25 NFL players who are playing for their next contract in 2022

Barkley has seen one injury after another since winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018. After averaging only 3.7 yards per carry last season, he has a big season ahead to prove he’s worthy of a significant contract.

Bates was franchised by the Bengals, but the two sides have some room to cover to find an agreement on a multi-year year. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2020, though Bates showed some inconsistency last season.

The durable Bradberry was a Pro Bowler with the Giants in 2020 and will try to revitalize his value with the Eagles this season. Nearing age 30, he still has time for another big contract.

It would be hard to believe the Raiders would move on from Carr, but Josh McDaniels’ history running the Broncos and running out Jay Cutler shows that anything is possible. Carr has three Pro Bowls to his name and led the Raiders to the playoffs last season.

Chubb’s first four seasons have been plagued by injuries, though he was an All-Pro in his rookie season and a Pro Bowler in 2020. Another healthy season would go a long way in netting him a big payday.

Davenport has finally developed like the Saints hoped, recording nine sacks in only 11 games last season. Proving his durability could be the key to a big contract, as Davenport has yet to play more than 13 games in a season.

Still only 24, Edmunds has become an elite inside linebacker over his first four seasons with two Pro Bowls and over 100 tackles in each season. He should be one of the highest-paid inside linebackers in the league with a good 2022.

The Ravens and Jackson have been negotiating a long-term contract for a while, and it’s hard to believe the 2019 MVP wouldn’t receive a historic contract sooner or later. However, he’s playing for even more money this season until he’s re-signed.

Garoppolo will almost certainly be traded this season, as he tries to find the best opportunity in his walk year. He’s led the 49ers to deep playoff runs in two of the last three seasons, but injuries and inconsistent play have also plagued Garoppolo. It’s clear he’s an NFL starter, though the play to this point has been far from elite.

Hunt has found a nice role tag-teaming with Nick Chubb in the Browns backfield, though, he missed over half of last season due to injury. He will need to show more durability to find significant money next offseason.

A former first-round pick, Jacobs’ production has been going in the wrong direction since he was drafted in 2019.  He still had over 1,200 yards from scrimmage last season, but Jacobs must prove he’s a bell-cow back heading into free agency.

James returned to Pro Bowl form after missing most of 2020 due to injury, recording 118 tackles and two picks last season. He’s quickly established himself as an elite safety and has one more year to improve his value.

Jenkins has done a solid job protecting Aaron Rodgers in three seasons, including a Pro Bowl in 2020. The guard is trying to rebound from an injury-shortened 2021 season.

Mayfield was recently traded to Carolina, where he will compete for the starting job. He’s hopeful to get another opportunity as a starter after struggling last season while playing hurt. Mayfield has played good football in the past and can maintain his role as a highly-paid starter with a good 2022 season.

McGlinchey has been a strong performer on the right side of San Francisco’s offensive line in four seasons. The former first-round pick enters his final season before free agency after missing much of last year due to injury.

Montgomery has been a reliable bell-cow back for the Bears, though he’s averaged only 3.9 yards per carry in three NFL seasons. He will need to show more production this season on a bad Bears squad to find significant money.

Ngakoue had another strong year in 2021, recording 10 sacks for the Raiders. He’s on a more talented defense this season with the Colts, which could allow him to garner a bigger contract this time around in free agency.

Nelson has been a Pro Bowler in all four of his NFL seasons and is arguably the most dominant player at his position. After missing four games last season, Nelson is hoping to get back on track and earn a contract as the highest-paid guard in the game.

Injuries plagued Penny in his first three seasons, but the former first-round pick went on a tear late last season. He averaged a league-best 6.3 yards per carry, and will try to earn a long-term deal with a full season of production in 2022.

Age isn’t on Poyer’s side at 31, but he’s never played better football. Poyer was an All-Pro for the first time last season, with 93 tackles and five interceptions. He will try to repeat in 2022 before entering free agency.

Sanders leads a running back committee in Philadelphia and has averaged an impressive 5.1 yards per carry over his three NFL seasons. The Eagles would seem unlikely to give a single running back big money, but that doesn’t mean another team won’t bite the bullet if Sanders performs well in his walk year.

Smith is now the face of Chicago’s defense after the departures of Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks. He’s been a second-team All-Pro in back-to-back seasons, including 163 tackles and three sacks last season. Smith is set for a huge contract after this season.

Smith-Schuster played on a one-year contract with Pittsburgh last season but missed most of the year due to a shoulder injury. He will try again in 2021, this time with the explosive Chiefs offense. With a strong year catching passes from Patrick Mahomes, Smith-Schuster could earn a multi-year deal.

Watt is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, but his recent seasons have been more defined by injuries. He’s missed significant time in three of the last five seasons, including 2021, but is out to prove he can still be a top player in his early 30s.

Ya-Sin has been a solid cover corner in three seasons with the Colts and is set to finish out his rookie contract in Las Vegas. Helping turn around the struggling Raiders secondary would go a long way in earning Ya-Sin a big contract next offseason.