Quarterbacks continue to rake in the most money among the highest-paid NFL players.
While stars at other positions hold out in hopes of securing bigger contracts, quarterbacks have been rewarded as the highest-paid position in the NFL for years.
Only 6 non-quarterbacks make the list of the highest-paid NFL players.
Dak Prescott’s new extension makes him the league’s highest-paid player, while three players are tied for the second spot, each earning $55 million in AAV. Joe Burrow of the Bengals, Jordan Love of the Packers, and Trevor Lawrence of the Jaguars are the highest-paid players in the league.
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 before signing.
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, eight 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: September 12, 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 |
| T-14 | Daniel Jones | Quarterback | New York Giants | $40 million |
| T-14 | Matthew Stafford | Quarterback | Los Angeles Rams | $40 million |
| T-17 | Aaron Rodgers | Quarterback | New York Jets | $37.5 million |
| T-17 | Derek Carr | Quarterback | New Orleans Saints | $37.5 million |
| 19 | Justin Jefferson | Wide Receiver | Minnesota Vikings | $35 million |
| 20 | Nick Bosa | Defensive End | San Francisco 49ers | $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 |
| T-24 | Amon-Ra St Brown | Wide Receiver | Detroit Lions | $30 million |
| T-24 | Tyreek Hill | Wide Receiver | Miami Dolphins | $30 million |
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