NFL Non-QB Salary Record Broken for 3rd Time This Month. Who’s Next?

Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL—but for how long?

News of Chase’s new deal, a four-year, $161 million extension, broke late Sunday night, just one week after the Browns had made disgruntled defensive end Myles Garrett the league’s richest non-QB. Chase’s new average annual salary comes out to $40.25 million—that’s $250,000 more per year than the $40 million salary Garrett agreed to.

Last week, Garrett took the mark from Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, who just four days earlier had become the NFL’s highest-paid skill position player with a new $35.5 million salary, as part of a three-year, $106.5 million extension. That makes three new highest-paid non-quarterbacks just this month.

Before that, Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson had held the mark at $35 million per season since his four-year, $140 million extension last June. Jefferson had taken the record from 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa, on a $34 million average annual salary since his five-year, $170 million extension signed just before the 2023 NFL season began.

Who’s Got Next?

The logical choice for which player could be the next to become the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback is Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons. 

Parsons is currently set to make $24 million in 2025 playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. But giving Parsons a raise to $40 million–plus annually will be expensive for Dallas, which is paying quarterback Dak Prescott the NFL’s highest annual salary, $60 million, as well as a $34 million average salary for receiver CeeDee Lamb. It’s worth noting that the QB market itself has not been reset since Prescott’s deal last September. Reigning MVP Josh Allen signed an extension worth $55 million per year.

Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, is also now eligible for a contract extension, and he could challenge the high end of the non-quarterback market.