Financial advantage to 3-4 defense?

The hooplah around Mario Williams' free-agency has me thinking that we have the right scheme for minimizing the cost of our defense. Our pass rushing OLBs are much more cost effective than top-flight 4-3 DL. There is talk about MW becoming the top paid defensive player in the league. I am extremely thankful we don't have any position on D that we have to drop ridiculous money on. I'd be interested to see the average money spent on D between 3-4 and 4-3 teams, with performance taken into consideration of course.

 

Timmons, Woodley, Harrison all have contracts above 45 mill. No chump change here.

 

True, but the OP is right, a 4-3 usually requires a much bigger salary handed out to the front 7. That's a big reason why so many teams have switched to the 3-4 in the last couple decades. Aaron Smith is one of the best DE's in the history of the NFL, but he didn't get paid like it.

 

Well, after Mario Williams just signed a contract for $100 million for 6 years with almost as much guaranteed money ($50 million) as their full contracts, I would say comparatively it is chump change. We get Harrison AND Woodley for $12 million more than one Mario for the same span of time. I can't help but think this is a MAJOR advantage, and I really hope we never switch to a 4-3.