Every NFL deal, ranked by the Contract Value Index — our grade for what a team actually gets back per dollar committed.
In a hard-cap league, the team that wins the dollar usually wins the season. This page strips away raw stats and asks a single question of every NFL signing, trade, and extension: how much on-field value is the team actually buying per dollar committed?
That answer is our Contract Value Index (CVI) — FanVerdicts’ flagship contract-value grade. Below, we rank the deals that return the most (and least) for the money, then split out the league’s most overpaid contracts from its quietest bargains.
These are the verdicts you can’t get from a stat sheet: a Pro Bowl season on a rookie deal can grade higher than an All-Pro year on a max contract, because value is about the gap between pay and production, not production alone.
Cuts and releases are excluded — the Contract Value Index is not a valid signal on a non-contract move. Grades reflect value to the team, not raw talent.
Contracts where NFL front offices are getting the most back per dollar. These earn the strongest Contract Value Index (CVI) grades on the board.
| # | Player | Avg / Yr | CVI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emari DemercadoRB · Kansas City Chiefs | $1.3M | A+ A+ |
| 2 | Corliss WaitmanP · San Francisco 49ers | $1.3M | A+ A+ |
| 3 | Julius ChestnutRB · Tennessee Titans | $1.4M | A+ A+ |
| 4 | Cam Taylor-BrittDB · Indianapolis Colts | $1.4M | A+ A+ |
| 5 | Jaleel McLaughlinRB · Denver Broncos | $1.4M | A+ A+ |
| 6 | Mitch WishnowskyP · Buffalo Bills | $1.5M | A+ A+ |
| 7 | Johnny HekkerP · Minnesota Vikings | $1.5M | A+ A+ |
| 8 | Johnny HekkerP · Minnesota Vikings | $1.5M | A+ A+ |
| 9 | Bradley PinionP · Miami Dolphins | $1.5M | A+ A+ |
| 10 | Christian RozeboomLB · Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $1.6M | A+ A+ |
| 11 | Emanuel WilsonRB · Seattle Seahawks | $1.6M | A+ A+ |
| 12 | Joey SlyeK · Tennessee Titans | $2.0M | A+ A+ |
The contracts our grading flags as the weakest returns relative to cost — the deals most likely to age poorly.
| # | Player | Avg / Yr | CVI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trent WilliamsOT · San Francisco 49ers | $25.8M | F F |
| 2 | Trey LanceQB · Los Angeles Chargers | $6.8M | F F |
| 3 |
High average-annual-value contracts carrying a weak CVI grade — big money, light return. Ranked by how far the grade falls and how large the commitment is.
| # | Player | Avg / Yr | CVI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trent WilliamsOT · San Francisco 49ers | $25.8M | F F |
| 2 | Trey LanceQB · Los Angeles Chargers | $6.8M | F F |
| 3 |
Strong CVI grades on below-median salaries — the bargains a smart front office locked up. The closest thing to a free win on the ledger.
| # | Player | Avg / Yr | CVI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emari DemercadoRB · Kansas City Chiefs | $1.3M | A+ A+ |
| 2 | Corliss WaitmanP · San Francisco 49ers | $1.3M | A+ A+ |
| 3 |
The Contract Value Index (CVI) is FanVerdicts' grade for how much on-field value a team captures for every dollar of a contract — weighing pay against production, role, and term. It is the platform's flagship contract-value grade. A high CVI grade means the team is winning the deal; a low grade means it is paying a premium it may not recover. Read the full methodology.
Trey LanceQB · Los Angeles Chargers |
| $6.8M |
F F |
| 4 | Ryan Van DemarkT · Minnesota Vikings | $3.5M | F F |
| 5 | Jordan MeredithC · Las Vegas Raiders | $3.5M | F F |
| 6 | Dyami BrownWR · Washington Commanders | $3.0M | F F |
| 7 | Denzel PerrymanLB · Los Angeles Chargers | $2.8M | F F |
| 8 | LaCale LondonDT · Atlanta Falcons | $2.8M | F F |
| 9 | Jalen DavisCB · Cincinnati Bengals | $1.6M | F F |
| 10 | Olisaemeka UdohOT · Arizona Cardinals | $1.4M | F F |
| 11 | Mike CaliendoOL · Kansas City Chiefs | $1.4M | F F |
| 12 | Travis HomerRB · Pittsburgh Steelers | $1.3M | F F |
Trey LanceQB · Los Angeles Chargers |
| $6.8M |
F F |
| 4 | Ryan Van DemarkT · Minnesota Vikings | $3.5M | F F |
| 5 | Jordan MeredithC · Las Vegas Raiders | $3.5M | F F |
| 6 | Dyami BrownWR · Washington Commanders | $3.0M | F F |
| 7 | Denzel PerrymanLB · Los Angeles Chargers | $2.8M | F F |
| 8 | LaCale LondonDT · Atlanta Falcons | $2.8M | F F |
| 9 | Solomon ThomasDL · Tennessee Titans | $3.0M | D- D- |
| 10 | Alec AndersonOL · Buffalo Bills | $2.5M | D D |
Julius ChestnutRB · Tennessee Titans |
| $1.4M |
A+ A+ |
| 4 | Cam Taylor-BrittDB · Indianapolis Colts | $1.4M | A+ A+ |
| 5 | Jaleel McLaughlinRB · Denver Broncos | $1.4M | A+ A+ |
| 6 | Mitch WishnowskyP · Buffalo Bills | $1.5M | A+ A+ |
| 7 | Johnny HekkerP · Minnesota Vikings | $1.5M | A+ A+ |
| 8 | Johnny HekkerP · Minnesota Vikings | $1.5M | A+ A+ |
| 9 | Bradley PinionP · Miami Dolphins | $1.5M | A+ A+ |
| 10 | Christian RozeboomLB · Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $1.6M | A+ A+ |