The Pittsburgh Steelers have the highest-paid defense in the NFL, and when they don’t, it’s still usually up there. In recent years, the salary has been top-heavy, with T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Heyward accounting for the bulk. Other players, however, have also claimed larger contracts, such as Larry Ogunjobi and Patrick Queen.
Former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger admits that this sometimes gets in the Steelers’ way. It is inevitable, of course, when you’re working with a salary cap. But in the team’s defense, they generally pay their talent. And the talent is generally on defense. When they had Pro Bowl offensive linemen, they paid them.