Quarterbacks continue to rake in the most money among the highest-paid NFL players.
While stars at other positions hold out, hoping to secure bigger contracts, quarterbacks have been rewarded as the highest-paid position in the NFL for years.
Only eight non-quarterbacks make the list of the highest-paid NFL players.
Dak Prescott’s new extension makes him the league’s highest-paid player. The Cowboys quarterback signed for a record four-year, $420 million extension right before the season started.
He becomes the latest quarterback to take the title of the highest-paid player, although recent history suggests it may not last long.
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.
Burrow signed his record-setting contract extension in 2023 that will net him $275 million over 5 years. His contract includes $146.5 million guaranteed at signing.
On July 26th, Love signed a 4-year extension with Green Bay to put himself level with Burrow. He’ll earn an additional $600K as a bonus each year he makes the roster starting in 2025.
Lawrence signed a 5-year, $275 million contract extension in June to catapult him to the top of the list. He was previously earning $9.2 million on his rookie contract.
Justin Jefferson is the highest-paid NFL player who is not a quarterback.
The Vikings’ explosive wide receiver signed a 4-year contract extension in June worth $35 million a year. He earned $88.74 million in guaranteed money at signing.
Nick Bosa is the highest-earning defensive player, hitting the list at 20th with $34 million in AAV.
The 26-year-old signed a contract extension in September 2023 before he would have become an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
Bosa could earn an additional $29.4K per game for each game he is active.
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, nine 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: December 2nd, 2024
| 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 |
| 5 | Tua Tagovailoa | Quarterback | Miami Dolphins | $53.1 million |
| 6 | Jared Goff | Quarterback | Detroit Lions | $53 million |
| 7 | Justin Herbert | Quarterback | Los Angeles Chargers | $52.5 million |
| 8 | Lamar Jackson | Quarterback | Baltimore Ravens | $52 million |
| 9 | Jalen Hurts | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | $51 million |
| 10 | Kyler Murray | Quarterback | Arizona Cardinals | $46.1 million |
| 11 | Deshaun Watson | Quarterback | Cleveland Browns | $46 million |
| T-12 | Kirk Cousins | Quarterback | Atlanta Falcons | $45 million |
| T-12 | Patrick Mahomes | Quarterback | Kansas City Chiefs | $45 million |
| 14 | Josh Allen | Quarterback | Buffalo Bills | $43 million |
| 15 | Matthew Stafford | Quarterback | Los Angeles Rams | $40 million |
| T-16 | Aaron Rodgers | Quarterback | New York Jets | $37.5 million |
| T-16 | Derek Carr | Quarterback | New Orleans Saints | $37.5 million |
| 18 | Justin Jefferson | Wide Receiver | Minnesota Vikings | $35 million |
| T-19 | Nick Bosa | Defensive End | San Francisco 49ers | $34 million |
| T-19 | CeeDee Lamb | Wide Receiver | Dallas Cowboys | $34 million |
| 21 | Baker Mayfield | Quarterback | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $33.33 million |
| 22 | AJ Brown | Wide Receiver | Philadelphia Eagles | $32 million |
| 23 | Chris Jones | Defensive Tackle | Kansas City Chiefs | $31.75 million |
| 24 | Amon-Ra St Brown | Wide Receiver | Detroit Lions | $30.003 million |
| T-25 | Brandon Aiyuk | Wide Receiver | San Francisco 49ers | $30 million |
| T-25 | Tyreek Hill | Wide Receiver | Miami Dolphins | $30 million |
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