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NFL power rankings: 30 richest active players

By Brad Weiss

Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) drops back to pass against the Green Bay Packers during the first half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) drops back to pass against the Green Bay Packers during the first half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

23. DeMarcus Ware – $89,993,750

In 2005, the Dallas Cowboys made DeMarcus Ware the 11th-overall selection in the NFL Draft. An incredible physical specimen out of Troy, Ware quickly made an impact on the team, and the team quickly knew they needed to lock him up. Ware signed a five-year, $3.04 million rookie contract, which would take him up to the 2009 season. In 2009, Ware signed a monster contract with the team, signing a seven-year, $79 million deal.

Throughout that contract, Ware would restructure a couple of times to enable the Cowboys to bring in more talent under the salary cap. In 2014, Ware was released by the team, though he would quickly be picked up by the Denver Broncos. The Broncos gave Ware a very lucrative contract, as the outside linebacker was given a three-year, $30 million deal with $20 million of guaranteed money included.

The addition of Ware paid off big time for the Broncos, whose elite defense led them to Super Bowl 50. In that game, the Ware-led defense was able to stifle Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, leading to the Broncos 24-10 victory. Ware heads into the 2017 NFL free agency period as one of the more highly sought after players on the defensive side of the ball, and despite being 34-years old, he should have one more decent contract left in him.

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