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NFL safeties have long been known as the quarterbacks of the defense, sniffing out dangers from the offense and handling them. Unlike quarterbacks, who continue to be the highest-paid position in football, safeties have lacked in pay compared to other positions.
Kerby Joseph of the Lions hopes to reverse that trend. He’s the new highest-paid NFL safety, earning $21.5 million. A day before the 2025 NFL Draft, Joseph signed a four-year, $86 million extension to keep him in Detroit.
Joseph is coming off a season in which he led the league in interceptions and was named First-Team All-Pro for the first time in his career.
Second is veteran safety Antoine Winfield Jr. at $21 million. The Bucs safety signed an extension worth $84.1 million last May, including $45 million guaranteed.
Coming in third is the Chargers’ Derwin James at $19.13 million annually. James has spent his entire career in Los Angeles and signed a four-year, $76.5 million extension in 2022.
Fourth is L’Jarius Sneed of the Titans, who earns $19.1 million annually. Sneed’s four-year extension, worth $76.4 million, will keep him in Nashville through the 2027-2028 season.
Rounding out the top five is the Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick at $18.4 million. Fitzpatrick has been in Pittsburgh since 2019, when he was traded from Miami.
Only ten NFL safeties earn over $15 million a year, compared to 20 NFL cornerbacks who make at least that much.
Top 25 Highest-Paid Safeties
Here is the full list of the top 25 highest-paid NFL safeties by average annual value. The list was compiled using data from Spotrac.
| Rank | Player | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Kerby Joseph | Detroit Lions | $21.5 million |
| 2 | Antoine Winfield Jr. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $21 million |
| 3 | Derwin James | Los Angeles Chargers | $19.13 million |
| 4 | L’Jarius Sneed | Tennessee Titans | $19.1 million |
| 5 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | Pittsburgh Steelers | $18.4 million |
| 6 | Budda Baker | Arizona Cardinals | $18 million |
| 7 | Trevon Moehrig | Carolina Panthers | $17 million |
| 8 | Xavier McKinney | Green Bay Packers | $16.8 million |
| 9 | Jessie Bates III | Atlanta Falcons | $16 million |
| 10 | Jevon Holland | New York Giants | $15.1 million |
| 11 | Camryn Bynum | Indianapolis Colts | $15 million |
| 12 | Kyle Dugger | New England Patriots | $14.5 million |
| 13 | Talanoa Hufanga | Denver Broncos | $13 million |
| T-14 | Grant Delpit | Cleveland Browns | $12 million |
| T-14 | Jalen Thompson | Arizona Cardinals | $12 million |
| 16 | Julian Love | Seattle Seahawks | $11 million |
| 17 | Jimmie Ward | Houston Texans | $10.51 million |
| 18 | Justin Reid | New Orleans Saints | $10.5 million |
| 19 | Amani Hooker | Tennessee Titans | $10 million |
| 20 | Chauncey Gardner-Johnson | Houston Texans | $9 million |
| 21 | Andre Cisco | New York Jets | $8.5 million |
| 22 | Jeremy Chinn | Las Vegas Raiders | $8.1 million |
| 23 | Jabrill Peppers | New England Patriots | $8 million |
| 24 | Kevin Byard | Chicago Bears | $7.5 million |
| 25 | Darnell Savage | Jacksonville Jaguars | $7.3 million |
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