3. J.J. Watt
Career earnings: $100,706,498
J.J. Watt has been a household name in the state of Wisconsin since his junior year in the Wisconsin football program. He recorded 62 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, and seven sacks. He was constantly in the opponents’ backfield raising hell.
Watt was selected in the first round (11th overall) by the Houston Texans in the 2011 NFL Draft. Initially, Texans fans booed the pick, something he never forgot, but went on to be the heart and soul of the Houston defense for the next ten seasons.
While in Houston, Watt played and started in 128 games. He had 101.0 sacks, including 20.5 in his second season in the NFL. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and a five-time first-team All-Pro. He has won the AP Defensive Player of the Year three times (2012, 2014, and 2015). Watt is also a member of the Hall of Fame’s All-2010 Team.
Currently, Watt is the 11th-highest defensive player, the sixth-highest paid defensive lineman, and the fourth-highest paid defensive end in NFL history.
With his new contract with the Cardinals, assuming he collects all $28 million, he would move up to the third-highest defensive lineman and the second-highest defensive end, behind only Julius Peppers ($165 million).