Athletes

How Much Have NFL Rookie Salaries Changed in the Last 20 Years?

NFL rookie salaries hit a peak in 2010 with top pick Sam Bradford. Since the 2011 CBA reset, rookie salaries have gradually increased along with the NFL salary cap.

By Rodney Reeves

Feb 10, 2025 | 10:39 am

UPDATED Aug 29, 2025 | 04:12 pm

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The NFL salary cap has increased sizably over the past 20 years as the NFL closes in on its $25 billion revenue goal.

In 2004, the NFL salary cap under a previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was $80.6 million. Today, it’s more than tripled to $255.4 million.

Over that time, the total value of NFL rookie contracts has risen sharply.

Cam Ward, the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, will earn $48.8 million on his mandatory four-year deal, $9.3 million more than 2024’s top pick, Caleb Williams.

Top picks in the NFL Draft reached a high in guaranteed money in 2010 but reset under a new CBA in 2011.

Here’s a breakdown of how much the top pick in the NFL Draft has earned since 2004:

Draft Year	First Overall Pick	Maximum Total Value	NFL Salary Cap
2004	Eli Manning	$54 million	$80.6 million
2005	Alex Smith	$53.5 million	$85.5 million
2006	Mario Williams	$54 million	$102 million
2007	JaMarcus Russell	$61 million	$109 million
2008	Jake Long	$57.8 million	$116 million
2009	Matthew Stafford	$72 million	$123 million
2010	Sam Bradford	$78 million	Uncapped*
2011	Cam Newton	$22 million	$120.4 million
2012	Andrew Luck	$22.1 million	$120.6 million
2013	Eric Fisher	$22.2 million	$123.6 million
2014	Jadeveon Clowney	$22.3 million	$133 million
2015	Jameis Winston	$25.4 million	$143.3 million
2016	Jared Goff	$27.9 million	$155.3 million
2017	Myles Garrett	$30.4 million	$167 million
2018	Baker Mayfield	$32.7 million	$177.2 million
2019	Kyler Murray	$35.7 million	$188.2 million
2020	Joe Burrow	$36.2 million	$198.2 million
2021	Trevor Lawrence	$36.8 million	$182.5 million
2022	Travon Walker	$37.4 million	$208.2 million
2023	Bryce Young	$37.96 million	$224.8 million
2024	Caleb Williams	$39.5 million	$255.4 million
2025	Cam Ward	$48.8 million	$279.2 million

*A new CBA had not been reached yet with the NFLPA, so there was no salary cap or salary floor.

JaMarcus Russell’s nightmare contract for the Raiders, guaranteeing him $32 million on a six-year, $61 million deal in 2007, prompted team owners to prevent similar situations in the future.

Enter the rookie pay scale.

Top draft picks still earn their paydays based on their selection place in the draft, but with more modest guaranteed money. Quarterbacks still get picked No. 1 most often, but other positions can earn more guaranteed money than before with early-round selections.

Life isn’t as sweet for NFL rookies drafted in the lower rounds.

In addition to fighting for a roster spot, lower-round draftees may earn a fraction of what their high-profile draft mates earn.

Here is the NFL’s minimum salary scale for rookies since 2004:

2004: $230,000

2005: $230,000

2006: $275,000

2007: $285,000

2008: $295,000

2009: $310,000

2010: $325,000

2011: $375,000

2012: $390,000

2013: $405,000

2014: $420,000

2015: $435,000

2016: $450,000

2017: $465,000

2018: $480,000

2019: $495,000

2020: $610,000

2021: $660,000

2022: $705,000

2023: $750,000

2024: $795,000

2025: $840,000

Even though minimum salaries have more than tripled since 2004, they’re still far from what top draft picks earn in their rookie contracts.

For example, in 2004, the Jaguars’ No. 9 pick, Reggie Williams, earned a $3.2 million signing bonus with his $11.9 million contract. The Raiders’ last pick of that draft, Andre Sommersell, signed a two-year, $551,000 contract with a $16,500 signing bonus.

Expected boosts in the salary cap will keep minimum salaries and rookie scales on an upward trend, but they won’t get out of hand as they did before the 2011 CBA.

The top 10 picks in the draft will continue to see the most upside from the gains.