Ranking each NFL team (including Colts) by 2024 quarterback spending (2024)

Paul Bretl

June 28, 2024 9:31 am ET

Compared to the rest of the NFL, the Indianapolis Colts do not have all that much in terms of cap space devoted to the quarterback position. In fact, at a position where seemingly each new contract becomes record-setting, the Colts are paying relatively little to their quarterbacks.

This is because Anthony Richardson is still on his rookie deal, which again, by comparison to the post-rookie contracts, isn’t anywhere near the earning stratosphere that the top quarterbacks are in. As the backup, Joe Flacco is playing out 2024 on a modest one-year deal worth $4.5 million, and the third quarterback, Sam Ehlinger, is still on his rookie contract as well.

This has allowed GM Chris Ballard to invest cap dollars at other positions. This includes the skill positions where the Colts have extended Michael Pittman and Jonathan Taylor within the last year. Ballard also invested heavily in the defensive front this offseason, while some of the Colts’ largest cap hits come along the offensive line.

With help from Spotrac, here is where the Colts rank among the rest of the NFL in spending at the quarterback position, with each team’s 2024 cap hit being the benchmark.

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1. Cleveland Browns

Dec 24, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a Cleveland Browns helmet prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Bears won 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $67.695 million

Percent of salary cap: 21.71%

2. Dallas Cowboys

Jan 5, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a Dallas Cowboys helmet prior to the NFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Seattle Seahawks at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shane Roper-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $63.640 million

Percent of salary cap: 22.66%

3. New York Giants

Nov 24, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; A detailed view of the New York Giants helmet during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $54.685 million

Percent of salary cap: 19.22%

4. Los Angeles Rams

Dec 1, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an Los Angeles Rams helmet against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $54.443

Percent of salary cap: 19.40%

5. Arizona Cardinals

Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals helmet on the bench during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $51.313 million

Percent of salary cap: 18.99%

6. Kansas City Chiefs

Nov 3, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Kansas City Chiefs helmet during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $41.540 million

7. Baltimore Ravens

Sep 22, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Baltimore Ravens helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $35.177 million

Percent of salary cap: 12.69%

8. Atlanta Falcons

Nov 22, 2018; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons helmets on the bench during their game against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $34.487 million

Percent of salary cap: 11.88%

9. Buffalo Bills

Jan 24, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Buffalo Bills helmet in the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $33.381 million

Percent of salary cap: 11.91%

10. Cincinnati Bengals

Oct 29, 2017; Cincinnati, OH, USA; A view of a Bengals helmet on the sidelines in the game of the Indianapolis Colts against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $32.552 million

Percent of salary cap: 12.01%

11. Miami Dolphins

Dec 29, 2019; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; A Miami Dolphins helmet rests on cooler during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $30.183 million

Percent of salary cap: 10.96%

12. Detroit Lions

Dec 20, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; View of a Detroit Lions helmet on the bench before the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $29.495 million

Percent of salary cap: 11.74%

13. Seattle Seahawks

Sep 30, 2018; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of a Seattle Seahawks helmet against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $28.390 million

Percent of salary cap: 9.74%

14. Los Angeles Chargers

Oct 22, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Los Angeles Chargers helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $22.231 million

Percent of salary cap: 8.08%

15. New York Jets

Dec 29, 2019; Orchard Park, New York, USA; General view of a New York Jets helmet prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

16. Jacksonville Jaguars

Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars helmet on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $20.235 million

Percent of salary cap: 7.29%

17. Philadelphia Eagles

Sep 26, 2019; Green Bay, WI, USA; A Philadelphia Eagles helmet sits on the field during warmups prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $17.489 million

Percent of salary cap: 6.49%

18. New England Patriots

Feb 3, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of a New England Patriots helmet against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $16.369 million

Percent of salary cap: 6.38%

19. Houston Texans

Jan 12, 2020; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; A general view of a Houston Texans helmet during the AFC Divisional Round playoff football game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $15.929 million

Percent of salary cap: 5.80%

20. New Orleans Saints

Nov 17, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; A detail view of New Orleans Saints helmet during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $15.790 million

Percent of salary cap: 5.63%

21. Green Bay Packers

Oct 27, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Green Bay Packers helmet during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $15.485 million

Percent of salary cap: 5.72%

22. Indianapolis Colts

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Total cap hit: $15.420 million

Percent of salary cap: 5.72%

23. Washington Commanders

Nov 23, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of a Washington Commanders helmet during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $14.649 million

Percent of salary cap: 5.59%

24. Carolina Panthers

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $14.391 million

Percent of salary cap: 4.99%

25. Denver Broncos

Dec 15, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Denver Broncos helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $13.110 million

Percent of salary cap: 4.60%

26. Las Vegas Raiders

Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $10.760 million

Percent of salary cap: 4.14%

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Feb 4, 2020; Tampa, FL, USA; Detailed view of Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets on the sidelines against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $10.609 million

Percent of salary cap: 3.84%

28. Minnesota Vikings

Nov 3, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Minnesota Vikings helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Please note, JJ McCarthy has not yet signed his rookie contract.

Total cap hit: $8.214 million

Percent of salary cap: 3.09%

29. Pittsburgh Steelers

Jun 12, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; A Pittsburgh Steelers helmet sits on the field during minicamp at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $6.402 million

Percent of salary cap: 2.32%

30. Tennessee Titans

Oct 8, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; A Tennessee Titans helmet sits in the end zone before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $6.315 million

Percent of salary cap: 2.36%

31. San Francisco 49ers

Dec 9, 2018; Santa Clara, CA, USA; General view of the San Francisco 49ers helmet against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Total cap hit: $5.597 million

Percent of salary cap: 1.86%

32. Chicago Bears

Nov 10, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; A detailed view of the Chicago Bears helmet before the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Please note, first overall pick Caleb Williams has not yet signed his rookie contract.

Total cap hit: $2.704 million

Percent of salary cap: 1.00%

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