Elite NFL wide receivers can greatly impact a team’s success in a season. The best at their position command salaries rivaling the salaries of every position on the field other than quarterback.
Ja’Marr Chase of the Bengals signed a record extension right before St. Patrick’s Day that makes him the highest-paid wide receiver at $40.3 million annually.
The reigning triple-crown winner -he led the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns, only the fifth player to do so since 1970 – signed a four-year, $161 million extension, including $112 million guaranteed.
He became the latest player to take the title of highest-paid non-QB ever after Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby briefly held the title.
The Vikings’ Justin Jefferson is second at $35 million in AAV. The former LSU teammate of Chase signed a 4-year, $140 million contract extension last June. He earned $88.7 million at signing last summer.
Third is Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb at $34 million in AAV. Lamb will earn $136 million over four years, but on March 4th, he agreed to restructure his contract to clear up $20 million in cap space for Dallas.
New Steelers receiver D.K. Metcalf is fourth, earning $33 million annually. Traded to Pittsburgh from Seattle after a frenzied start to free agency, Metcalf signed a four-year, $132 million extension on March 9th.
Eagles superstar A.J. Brown wraps up the top five at $32 million annually. Brown signed a three-year, $96 million contract extension with the Eagles last April. The deal will keep him with the Super Bowl champs through his 33rd birthday.
The top 11 highest-paid receivers all earn over $25 million a year.
Ranking the Highest-Paid Wide Receivers in the NFL
Here is the full list of the top 25 highest-paid NFL receivers by average annual value. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
- Updated: March 25th, 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Average Annual Compensation |
| 1 | Ja’Marr Chase | Cincinnati Bengals | $40.3 million |
| 2 | Justin Jefferson | Minnesota Vikings | $35 million |
| 3 | CeeDee Lamb | Dallas Cowboys | $34 million |
| 4 | D.K. Metcalf | Pittsburgh Steelers | $33 million |
| 5 | A.J. Brown | Philadelphia Eagles | $32 million |
| 6 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Detroit Lions | $30.002 million |
| T-7 | Tyreek Hill | Miami Dolphins | $30 million |
| T-7 | Brandon Aiyuk | San Francisco 49ers | $30 million |
| 9 | Tee Higgins | Cincinnati Bengals | $28.8 million |
| 10 | Jaylen Waddle | Miami Dolphins | $28.3 million |
| 11 | D.J. Moore | Chicago Bears | $27.5 million |
| 12 | DeVonta Smith | Philadelphia Eagles | $25 million |
| 13 | Nico Collins | Houston Texans | $24.3 million |
| 14 | Deebo Samuel | Washington Commanders | $23.9 million |
| 15 | Michael Pittman Jr. | Indianapolis Colts | $23.3 million |
| 16 | Calvin Ridley | Tennessee Titans | $23 million |
| 17 | Terry McLaurin | Washington Commanders | $22.8 million |
| T-18 | Davante Adams | Los Angeles Rams | $23 million |
| T-18 | Chris Godwin | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $22 million |
| 20 | Mike Evans | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $20.5 million |
| 21 | Christian Kirk | Houston Texans | $18 million |
| 22 | Jerry Jeudy | Cleveland Browns | $17.5 million |
| 23 | Stefon Diggs | New England Patriots | $17.3 million |
| 24 | Courtland Sutton | Denver Broncos | $15.2 million |
| 25 | Cooper Kupp | Seattle Seahawks | $15 million |
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