19. MATTHEW STAFFORD, DETROIT LIONS – $19.5 MILLION:
Once billed as one of the top future stars of the NFL, Lions leader Stafford has quite a bit of making up to do if he wants to regain that status following one of his worst years ever last season.
He signed a five-year, $15 million extension with the team that will pay him $19.5 million in 2019. He’s shown flashes, but the Lions haven’t exactly gotten much done with Stafford under center. Second-year coach Matt Patricia will try to change that this year, yet the pressure is on Stafford to start finding huge wins in order to justify his pay.