The highest-paid NFL players are usually quarterbacks, followed by top defensive linemen and wide receivers. These values are based on the average annual value (AAV) of their contracts, which may fluctuate when new contracts are signed.
The following is a list of some of the highest-paid NFL players:
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott (born July 29, 1993) is an American football quarterback who plays for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. Since his debut in the NFL in 2016, he has been one of the league’s most effective quarterbacks, known for his leadership, accuracy, and mobility.
Prescott is the Cowboys’ primary quarterback this year, and he holds the team record for career throwing yards and touchdowns. He remains a key factor in Dallas’ quest for a Super Bowl championship, as well as one of the league’s highest-paid and most prominent players. He became the first NFL player ever to earn $60 million per year, establishing a new standard for quarterback contracts.
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Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback, became one of the highest-paid athletes in NFL history when he signed a five-year, $275 million contract deal in September 2023. This contract contained a guaranteed $219.01 million and an average yearly value of $55 million, making him the league’s highest-paid player at the time of signing.
Tom Brady
One of the greatest NFL players and productive quarterbacks in history surprised everyone when he signed a free-agent contract with Tampa Bay after two decades with the Patriots. Tom Brady’s contract with the Buccaneers included a $50 million guarantee for two years, as well as an optional $9 million in possible bonuses and incentives. Brady also earns $12 million from endorsement partnerships with firms including IWC Schaffhausen, Wheels Up, and Under Armour.
Drew Brees
Drew Brees, the NFL’s all-time passing yards leader, signed a two-year contract agreement with the New Orleans Saints worth $50 million in 2020 plus a $23 million signing bonus, raising his yearly pay to $29.8 million. Brees has total accumulated earnings of $44.8 million, with endorsements accounting for $15 million.
Julio Jones
The seven-time Pro Bowler ranks fifth on the list of the highest-paid NFL players, receiving $37.5 million per year in pay plus $3 million in endorsement deals. Julio Jones signed a three-year contract with Atlanta in 2019 worth $66 million, which included a $25 million signing bonus.
Grady Jarrett
The 27-year-old, who matched a Super Bowl record with three sacks in a 2016 NFL game against the New England Patriots, inked a four-year contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons in 2019 worth $68 million, which would pay him around $33 million per year. Though Jarrett did not make as much as his colleagues in endorsement agreements, earning only $50,000, his large wage income places him ninth on the list of the highest-paid professional football players.
Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas established an NFL receiver record in 2019 by signing a five-year contract deal for $96 million with the New Orleans Saints, which included a $20 million signing bonus. The AP Offensive Player of the Year receives $0.75 million in endorsements in addition to his $31.6 million salary and prizes, increasing his total earnings for the year to $32.4 million. Thomas also has his own clothing line, which undoubtedly generates additional off-field riches.
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ record-breaking quarterback, has signed a $134 million contract extension that will keep him in the league until the 2023 season and pay him $21.1 million annually. The 36-year-old’s total revenue is $30.1 million, including $9 million in salary and sponsorships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quarterbacks such as Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are critical to their teams’ success. Their leadership, decision-making abilities, and offensive effect make them the most valuable—and hence the highest-paid—players.
No, endorsement agreements are different from NFL contracts. Top players, including Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, frequently earn a lot of money from endorsements.
Yes, but less frequently. Elite players like Nick Bosa have gotten large contracts, but quarterbacks continue to monopolize the top positions.
It changes each season, but clubs with outstanding quarterbacks—such as the Kansas City Chiefs or Dallas Cowboys—are frequently among the largest spenders.
