The Memphis Tigers have had 16 NFL Draft picks since 2000, including a trio of first round draft picks — DeAngelo Williams, Dontari Poe and Paxton Lynch. Currently, 10 former Memphis players are in the NFL, 8 making 53-man rosters and two on initial practice squads.
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That number could jump up to 11 if Williams, an 11-year NFL vet, joins a team during the regular season, but for now, those 10 Memphis alum make up the Tigers in the NFL.
If you add up the average yearly salary of each of the 10 former Tigers in the NFL, Memphis alumni currently combine to make $28,725,949 in average yearly salary.
Here's a look at each player and how much they make in the NFL:
| Player | Pos. | Age | NFL Team | Avg. Yearly Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Leary | G | 28 | Denver | $9,000,000 |
| Dontari Poe | NT | 27 | Atlanta | $8,000,000 |
| Stephen Gostkowski | K | 33 | New England | $4,300,000 |
| Clinton McDonald | DT | 30 | Tampa Bay | $3,000,000 |
| Paxton Lynch | QB | 23 | Denver | $2,369,077 |
| Jordan Devey | OL | 29 | Kansas City | $690,000 |
| Bobby McCain | CB | 24 | Miami | $627,072 |
| Alan Cross | TE | 24 | Tampa Bay | $495,000 |
| Mose Frazier* | WR | 24 | Carolina | $122,400 |
| Jake Elliott* | K | 22 | Cincinnati | $122,400 |
* Denotes practice squad player
Leary, the highest paid former Tiger, was signed by the Denver Broncos away from the Dallas Cowboys, where he helped DeMarco Murray and later Ezekiel Elliott win rushing titles.
Poe signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons this year to bolster the defensive line. He has 200 career tackles and 13 career sacks.
Gostkowski is one of the best kickers in the NFL, with two Super Bowl Championships under his belt to go along with four AFC Championships and four Pro Bowls. He's a two-time First-Team All-Pro and a one time Second-Team All-Pro.
Rounding out the top-paid Memphis alum are Tampa Bay defensive lineman Clinton McDonald and 2016 first-round draft pick quarterback Paxton Lynch.
