Top Defensive Linemen Salaries: Chiefs´ Jones Leads Defensive Ends and Tackles
A look at the top defensive linemen’s salaries in 2026 finds one stud interior lineman well ahead of all defensive ends and tackles: the Chiefs´ Chris Jones. Proof of the value of interior linemen is that in 2026, there are seven ends and tackles making over $20 million a season. We take a look at the highest-paid tackles and ends in the NFL this season.
Top Defensive Linemen Salaries: Chiefs´ Jones Leads Defensive Ends and Tackles
Top Defensive Linemen Salaries: Top 20 led by Chiefs´ Chris Jones
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Chris Jones Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Tackle $44,850,000
Alim McNeill Detroit Lions Defensive Tackle $28,966,000
Milton Williams New England Patriots DL/DE $28,500,000
Daron Payne Washington Commanders Defensive Tackle $27,950,000
DeForest Buckner Indianapolis Colts Defensive Tackle $26,600,000
Jeffery Simmons Tennessee Titans Defensive Tackle $22,060,843
Leonard Williams Seattle Seahawks DL/DE $22,036,250
Arik Armstead Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Tackle $19,385,294
Grady Jarrett Chicago Bears Defensive Tackle $18,925,000
Tershawn Wharton Carolina Panthers DL/DE $18,643,333
Christian Barmore New England Patriots Defensive Tackle $17,100,000
Zach Allen Denver Broncos DL/DE $16,477,000
Javon Kinlaw Washington Commanders Defensive Tackle $16,200,000
Dexter Lawrence Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Tackle $15,333,333
John Franklin-Myers Tennessee Titans DL/DE $14,958,000
D.J. Jones Denver Broncos Defensive Tackle $14,570,000
Grover Stewart Indianapolis Colts Defensive Tackle $14,250,000
Cameron Heyward Pittsburgh Steelers DL/DE $13,675,000
Ed Oliver Buffalo Bills Defensive Tackle $13,660,000
Jermaine Johnson Tennessee Titans DL/DE $13,411,000
One defensive tackle stands out above the rest, and it is the Chiefs´ Chris Jones. What is also noteworthy in this group of top 20 paid defensive tackles is that seven players make more than $22 million a year.
Sep 14, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) reacts against the Denver Broncos at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Top Defensive Linemen Salaries: Solid Stars
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Kenny Clark Dallas Cowboys Defensive Tackle $12,700,000
DaVon Hamilton Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Tackle $12,448,800
B.J. Hill Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Tackle $12,116,666
Jalen Carter Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle $11,788,300
Poona Ford Los Angeles Rams Defensive Tackle $11,433,333
Zach Sieler Miami Dolphins Defensive Tackle $11,419,000
Derrick Brown Carolina Panthers DL/DE $10,952,000
Vita Vea Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Tackle $10,834,460
A’Shawn Robinson Tampa Bay Buccaneers DL/DE $10,000,000
Jonathan Allen Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Tackle $9,750,000
Mason Graham Cleveland Browns Defensive Tackle $9,289,589
Tedarrell Slaton Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Tackle $9,160,000
Quinnen Williams Dallas Cowboys Defensive Tackle $8,552,353
Devonte Wyatt Green Bay Packers Defensive Tackle $8,438,000
Bobby Brown Carolina Panthers Defensive Tackle $8,033,333
Javon Hargrave Green Bay Packers Defensive Tackle $7,705,882
Harrison Phillips New York Jets Defensive Tackle $7,500,000
Jarran Reed Seattle Seahawks Defensive Tackle $7,380,000
Davon Godchaux New Orleans Saints Defensive Tackle $7,139,000
Nathan Shepherd New Orleans Saints DL/DE $7,123,200
This group of solid starters is made up mostly of veterans.
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Alim McNeill (54) warms up ahead of the game between the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026
Top Defensive Linemen Salaries: Veterans and Youngsters Looking for Bigger Paydays
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Dalvin Tomlinson Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Tackle $6,800,000
Adam Butler Las Vegas Raiders Defensive Tackle $6,573,333
Teair Tart Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Tackle $6,020,000
Calais Campbell Baltimore Ravens Defensive Tackle $6,000,000
Roy Robertson-Harris New York Giants Defensive Tackle $5,750,000
Travis Jones Baltimore Ravens Defensive Tackle $5,573,991
Maliek Collins Cleveland Browns Defensive Tackle $5,307,824
Za’Darius Smith Atlanta Falcons DL/DE $5,294,115
Al-Quadin Muhammad Tampa Bay Buccaneers DL/DE $5,250,000
Osa Odighizuwa San Francisco 49ers Defensive Tackle $5,122,000
Jordan Davis Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle $5,072,000
Kenneth Grant Miami Dolphins Defensive Tackle $4,990,071
Logan Hall Houston Texans Defensive Tackle $4,625,000
Calijah Kancey Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Tackle $4,611,560
D.J. Reader New York Giants Defensive Tackle $4,500,000
Walter Nolen Arizona Cardinals Defensive Tackle $4,412,596
Byron Murphy Seattle Seahawks Defensive Tackle $4,386,306
Keeanu Benton Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Tackle $4,299,295
Tyree Wilson New Orleans Saints DL/DE $4,159,842
Kobie Turner Los Angeles Rams Defensive Tackle $4,154,268
Solid veterans are in this group, such as Keeanu Benton and Calais Campbell, with young stars about to get huge contracts, including Kobie Turner and Jordan Davis.
Aug 30, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) shakes hands with defensive end Kobie Turner (91) at practice at the Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Top Defensive Linemen Salaries: Big Paydays Coming Soon
Player Team Position Salary Cap Hit
Derrick Harmon Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Tackle $4,084,910
Neville Gallimore Chicago Bears Defensive Tackle $4,000,000
Bryan Bresee New Orleans Saints Defensive Tackle $3,902,042
Tim Settle Washington Commanders Defensive Tackle $3,900,000
Caleb Banks Minnesota Vikings Defensive Tackle $3,869,523
Broderick Washington Baltimore Ravens DL/DE $3,860,540
Tyliek Williams Detroit Lions Defensive Tackle $3,745,475
Karl Brooks Green Bay Packers Defensive Tackle $3,727,007
Moro Ojomo Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle $3,693,446
Thomas Booker Las Vegas Raiders Defensive Tackle $3,674,000
Sebastian Joseph Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Tackle $3,650,000
Sheldon Rankins Houston Texans Defensive Tackle $3,400,000
Peter Woods Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Tackle $3,268,293
Khyiris Tonga Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Tackle $3,266,666
Cam Thomas Atlanta Falcons DL/DE $3,105,540
Malcolm Roach Denver Broncos DL/DE $3,101,333
Da’shawn Hand Atlanta Falcons DL/DE $3,008,500
Shelby Harris New York Giants Defensive Tackle $3,000,000
Roy Lopez Arizona Cardinals Defensive Tackle $2,890,000
Jordan Elliott Tennessee Titans Defensive Tackle $2,845,000
LaCale London Atlanta Falcons Defensive Tackle $2,700,696
Johnny Newton Washington Commanders Defensive Tackle $2,672,150
Samson Ebukam Atlanta Falcons DL/DE $2,639,180
Cameron Jordan New Orleans Saints DL/DE $2,580,000
Braden Fiske Los Angeles Rams Defensive Tackle $2,566,397
Tommy Togiai Houston Texans Defensive Tackle $2,506,764
Andrew Billings Arizona Cardinals Defensive Tackle $2,500,000
Dante Fowler Jr. Seattle Seahawks DL/DE $2,500,000
Nnamdi Madubuike Baltimore Ravens DL/DE $2,500,000
Solomon Thomas Tennessee Titans Defensive Tackle $2,470,588
T.J. Sanders Buffalo Bills Defensive Tackle $2,419,411
Otito Ogbonnia Dallas Cowboys Defensive Tackle $2,397,058
Kayden McDonald Houston Texans Defensive Tackle $2,346,318
Alfred Collins San Francisco 49ers Defensive Tackle $2,342,474
Christen Miller New Orleans Saints Defensive Tackle $2,144,658
Kris Jenkins Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Tackle $2,143,763
John Ridgeway New Orleans Saints Defensive Tackle $2,040,000
Kalia Davis Cleveland Browns Defensive Tackle $2,000,000
Michael Hall Cleveland Browns Defensive Tackle $1,928,135
Lee Hunter Carolina Panthers Defensive Tackle $1,831,435
The Last Word
Defensive tackle has become a position of respect throughout the NFL, far more highly valued than in prior decades. With seven stud tackles making at least $22 million, the league has shown that plugging up the interior of the line of scrimmage really matters. In managing the salary cap, general managers have to carefully evaluate young defensive tackles and determine whether each is worth locking up with big contracts before they hit free agency. Not an easy call, for sure.
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