Buffalo Bills: Who is the team’s most overpaid and underpaid players?

Every NFL team has a contract that is weighing the team down, as well as a player that deserves a bigger payday. Who is it for the Buffalo Bills?

In a recent article by Bleacher Report, the website named one player that deserves a payday and one player that gets paid too much from each NFL team — including the Buffalo Bills. It opens up a pretty solid question, but several players definitely stand out.

Popular fan opinion would probably place Marcell Dareus as the most overpaid player on the Bills’ roster, but even Jerry Hughes can find his way into that discussion with his recent struggle in the Rex Ryan era. Dareus is currently on a 6-year, $96 million contact ($60 million guaranteed) and Hughes is on a 5-year, $45 million contract ($22 million guaranteed) — according to Spotrac.

In Bleacher Report’s eyes, Charles Clay is the team’s most overpaid player — currently in a 5-year, $38 million contract. He is also a valid candidate for this title, entering an important season that could decide his future in Buffalo. He will have a solid chance to prove any doubters wrong this season, but will definitely have to come out and produce.

Here’s what BR had to say:

"It’s such a strange world we live in when Charles Clay’s base salary placeshim among the 10 highest-paid tight ends in 2017. Even more bizarre, his paycheck for the year puts him narrowly ahead of the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski ($4.25 million) and the Titans’ Delanie Walker ($4.2 million).This is a good time to remember that Clay has had two fine but less than spectacular seasons since joining the Buffalo Bills. He’s recorded 1,080 yards on 108 catches with seven touchdowns. What has Gronkowski done over that same period? He’s posted 1,716 yards on 97 catches with 14 touchdowns, even while missing nine games because of injury."

Here’s a list of the five highest paid players on the Buffalo Bills‘ roster, according to Spotrac:

1. Marcell Dareus: 6-year, $96 million ($60 million guaranteed)
2. Cordy Glenn: 5-year, $60 million ($36 million guaranteed)
3. Jerry Hughes: 5-year, $45 million ($22 million guaranteed)
4. LeSean McCoy: 5-year, $40 million ($18.25 million guaranteed)
5. Charles Clay: 5-year, $38 million ($24.5 million guaranteed)

Moving on to the most underpaid player on the roster, several players come to mind. I would throw John Miller, Ronald Darby and Preston Brown in that category — all young players who have done rather well in their rookie contracts. They will all be due a pay raise soon.

Also, Richie Incognito has been one of the best guards in the league these past two seasons and could deserve a bigger paycheck.

As far as Bleacher Report goes, they said Sammy Watkins — who is currently in a 4-year, $19.936 million contract with all of it guaranteed. Most of it comes in signing/roster bonuses, with his 2017 base salary set at just $690,000.

Here’s what BR had to say:

"Yes, Sammy Watkins has the durability of your favorite coffee mug, the one that was knocked onto the floor the other day by the dog’s tail. The wide receiver has missed 11 games over the past two seasons and has struggled to shake recurring foot issues.But he has the speed and route-running ability to put up explosive numbers and in the process give the Bills a tremendous bargain. If Watkins can stay even remotely healthy, the Bills will essentially be paying him bread crumbs in 2017 for high-end production. That’s what happened in 2015 when Watkins caught 60 balls for 1,047 yards (17.5 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns."

And here’s a list of the 5 lowest paid players on the Buffalo Bills‘ roster:

1. Cameron Jefferson: one-year, $465,000 ($0 guaranteed)
2. Wes Saxton: one-year, $465,000 ($0 guaranteed)
3. Eddie Yarbrough: one-year, $465,000 ($0 guaranteed)
4. Ian Seau: one-year, $465,000 ($0 guaranteed)
5. Jake Metz: one-year, $465,000 ($0 guaranteed)

To be fair, Jacob Lindsey, Jordan Mudge, Bradley Sylve and Greg Mabin all have the same contract.

From a talent standpoint, he should be getting paid top money. Unfortunately, talent is no good on the sidelines and that’s where he was last season.

Show the Buffalo Bills you can produce at top-level, and you’ll get paid your money.

Next: 5 players that should make the 2017 Pro Bowl

Who would you name the Buffalo Bills’ most underpaid and overpaid player on the roster? Leave your thoughts below!