NFL salaries are often complex, built around bonuses, guarantees, and restructured deals designed to manage the salary cap.
For the New Orleans Saints, the 2025 season features a blend of veteran contracts and rising young talent carrying the largest cap hits.
Here’s a detailed look at the ten highest-paid Saints players in 2025, ranked strictly by cap number.
Breaking Down the Saints’ Top 10 Salaries for 2025
10) Cesar Ruiz – $5,866,000 Cap Hit
Ruiz carries a $5.866 million cap hit for 2025 under a four-year, $44 million extension that includes $18.188 million guaranteed. Despite a $9.15 million cash payout that year, previous restructures — including an $8 million roster bonus converted into a signing bonus — have softened his cap impact.
The Saints also converted $7.98 million of his 2025 salary into a bonus, saving over $6 million in space. His deal ranks 11th among 84 right guards with a 1.56 cash-to-cap ratio.
9) Tyrann Mathieu – $6,091,000 Cap Hit
Mathieu ranks ninth with a 2025 cap hit of $6.091 million. His contract was restructured into a one-year, $4 million fully guaranteed deal, but prorated bonuses from previous seasons elevate his current cap number. With a 0.66 cash-to-cap ratio, he ranks 39th among 226 safeties by contract value.
8) Chris Olave – $6,131,960 Cap Hit
Olave’s 2025 cap hit is $6.13196 million, part of his four-year, $19.271874 million fully guaranteed rookie deal. That year includes a $1.1 million base salary and a $2.233 million roster bonus. His dead cap number is $21.62496 million, underlining the team’s long-term belief in his upside as a top receiver.
7) Carl Granderson – $6,482,000 Cap Hit
Granderson’s four-year, $52 million extension yields a $6.482 million cap hit in 2025. His low $1.17 million base salary is offset by a $6.56 million restructure bonus. With a dead cap figure of $24.97 million, the Saints have clearly prioritized his continued presence on the defensive line.
6) Chase Young – $6,842,000 Cap Hit
On a three-year, $51 million deal, Young’s 2025 cap hit stands at $6.842 million. This number includes a $1.17 million base salary and a prorated portion of his $17 million signing bonus. His $36.294 million dead cap value signals strong upfront guarantees and the Saints’ investment in his pass-rushing potential.
5) Demario Davis – $6,932,000 Cap Hit
Davis carries a 2025 cap hit of $6.932 million, stemming from a $1.3 million base salary and a $6.95 million restructure bonus. His two-year, $17.25 million contract includes $13.25 million guaranteed, with a dead cap charge of $21.258 million. While nearing the end of his career, Davis continues to be a financial and leadership cornerstone for the Saints’ defense.
4) Erik McCoy – $8,351,000 Cap Hit
McCoy’s five-year, $60 million deal places him fourth in cap responsibility for 2025. His $8.351 million figure results from a modest $1.17 million base salary paired with an $8.93 million restructure bonus. With a dead cap value of $26.516 million, McCoy remains a significant long-term financial commitment at center.
3) Cameron Jordan – $9,775,000 Cap Hit
Despite being on a one-year, $6.05 million deal, Cameron Jordan carries a $9.775 million cap hit in 2025. Deferred bonuses and prorated amounts inflate the total beyond his salary and bonuses. His dead cap figure sits at $28.535 million, making him a high-cost player despite the contract’s short-term length.
2) Alvin Kamara – $10,061,471 Cap Hit
Kamara’s two-year, $24.5 million deal is relatively short, but it carries a hefty 2025 cap hit of $10.06 million. While his base salary is just $2.99 million, substantial bonuses drive up the overall cost. His dead cap figure is even more striking at $28.34 million, underscoring his sizable financial impact on the Saints’ roster.
1) Taysom Hill – $17,986,500 Cap Hit
Hill’s $40 million deal averages $10 million annually, but in 2025, it carries a cap hit of $17.99 million. While his base salary is $10 million, the impact of previous restructures and bonus allocations significantly raises his cap charge. His dead cap figure sits at $17.71 million, reflecting the Saints’ continued commitment to his unique hybrid role.
Taysom Hill’s contract is the last domino standing on the Saints’ salary cap books. But the soon-to-be 35 year old’s future is cloudy as he rehabs a season-ending knee injury:https://t.co/BSGGo0yn7i
— John Sigler (@john_siglerr) May 4, 2025
Cap numbers — not average annual salaries — offer the most accurate view of a player’s financial impact in any given year.
By strategically leveraging restructures and bonuses, New Orleans continues to push cap obligations forward while preserving a competitive roster.
