BetMGM Football: NFL WR Cap Hits 2022: DeAndre Hopkins Tops Rankings
By BetMGM writer Ryan Hannable /
While cap space isn’t the end all be all to having success in the NFL, having money to work with and spend certainly helps a team’s NFL playoff odds and NFL odds overall.
Committing a large salary, which can include dead cap hits, to one player can prohibit spending at other positions (ie. quarterback, tight end), which is why it’s so important to capitalize when having superstar players on their rookie contracts.
The 2022 NFL league year will begin on March 16, and players under contract will have their salaries kick in – some higher than others.
When it comes to the wide receiver position, obviously, some of the best players have the highest cap hits (according to Spotrac).
DeAndre Hopkins Has Highest WR Cap Hit in NFL For 2022
At $25.1 million, Hopkins has the highest cap hit in the league at the wide receiver position next season. His deal runs through 2024, and the cap hit will actually be higher in 2023 at $27.2 million.
The wide receiver was traded from the Texans to the Cardinals in the 2020 offseason, and he’s been Kyler Murray’s go-to guy since joining Arizona. Hopkins was forced to miss seven games with hamstring and knee injuries in 2021.
He will turn 30 years old in June, and he’s still one of the best possession receivers in the NFL.
Kenny Golladay Has Ridiculously High Cap Hit For 2022
Golladay is a bit of a surprise to land at No. 3 on this list with a $21.2 million cap hit for 2022. The 28-year-old signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Giants last offseason.
His first season with New York did not go very well, as he finished with just 37 receptions for 521 yards and no touchdowns.
The Giants hope Daniel Jones can play at a higher level in 2022 so Golladay can get back to his 2018 and 2019 production levels. He totaled over 1,000 yards receiving in both those seasons with the Lions.
Other Big WR Cap Hits For 2022
Besides Hopkins and Golladay, Amari Cooper ($22 million), Tyreek Hill ($20.7 million), and Mike Evans ($20.6 million) are in the top five. It is worth noting there are rumors that Cooper could be released by the Cowboys, which would remove him from this list.
Other notables include Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp at $18.7 million (ninth) and Stefon Diggs at $17.9 million (10th).
Additional players do not deserve to be in the top 20 based on recent production.
Robby Anderson, who had just 519 yards receiving in 2021 with the Panthers, has a $16.8 million cap hit, which is ninth in the NFL. Another player is Nelson Agholor. The veteran had just 37 catches in his first year with the Patriots a year ago but has a $14.9 million cap hit, which is 14th in the NFL.
Updated List 2022 NFL WR Cap Hits
WIDE RECEIVER - TEAM - CAP HIT
DeAndre Hopkins - Cardinals - $25.1 million
Amari Cooper - Cowboys - $22 million
Kenny Golladay - Giants - $21.2 million
Tyreek Hill - Chiefs - $20.7 million
Mike Evans - Buccaneers - $20.6 million
Devante Adams - Packers - $20.1 million
Keenan Allen - Chargers - $19.2 million
Chris Godwin - Buccaneers - $19.2 million
Cooper Kupp - Rams - $18.7 million
Stefon Diggs - Bills - $17.9 million
Robby Anderson - Panthers - $16.8 million
Adam Thielen - Vikings - $16.8 million
Jarvis Landry - Browns - $16.4 million
Brandin Cooks - Texans - $16.2 million
Robert Woods - Rams - $15.7 million
Nelson Agholor - Patriots - $14.9 million
Julio Jones - Titans - $14.3 million
Mike Williams - Chargers - $14 million
Corey Davis - Jets - $13.7 million
Courtland Sutton - Broncos - $13.2 million
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Ryan Hannable is a copy editor on the Web Content Team for BetMGM. Previously, he was a New England Patriots beat writer for WEEI in Boston. He also has published a golf book, “The Ultimate Book of Golf Trivia: 600 Questions and Answers.” Twitter: @RyanHannable
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