The outside linebacker gets all the attention because they can wreak havoc on 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. In 2023, 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 sixth, making $20 million.
Fourth in linebacker compensation is the Bears’ Montez Sweat, who earns $24.5 million yearly. Sweat signed a four-year, $98 million extension in November 2023 after his trade to Chicago from Washington.
Wrapping up the top five is Rashan Gary of the Packers at $24 million. Gary is in the second year of a four-year, $96 million extension signed in October 2023.
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: April 23rd, 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 |
| 4 | Montez Sweat | Chicago Bears | $24.5 million |
| 5 | Rashan Gary | Green Bay Packers | $24 million |
| 6 | Roquan Smith | Baltimore Ravens | $20 million |
| 7 | Josh Sweat | Arizona Cardinals | $19.1 million |
| 8 | Fred Warner | San Francisco 49ers | $19.05 million |
| 9 | Bradley Chubb | Miami Dolphins | $18.2 million |
| T-10 | Tremaine Edmunds | Chicago Bears | $18 million |
| T-10 | Khalil Mack | Los Angeles Chargers | $18 million |
| 12 | Bryce Huff | Philadelphia Eagles | $17.03 million |
| T-13 | Alex Highsmith | Pittsburgh Steelers | $17 million |
| T-13 | Zach Baun | Philadelphia Eagles | $17 million |
| T-15 | Jamien Sherwood | New York Jets | $15 million |
| T-15 | Jonathon Cooper | Denver Broncos | $15 million |
| T-15 | Uchenna Nwosu | Seattle Seahawks | $15 million |
| T-15 | Nick Bolton | Kansas City Chiefs | $15 million |
| 19 | Harold Landry | New England Patriots | $14.5 million |
| 20 | Haason Reddick | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $14 million |
| 21 | Patrick Queen | Pittsburgh Steelers | $13.7 million |
| 22 | Joey Bosa | Buffalo Bills | $12.6 million |
| 23 | Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | Cleveland Browns | $12.5 million |
| 24 | Azeez Al-Shaair | Houston Texans | $11.3 million |
| 25 | Robert Spillane | New England Patriots | $11 million |
