000
Redskins top cap hit
Robert Griffin III $5,759,754 (19th overall)
Summing it up: St. Louis is paying the price for a since-changed system when it comes to rookie contracts -- and the Redskins clearly have benefited. There’s little chance anyone would think Bradford is worth as much as his 2014 cap number. Manning has regressed the past two seasons, for whatever reason, and needed ankle surgery this offseason. Roethlisberger is excellent and Brees remains a top-five quarterback. But Cutler is an example of a guy who is being paid because of the position he plays. He's been a good quarterback, but it's tough to say he's been great. He's definitely not a top-five guy. The Redskins have Griffin at a lower cost the next two seasons and then, if he plays as they hope, his number will skyrocket.
Receiver
NFL's top five cap hits
Mike Wallace, Miami, $17,250,000
Andre Johnson, Houston, $15,644,583
Percy Harvin, Seattle, $13,400,000
Calvin Johnson, Detroit, $13,058,000
Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay, $12,432,000
Redskins top cap hit
Pierre Garcon $9,700,000 (seventh overall)
Summing it up: The top two at this position certainly didn't outperform Garcon, who led the NFL with 113 catches. Garcon only caught five touchdown passes, but that matches what Wallace and Andre Johnson did as well. Harvin played just 19 snaps all season. Calvin Johnson caught 84 passes, but 12 went for touchdowns and he averaged 17.8 yards per catch. Jackson caught 78 passes, seven for scores, and averaged 15.7 yards per catch. The Redskins received good value from their top earner at this spot. They have even more invested here now after adding DeSean Jackson and Andre Roberts. The former will be a major bargain compared to the rest of this group if he puts up numbers similar to last year (82 catches, nine touchdowns, 1,332 yards. But keep in mind in his first five years Jackson averaged 54.8 catches, 4.6 touchdowns and 957 yards per season).
Running back
NFL's top five cap hits
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota, $14,400,000
LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia, $9,700,000
Ray Rice, Baltimore, $8,750,000
Arian Foster, Houston, $8,300,000
Matt Forte, Chicago, $7,900,000
Redskins top cap hit
Roy Helu $1,548,563 (38th overall)
Summing it up: Peterson and McCoy are two of the most dangerous offensive players in the NFL and are difference-makers. But what's also clear is why teams don't like to shell out huge money for running backs. Washington’s Alfred Morris, who is 93rd on the list of running backs when it comes to 2014 cap figures ($600,775), was as productive running the ball as Peterson. Morris ran for 1,275 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards a carry. Peterson rushed for 1,266 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 4.5 yards per rush. Rice ran for 660 yards in 15 games, averaging 3.1 yards on 214 carries. Foster only played in eight games. Forte is an excellent all-around back and was productive. But the Redskins are fortunate they won’t have to shell out more money here for two more years.
Offensive line
NFL's top five cap hits
LT Joe Thomas, Cleveland, $12,300,000
LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets, $11,698,666
LT Russell Okung, Seattle, $11,240,000
G Jahri Evans, New Orleans, $11,000,000
LT Trent Williams, Washington, $10,980,393
Redskins top cap hit
Williams
Summing it up: Williams is one of the games best tackles so for him to be in this group makes sense. He could be more consistent and avoid the clunker game, but overall Williams has proven himself and earned two Pro Bowl trips. I'd have a hard time paying a guard as much as Evans, but at least he's an elite player with five consecutive All-Pro nods (in addition to five straight Pro Bowl berths). Okung, drafted one spot after Williams in 2010, has missed 19 games in his career and made one Pro Bowl team. Williams has played in every game the past two seasons. Because of his athleticism, the Redskins can use him differently than other teams use their tackles.
Tight end
NFL's top five cap hits
Jason Witten, Dallas, $8,412,000
Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville, $8,250,000
Greg Olsen, Carolina, $7,800,000
Antonio Gates, San Diego, $7,362,500
Vernon Davis, San Francisco, $7,342,916
Redskins top cap hit
Logan Paulsen $2,236,666 (21st overall)
Summing it up: Yet another position where the Redskins have a bargain for a few more seasons. This isn’t about how Paulsen stacks up, but really about Jordan Reed. If he can stay healthy, this will be the company he keeps statistically. I love watching Davis because of the matchup headaches he causes based on his athleticism. It’s the same with Reed. Marcedes Lewis has had a nice eight-year career and is an excellent blocker, but No. 2 on this list? He has 25 career touchdown catches, but 10 came in one season. The others are proven pass threats. Of course, this list will change once Jimmy Graham's situation is settled with New Orleans.