The outside linebacker gets all the attention because they can wreak havoc with quarterbacks with sacks.
Jacksonville Jaguars star Josh Hines-Allen paves the way as the highest-paid NFL linebacker making $28.25 million annually. After being traded to the Giants last season, Brian Burns secured the second position by inking a five-year, $141 million contract. This deal puts him on pace to earn over $28.2 million annually.
Following Burns is Steelers star T.J. Watt (above), who has led the league in sacks with 76.5 since 2019. He signed a four-year, $112.011 million extension with the franchise in 2021 and made more than $28 million annually.
While outside linebackers dominate the 25 highest-paid linebackers, some believe inside linebackers deserve to be paid more. Last year, Jets linebacker Haason Reddick declared that the inside linebacker position needs to get the respect and pay they deserve.
“Inside linebacker is like the quarterback of the defense, so to see them finally getting paid in a respective way lets me know that the game is progressing into the right direction,” Reddick said on Front Office Sports Today in September 2023.
The Ravens’ Roquan Smith is the league’s highest-paid inside linebacker but ranks ninth, making $20 million.
Tied for fourth position in linebacker compensation is the Texans’ Danielle Hunter and Bears’ Montez Sweat at $24.5 million yearly.
Hunter signed a two-year deal worth $49 million in March 2024 after moving from the Vikings to the Texans. Sweat signed a four-year, $98 million extension in November 2023 after his trade to Chicago from Washington.
Top 25 Highest-Paid Linebackers
Here is the full list of the top 25 highest-paid NFL linebackers by average annual value. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
- Updated: March 14th, 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Compensation |
| 1 | Josh Hines-Allen | Jacksonville Jaguars | $28.25 million |
| 2 | Brian Burns | New York Giants | $28.2 million |
| 3 | T.J. Watt | Pittsburgh Steelers | $28 million |
| T-4 | Danielle Hunter | Houston Texans | $24.5 million |
| T-4 | Montez Sweat | Chicago Bears | $24.5 million |
| 6 | Rashan Gary | Green Bay Packers | $24 million |
| 7 | Roquan Smith | Baltimore Ravens | $20 million |
| 8 | Josh Sweat | Arizona Cardinals | $19.1 million |
| 9 | Fred Warner | San Francisco 49ers | $19.05 million |
| 10 | Bradley Chubb | Miami Dolphins | $18.2 million |
| T-11 | Tremaine Edmunds | Chicago Bears | $18 million |
| T-11 | Khalil Mack | Los Angeles Chargers | $18 million |
| 13 | Bryce Huff | Philadelphia Eagles | $17.03 million |
| T-14 | Alex Highsmith | Pittsburgh Steelers | $17 million |
| T-14 | Zach Baun | Philadelphia Eagles | $17 million |
| T-16 | Jamien Sherwood | New York Jets | $15 million |
| T-16 | Jonathon Cooper | Denver Broncos | $15 million |
| T-16 | Uchenna Nwosu | Seattle Seahawks | $15 million |
| T-16 | Nick Bolton | Kansas City Chiefs | $15 million |
| 20 | Harold Landry | New England Patriots | $14.5 million |
| 21 | Matt Milano | Tennessee Titans | $14.2 million |
| 22 | Haason Reddick | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $14 million |
| 23 | Patrick Queen | Pittsburgh Steelers | $13.7 million |
| 24 | Joey Bosa | Buffalo Bills | $12.6 million |
| 25 | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | Cleveland Browns | $12.5 million |
