NFL 2022: Biggest contract bargain at every position

Biggest NFL contract bargain at linebacker: Josey Jewell, Denver Broncos

Average annual salary: $5.5 million (tied for 40th among LBs)

One of the hardest position groups to find a bargain in the NFL with a player that is not on a rookie deal is the off-ball linebacker position.

As far as players all lumped into the linebacker position, Josey Jewell is 40th in the entire NFL and that’s a nice bargain for the Denver Broncos.

A former fourth-round pick out of Iowa in the 2018 NFL Draft, Jewell has developed into a consistent starter for the Denver Broncos and was good enough in the 2021 season (what little he played of it) to warrant a multi-year contract despite finishing last year with a torn pectoral.

Jewell isn’t an other-worldly athlete but dating back to his days with the Iowa Hawkeyes, he’s always been a productive three-down player who can win with his instinctual play and always being in the right position.

Not only that, but Jewell is the defensive play-caller for the Broncos and took up that mantle in the notoriously difficult-to-learn defense of Vic Fangio.

Jewell’s outstanding instincts at the position will now be featured in new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s defense, a Los Angeles Rams flavor coming to the Mile High City.

In recent years, the Broncos have really unlocked Jewell’s ability to attack the line of scrimmage and not only play the run, but rush the passer.

At just $5.5 million per season over the next two years, Jewell is one of the better veteran bargains at linebacker in the NFL.