Who is the Highest-Paid Nittany Lion in the NFL?

It’s money time for 31 former Nittany Lions as they head into NFL training camps over the next few days.

So, who’s the highest-paid Penn Stater now playing in the pros?

It depends on how you show me the money:

You can go by how much money a player is guaranteed – meaning he’ll get that money, no matter what happens, including an injury or getting cut.

Major League Baseball guarantees much of a player’s contract. It’s a lot rarer in the NFL. Which is why ex-Penn State defensive tackle Jared Odrick really hit the jackpot in the off-season.

Odrick  jumped from the Miami Dolphins to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Odrick signed for $42.5 million over five seasons, but what really counts is that he’s guaranteed to make at least $22.5 million over the next several years.

That’s more guaranteed bank than any other ex-Nittany Lion. Odrick is followed by Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake ($17 million) and Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee ($16.13 million), both of whom are also guaranteed eight figures. That guaranteed money is especially key for Lee, who missed 2014 with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and has played in just 17 of the last 48 regular-season games. He last played a game in December 2013.

Biggest contract? That’s a different story.

Overall, San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman – coming back in 2015 after missing all of all 2014 with significant knee injuries – enters the NFL preseason with the largest overall contract of any Penn Stater. Bowman, a former All-Pro, has a five-year deal for $45.25 million. That’s an average of $9.05 million per season. Bowman has the biggest overall contract as well as the highest per-season average paycheck of any former Penn Stater.

NUMBERS FROM SPOTRAC.COM

All numbers for this story are courtesy of a really cool website, Spotrac.com, which tracks salaries for the NFL, MLB, NBA, NAL and MLS. According to the site, “Spotrac has become the largest online sports team, & player contract resource on the internet. The system was founded by Michael Ginnitti & Scott Allen in 2007 as an internal tool to facilitate fantasy sports, and answer every day questions about player financials. Since then it’s grown exponentially into a team payroll, player valuation, and overall research tool for a variety of audience groups with the sports business community.”

Penn State is spot-on in the NFL when it comes to defense. Former Nittany Lions who star on defense dominate the money list, as on a per-year average, the six highest-paid Nittany Lions all play defense. And No. 7 is veteran Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould. Rookie offensive tackle Donovan Smith, at $1.52 million per year, is the highest paid offensive player from PSU in the NFL ($3.9 million of his four-year, $6.07-million contract is guaranteed).

You do have to like the one-year deal that Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali has — $6 million, and $5 million of it is guaranteed. It ain’t always like that, though. Of the 31 Penn Staters entering NFL campus this month, nine won’t receive a cent if they don’t make the roster, while Garry Gilliam’s contract with Seattle has a guarantee of only $12,000.

Among Penn Staters who are rookies in 2015, Smith is followed by safety Adrian Amos, drafted by the Chicago Bears ($2.512 million, contract, $232,268 guaranteed) and tight end Jesse James, drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers ($2.489 million, $208,912).

Here’s a complete breakdown of Penn Staters’ NFL contracts, courtesy of Spotrac.com:

SIZE OF OVERALL CONTRACT

1.  NaVorro Bowman, ILB, San Francisco 49ers — 5 years for $45.25 million; average salary of $9.05 million per year; guarantee of $11 million; expires 2019.

2. Jared Odrick, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars — 5 years for $42.5 million; average salary of $8.5 million per year; guarantee of $22.5 million; expires 2020.

3. Sean Lee, LB, Dallas Cowboys — 6 years for $42 million; average salary of $7 million per year; guarantee of $16.13 million; expires 2020.

4. Cameron Wake, DE, Miami Dolphins — 5 years for $33.2 million; average salary of $6.64 million per year; guarantee of $17 million; expires 2017.

5. Paul Posluszny, ILB, Jacksonville Jaguars — 3 years for $15 million; average salary of $5 million per year; guarantee of $3.95 million; expires 2018.

6. Robbie Gould, K, Chicago Bears — 4 years for $15 million; average salary of $3.75 million per year;  guarantee of $8.85 million; expires 2018.

7. Donovan Smith, LT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 4 years for $6.07 million; average salary of $1.52 million per year; guarantee of $3.9 million; expires 2019.

8. Tamba Hali, LB, Kansas City Chiefs – 1 year for $6 million; average salary of $6 million; guarantee of $5 million; expires 2016.

9. Allen Robinson, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars — 4 years for $3.51 million; average salary of $887,718 per year; guarantee of $1.173 million; expires 2018.

10. Andrew Quarless, TE, Green Bay Packers — 2 years for $3 million; average salary of $1.5 million per year; guarantee of $350,000; expires 2016.

11. Jordan Hill, DT, Seattle Seahawks — 4 years for $2.76 million; average salary of $691,035 per year; guarantee of $544,140; expires 2017.

12. DaQuan Jones, DT, Tennessee Titans — 4 years for $2.675 million; average salary of $668,850 per year; guarantee of $455,400; expires 2018.

13. Gerald Hodges, OLB, Minnesota Vikings — 4 years for $2.58 million; average salary of $645,027 per year; guarantee of $420,108; expires 2017.

14. Adrian Amos, S, Chicago Bears — 4 years for $2.512 million; average salary of $628,067 per year; guarantee of $232,268; expires 2019.

15. Stefen Wisniewski, C, Jacksonville Jaguars – 1 year for $2.5 million; average salary of $2.5 million per year; guarantee of $1.75 million; expires 2016.

16. Jesse James, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers — 4 years for $2.489 million; average salary of $666,220 per year; guarantee of $208,912; expires 2019.

17. John Urschel, G, Baltimore Ravens — 4 years for $2.365 million; average salary of $591,140 per year; guarantee of $144,560; expires 2018.

18. Johnnie Troutman, G, San Diego Chargers — 4 years for $2.29 million; average salary of $572,938 per year; guarantee of $191,752; expires 2016.

19. Michael Mauti, ILB, Minnesota Vikings — 4 years for $2.223 million; average salary of $555,682 per year; guarantee of $62,728; expires 2017.

20. Miles Dieffenbach, OL, Pittsburgh Steelers — 3 years for $1.575 million; average salary of $525,000 per year; no guarantee; expires 2018.

21. Mike Hull, ILB, Miami Dolphins — 3 years for $1.575 million; average salary of $525,000 per year; no guarantee; expires 2018.

22. Deion Barnes, OLB, Ne York Jets — 3 years for $1.575 million; average salary of $525,00 per year; no guarantee; expires 2018.

23. A.Q. Shipley, C, Arizona Cardinals — 2 years for $1.57 million; average salary of $785,000 per year; guarantee of $300,000; expires 2017.

24. Garry Gilliam, T, Seattle Seahawks — 3 years for $1.54 million; average salary of $514,000 per year; guarantee of $12,000; expires 2017.

25. Glenn Carson, ILB, Arizona Cardinals — 3 years for $1.53 million; average salary of $510,000 per year; no guarantee; expires 2017.

26. Matt McGloin, QB, Oakland Raiders — 3 years for $1.485 million; average salary of $495,000 per year; no guarantee; expires 2016.

27. Jordan Norwood, WR, Denver Broncos — 2 years for $1.39 million; average salary of $695,000 per year; no guarantee; expires 2016.

28. Mickey Shuler, TE, Atlanta Falcons — 2 years for $1.26 million; average salary of $630,000 per year; no guarantee; expires 2017.

29. Jack Crawford, DE, Dallas Cowboys — 2 years for $1.23 million; average salary of $615,000 per year; no guarantee; expires 2016.

30. Devon Still, DT, Cincinnati — 1 year for $740,000; average salary of $740,000 per year; guarantee of $50,000; expires 2016.

31. Nathan Stupar, ILB, Atlanta Falcons — 1 year for $585,000; average salary of $585,000 per year; no guarantee; expires 2016. 

PER YEAR AVERAGE – OVER $1 MILLION

1.  NaVorro Bowman, $9.05 million.

2. Jared Odrick, $8.5 million

3. Sean Lee, $7 million

4. Cameron Wake, $6.64 million

5. Tamba Hali, $6 million

6. Paul Posluszny, $5 million

7. Robbie Gould, $3.75 million

8. Stefen Wisniewski, $2.5 million

9. Donovan Smith, $1.52 million

10. Andrew Quarless, $1.5 million

PER YEAR AVERAGE – UNDER $1 MILLION

11. Allen Robinson, $887,718

12. A.Q. Shipley, $785,000

13. Devon Still, DT, $740,000

14. Jordan Norwood, $695,000

15. Jordan Hill, $691,035

16. DaQuan Jones, $668,850

17. Jesse James, $666,220

18. Gerald Hodges, $645,027

19. Adrian Amos, $628,067

20. Mickey Shuler, $630,000

21. Jack Crawford, $615,000.

22. John Urschel, $591,140

23. Nathan Stupar, $585,000

24. Johnnie Troutman, $572,938

25. Michael Mauti, $555,682

26. Miles Dieffenbach, $525,000

27. Mike Hull, $525,000

28. Deion Barnes, $525,00

29. Garry Gilliam, $514,000

30. Glenn Carson, $510,000

31. Matt McGloin, $495,000

GUARANTEED MONEY – OVER $1 MILLION — 1.) Jared Odrick, $22.5 million; 2.) Cameron Wake, $17 million; 3.) Sean Lee, $16.13 million; 4.) NaVorro Bowman, $11 million; 5.) Robbie Gould, $8.85 million; 6.) Tamba Hali, $5 million; 7.) Paul Posluszny, $3.95 million; 8.) Donovan Smith, $3.9 million; 9.) Stefen Wisniewski, $1.75 million; 10.) Allen Robinson, $1.173 million.

GUARANTEED MONEY – UNDER $600,000 — 11.) Jordan Hill, $544,140; 12.) DaQuan Jones, $455,400; 13.) Gerald Hodges, $420,108; 14.) Andrew Quarless, $350,000; 15.) A.Q. Shipley, $300,000; 16.) Adrian Amos, $232,268; 17.) Jesse James, $208,912; 18.) Johnnie Troutman, $191,752; 19.) John Urschel, $144,560; 20.) Michael Mauti, $62,728; 21.) Devon Still, $50,000; 22.) Garry Gilliam, $12,000.

NO GUARANTEED MONEY — Deion Barnes, Glenn Carson, Jack Crawford, Miles Dieffenbach, Mike Hull, Matt McGloin, Jordan Norwood, Mickey Shuler, Nathan Stupar.