Quarterbacks continue to rake in the most money among the highest-paid NFL players.
While stars at other positions held out before the 2024-2025 season, hoping to secure bigger contracts, quarterbacks have been rewarded as the highest-paid position in the NFL for years.
Only seven non-quarterbacks make the list of the highest-paid NFL players.
Dak Prescott’s extension before last season makes him the league’s highest-paid player. The Cowboys quarterback signed a four-year, $420 million extension for a $60 million AAV.
He becomes the latest quarterback to take the title of the highest-paid player, although recent history suggests it may not last long.
Josh Allen of the Bills, Joe Burrow of the Bengals, Jordan Love of the Packers, and Trevor Lawrence of the Jaguars are tied for second, each earning $55 million in AAV.
Allen signed a four-year deal on March 9th that will give him the most guaranteed money ever for an NFL player at $250 million.
Burrow signed his contract extension in 2023, which will net him $275 million over 5 years. His contract includes $146.5 million guaranteed at signing.
Last July, Love signed a 4-year extension with Green Bay to put himself at second. He’ll earn an additional $600,000 as a bonus each year he makes the roster starting this year.
Lawrence signed a 5-year, $275 million contract extension last June to catapult toward the top of the list. He was previously earning $9.2 million on his rookie contract.
Ja’Marr Chase is the highest-paid non-quarterback with a $40.3 million AAV. Chase’s four-year, $161 million extension includes $112 million guaranteed and made him the highest-paid wide receiver ever.
Myles Garrett is the highest-earning defensive player, earning $40 million in AAV. He made history on March 9th, right before Allen signed his record extension. Garrett’s four-year, $160 million extension is the most ever for a defensive player.
As the NFL moves closer to its revenue goal of $25 billion, the highest-paid players will continue to demand increasing salaries. Last year, only three players earned at least $50 million per season.
This year, ten players have crossed the $50 million mark.
Ranking The NFL’s Highest-Paid Players
Here is the list of the top 25 highest-paid NFL players. The list was compiled with data from Spotrac.
- Updated: March 17th, 2025
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | Total Contract AAV |
| 1 | Dak Prescott | Quarterback | Dallas Cowboys | $60 million |
| T-2 | Joe Burrow | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals | $55 million |
| T-2 | Jordan Love | Quarterback | Green Bay Packers | $55 million |
| T-2 | Trevor Lawrence | Quarterback | Jacksonville Jaguars | $55 million |
| T-2 | Josh Allen | Quarterback | Buffalo Bills | $55 million |
| 6 | Tua Tagovailoa | Quarterback | Miami Dolphins | $53.1 million |
| 7 | Jared Goff | Quarterback | Detroit Lions | $53 million |
| 8 | Justin Herbert | Quarterback | Los Angeles Chargers | $52.5 million |
| 9 | Lamar Jackson | Quarterback | Baltimore Ravens | $52 million |
| 10 | Jalen Hurts | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | $51 million |
| 11 | Kyler Murray | Quarterback | Arizona Cardinals | $46.1 million |
| 12 | Deshaun Watson | Quarterback | Cleveland Browns | $46 million |
| T-13 | Kirk Cousins | Quarterback | Atlanta Falcons | $45 million |
| T-13 | Patrick Mahomes | Quarterback | Kansas City Chiefs | $45 million |
| 15 | Ja’Marr Chase | Wide Receiver | Cincinnati Bengals | $40.3 million |
| T-16 | Myles Garrett | Defensive End | Cleveland Browns | $40 million |
| T-16 | Matthew Stafford | Quarterback | Los Angeles Rams | $40 million |
| 18 | Derek Carr | Quarterback | New Orleans Saints | $37.5 million |
| 19 | Maxx Crosby | Defensive End | Las Vegas Raiders | $35.5 million |
| 20 | Justin Jefferson | Wide Receiver | Minnesota Vikings | $35 million |
| T-21 | Nick Bosa | Defensive End | San Francisco 49ers | $34 million |
| T-21 | CeeDee Lamb | Wide Receiver | Dallas Cowboys | $34 million |
| 23 | Sam Darnold | Quarterback | Seattle Seahawks | $33.5 million |
| 24 | Baker Mayfield | Quarterback | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $33.3 million |
| 25 | D.K. Metcalf | Wide Receiver | Pittsburgh Steelers | $33 million |
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