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Edge rushers have increased their value in recent years, as the NFL’s elite pass rushers have seen record contract extensions each of the last few offseasons.
In 2024, just 11 commanded $20 million per season of more. By 2026, that number had doubled to 22 players.
Leading the pack is the Texans’ Will Anderson, who secured the top position after signing a three-year, $150 million extension in April 2026. Danielle Hunter would be the best-paid player on multiple NFL teams, but he is just the second-best-paid defensive end for the Texans, earning $40.1 million on a one-year contract; he ranks sixth overall. In between them are the Packers’ Micah Parsons, the Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson, the Ram’s Myles Garrett, and the Steelers’ T.J. Watt.
Maxx Crosby briefly held the title of highest-paid edge rusher after signing a three-year, $106.9 million extension three days before Myles Garrett. His $35.5 million contract average is now seventh among edge rushers.
Nick Bosa, who as recently as 2024 was the league’s highest-paid edge rusher, now ranks eighth; the former second overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft signed a five-year extension in 2023 worth $170 million.
Top 25 Highest-Paid Edge Rushers
Here is the full list of the top 25 highest-paid NFL edge rushers by average annual value. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
| Rank | Player | Team | Compensation |
| 1 | Will Anderson | Houston Texans | $50 million |
| 2 | Micah Parsons | Green Bay Packers | $46.5 million |
| 3 | Aidan Hutchinson | Detroit Lions | $45 million |
| 4 | Myles Garrett | Los Angeles Rams | $41.6 million |
| 5 | T.J. Watt | Pittsburgh Steelers | $41 million |
| 6 | Danielle Hunter | Houston Texans | $40.1 million |
| 7 | Maxx Crosby | Las Vegas Raiders | $35.5 million |
| 8 | Nick Bosa | San Francisco 49ers | $34 million |
| 9 | Jaelan Phillips | Carolina Panthers | $30 million |
| 10 | Joshua Hines-Allen | Jacksonville Jaguars | $28.3 million |
| 11 | Brian Burns | New York Giants | $28.2 million |
| 12 | Trey Hendrickson | Baltimore Ravens | $28 million |
| 13 | Travon Walker | Jacksonville Jaguars | $27.5 million |
| 14 | Nik Bonitto | Denver Broncos | $26.5 million |
| 15 | Nick Herbig | Pittsburgh Steelers | $25 million |
| T-16 | Jonathan Greenard | Philadelphia Eagles | $24.5 million |
| T-16 | Montez Sweat | Chicago Bears | $24.5 million |
| 18 | Odafe Oweh | Washington Commnders | $24 million |
| 19 | Andrew Van Ginkel | Minnesota Vikings | $23 million |
| 20 | George Karlaftis | Kansas City Chiefs | $22 million |
| T-21 | Boye Mafe | Cincinnati Bengals | $20 million |
| T-21 | Greg Roussaeu | Buffalo Bills | $20 million |
| 23 | Josh Sweat | Arizona Cardinals | $19.1 million |
| 24 | Khalil Mack | Los Angeles Chargers | $18 million |
| T-25 | Alex Highsmith | Pittsburgh Steelers | $17 million |
| T-25 | Chase Young | New Orleans Saints | $17 million |
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