NFL salary cap 2022: Colts pay quarterback Matt Ryan the most

Here are the Indianapolis Colts' largest NFL salary cap hits for 2022, according to Spotrac. The NFL salary cap is $208.2 million per team.

As you might expect, the quarterback gets paid the most. Matt Ryan has an $18.7 million salary cap hit, 8.79% of the Colts' total and 14th most in the league among QBs. Indianapolis' total QB spending $22.8 million, and the league average is $19.5 million.

Ryan is taking up almost $60 million of cap in 2022. On top of his Colts salary, he counts $40.5 million toward the Atlanta Falcons cap, according to Andrew Brandt.

The Colts spend $13.9 million on wide receivers, the second-least in the NFL. They spend the third-most on the defensive line ($53.7 million) and fourth-most on the offensive line ($48.7 million). (These numbers may fluctuate with roster moves.)

Entering the summer break: 10 thoughts on Colts minicamp

Below are players who count at least $825,000 toward the Colts salary cap in 2022, with contract terms.

Matt Ryan, quarterback

The 37-year-old veteran of 14 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons counts $18.7 million against the 2022 salary cap and $35.2 million in 2023, the final year of his current deal.

He passed for 3,968 yards, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and completed 67% of his passes in 2021 for Atlanta, which went 7-10. The Colts traded a third-round draft pick for Ryan.

Insider: How Matt Ryan's friendship with Peyton Manning helped Colts land, learn new QB

DeForest Buckner, defensive tackle

The 28-year-old counts $16 million against the 2022 cap, 5th among NFL DTs. His contract runs through the 2024 season ($19.75 million in '23, $20.25 million in '24), though the team holds a potential out in 2023 for $16 million with no dead cap space.

Buckner, acquired from the San Francisco 49ers for a first-round draft pick in 2020, has been with the Colts for two seasons. He was an All-Pro in 2020 and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2021. He has 16.5 sacks and 44 quarterback hits over two years (7 sacks, 18 QB hits in '21).

Quenton Nelson, guard

The 26-year-old is in the final season of a 5-year contract, and he counts $13.75 million against the salary cap, the most among NFL guards.

The No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft earned first-team All-Pro honors his first 3 seasons, and made the second team in 2021. He made the Pro Bowl in all four years.

'Quenton's a Colt': Indianapolis plans contract extension to keep Nelson

Yannick Ngakoue, defensive end

The 27-year-old is in the final year of a deal that pays him $13 million in 2022, 7th most among DEs.

The Colts traded cornerback Rock Ya-Sin to the Las Vegas Raiders for Ngakoue, who registered 10 sacks and 23 quarterback hits in 2021.

Ngakoue played for the Jacksonville Jaguars his first four seasons, and was traded to the Minnesota Vikings shortly before the 2020 season. Minnesota traded him to the Baltimore Ravens at the trade deadline that season. Ngakoue signed with the Raiders as a free agent before the '21 season.

He's well-traveled: Ngakoue hopes he's finally found a home

Braden Smith, tackle

The second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft signed an extension with the Colts last summer. He is set to count $11.56 million against the 2022 salary cap, No. 2 in the league for right tackles. He is due $55.43 million from 2023-25, and the team has a potential out after 2024.

The 26-year-old has been a starter all four of his seasons.

Darius Leonard, linebacker

The 27-year-old counts $11.16 million against the 2022 salary cap, No. 5 among inside linebackers. The contract extension he signed last summer pays him $83.58 million from the 2023-26 seasons, and the team holds a potential out after '23.

The second-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft has been first-team All-Pro in 3 of his 4 seasons. He has been in on 538 tackles, including 17 forced fumbles (NFL-leading 8 in 2021) and 15 sacks. He also has 11 interceptions and 30 passes defended.

Something to watch: Leonard having back surgery, will miss time during training camp

Grover Stewart, defensive tackle

The fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft will count $10.62 million against the 2022 salary cap, No. 8 in the league among defensive tackles. He is set to count the same in 2023, the final year of a contract extension he signed in 2020.

The 28-year-old has been a starter the past three seasons. He has been in on 169 career tackles.

Ryan Kelly, center

The first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft will count $10.75 million against the 2022 salary cap, No. 6 among centers. His deal runs through the 2024 season, and he is due $27 million over the '23 and '24 seasons.

The 29-year-old has made the Pro Bowl the past three seasons.

Stephon Gilmore, cornerback

The 32-year-old signed a 2-year deal with the Colts in April. He counts $7.75 million against the 2022 salary, 17th-most among cornerbacks, and is due $11.98 million in 2023, though the team holds a potential out.

Gilmore made the Pro Bowl for Carolina in 2021 despite appearing in just 8 games because of quad and groin injuries. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 with New England and has 27 career interceptions and 116 passes defended.

Insider: Why Stephon Gilmore should slide seamlessly into Gus Bradley's Colts defense

Kenny Moore II, cornerback

The 27-year-old who joined the Colts as a free agent in 2017 will count $6.75 million against the 2022 salary cap, No. 22 among cornerbacks. He is also due $7.54 million in 2023, the last year of his deal.

Moore made the Pro Bowl in 2021 after compiling 102 tackles and making 4 interceptions. He wants a new deal before the 2022 season begins.

Doyel: Kenny Moore wants more money, stays classy

Mo Alie-Cox, tight end

The 29-year-old former college basketball player signed a 3-year contract in March. He will count $6.32 million against the 2022 salary cap, No. 13 among tight ends. His deal is set to pay him $11.23 million over the '23 and '24 seasons, but the team holds a potential out after '23.

Alie-Cox becomes the leading tight end after Jack Doyle's retirement. Entering his fifth season with the Colts, Alie-Cox had 24 catches for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2021. He has 70 career receptions and 8 TDs.

Matt Pryor, tackle

The 27-year-old filled in at the tackle positions in 2021 after coming to the Colts shortly before the season started. He signed a 1-year deal in March that will count $5.45 million against the salary cap.

Pryor, who was drafted by Philadelphia in 2018 and played there in '19 and '20, started five games for the Colts in 2021. With Eric Fisher leaving the Colts, may be in line to start in 2022, though they also picked Bernhard Raimann in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Matt Pryor's mission: Solve the Colts' left tackle dilemma

Nyheim Hines, running back

The 25-year-old picked in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft will count $5.14 million against the 2022 salary cap. He's due $13.27 million over the '23 and '24 seasons, though the Colts have a potential out after 2022.

The Colts' all-purpose threat has 282 career carries for 1,169 yards and 9 touchdowns; 210 catches for 1,537 yards and 7 TDs, and 62 punt returns for a 13.2 average and 2 TDs.

Colts who count $2 million-$4 million against the 2022 salary cap

(with contract terms)

LB Zaire Franklin, $3.61 million ($6.39 million more through 2024)

CB Brandon Facyson, $3.54 million, 1-year deal

DE Kwity Paye, $3.1 million ($8.06 million through 2024, team option for 2025)

LB Bobby Okereke, $2.76 million, end of rookie deal

S Khari Willis, $2.73 million, end of rookie deal

QB Nick Foles, $2.6 million ($3.6 million in 2023)

WR Ashton Dulin, $2.43 million, 1-year deal

WR Michael Pittman Jr., $2.34 million ($2.74 million in 2023)

P Rigoberto Sanchez, $2.34 million ($2.9 million in 2023)

DT Tyquan Lewis, $2.27 million, 1-year deal

RB Jonathan Taylor, $2.13 million ($2.49 million in 2023)

Colts who count less between $1 million-$2 million against the 2022 salary cap

DE Ben Banogu, $1.89 million, end of rookie deal

S Rodney McLeod, $1.77 million, 1-year deal

WR Parris Campbell, $1.51 million, end of rookie deal

DE Dayo Odeyingbo, $1.4 million ($3.64 million through 2024)

S Julian Blackmon, $1.24 million ($1.4 million in 2023)

WR Alec Pierce, $1.2 million ($5.4 million through 2025)

T Dennis Kelly, $1.04 million, 1-year deal

S Brandon King, $1.04 million, 1-year deal

S Armani Watts, $1.04 million, 1-year deal

LB E.J. Speed, $1.03 million, end of rookie deal

LS Luke Rhodes, $1.03 million ($1.2 million in 2023)

TE Kylen Granson, $1 million ($2.34 million through 2024)

Colts who will count between $825,000-$1 million against the 2022 salary cap

RB Phillip Lindsay, $995,000, 1-year deal

C Danny Pinter, $982,175 ($1.09 million in 2023)

TE Jelani Woods, $976,813 ($4.38 million through 2025)

CB Tony Brown, $965,000, 1-year deal

WR Keke Coutee, $965,000, 1-year deal

DE R.J. McIntosh, $965,000, 1-year deal

T Bernhard Raimann, $963,993 ($4.32 million through 2025)

CB Isaiah Rodgers, $931,281 ($1.04 million in 2023)

WR Dezmon Patmon, $927,353 ($1.04 million in 2023)

S Nick Cross, $921,025 ($4.14 million through 2025)

K Rodrigo Blankenship, $901,667, end of 3-year deal

S Will Redmond, $895,000, 1-year deal

CB Anthony Chesley, $895,000, 1-year deal

QB Sam Ehlinger, $857,677 ($2.05 million through 2024)

WR Mike Strachan, $853,708 ($2.04 million through 2024)

G Will Fries, $846,343 ($2.03 million through 2024)

WR De'Michael Harris, $825,000, 1-year deal

RB Deon Jackson, $825,000, 1-year deal

CB Marvell Tell, $825,000, 1-year deal

DT Chris Williams, $825,000, 1-year deal

RB Ty'Son Williams, $825,000,  1-year deal

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL salary cap: Colts pay quarterback Matt Ryan the most