Who are the NFL’s highest-paid players at every position?
We tracked the best-paid players at 16 different positions — including long-snapper — and will keep the numbers updated as more records get broken. To get the full picture on the top earners in this league, we sorted positions by two categories, which in a few cases have the same player at No. 1:
- Three-year average (APY)
- Total guaranteed money
Salary information courtesy of Roster Management System.
Let’s start the highest-paid quarterbacks:
Quarter Back
Highest three-year APY:
1. Dak Prescott, $61.6 million
Signed: September 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Joe Burrow (CIN), $61.3 million
3. Jordan Love (GB), $58.3 million
4. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), $56.9 million
5. Jared Goff (DET), $55.4 million
6. Tua Tagovailoa (MIA), $54.3 million
7. Justin Herbert (LAC), $53.3 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Deshaun Watson, $230 million
Signed: March 2022 (contract ends in 2027)
2. Dak Prescott (DAL), $229 million
3. Joe Burrow (CIN), $219 million
4. Patrick Mahomes (KC), $208.1 million
5. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), $200 million
6. Justin Herbert (LAC), $193.7 million
7. Kyler Murray (ARI), $189.5 million
Running Back
Highest three-year APY:
1. Saquon Barkley, $20.6 million
Signed: March 2025 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Christian McCaffrey (SF), $19 million
3. Jonathan Taylor (IND), $14 million
4. Alvin Kamara (NO), $12.2 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Saquon Barkley, $36 million
Signed: March 2025 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Jonathan Taylor (IND), $26.5 million
3. Christian McCaffrey (SF), $24 million
4. Alvin Kamara (NO), $34.3 million
Wide Receiver
Highest three-year APY:
1. Justin Jefferson, $35 million
Signed: June 2024 (contract ends in 2029)
2. CeeDee Lamb (DAL), $34 million
3. A.J. Brown (PHI), $32 million
4. Brandon Aiyuk (SF), $30 million
5. DJ Moore (CHI), $28.5 million
6. Jaylen Waddle (MIA), $28.3 million
7. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET), $28 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Justin Jefferson, $110 million
Signed: June 2024 (contract ends in 2029)
2. CeeDee Lamb (DAL), $100 million
3. A.J. Brown (PHI), $84 million
4. DJ Moore (CHI), $81.5 million
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET), $77 million
6. Brandon Aiyuk (SF), $76 million
Tight End
Highest three-year APY:
1. Travis Kelce, $17.1 million
Signed: April 2024 (contract ends in 2025)
2. T.J. Hockenson (MIN), $16 million
3. George Kittle (SF), $15.3 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. T.J. Hockenson, $42.5 million
Signed: August 2023 (contract ends in 2027)
2. George Kittle (SF), $40 million
3. Mark Andrews (BAL), $37.6 million
Offensive Tackle
Highest three-year APY:
1. Penei Sewell, $30 million
Signed: April 2024 (contract ends in 2029)
2. Tristan Wirfs (TB), $28.6 million
3. Trent Williams (SF), $27.6 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Tristan Wirfs, $88.24 million
Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2029)
2. Christian Darrisaw (MIN), $74.5 million
3. Penei Sewell (DET), $70 million
4. Andrew Thomas (NYG), $61.9 million
Guard
Highest three-year APY:
1. Chris Lindstrom, $21.8 million
Signed: March 2023 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Robert Hunt (CAR), $21 million
3. Quenton Nelson (IND), $20.9 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Robert Hunt, $63 million
Signed: March 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Chris Lindstrom (ATL), $62.7 million
3. Quenton Nelson (IND), $60 million
Center
Highest three-year APY:
1. Creed Humphrey, $18 million
Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Frank Ragnow (DET), $14 million
3. Lloyd Cushenberry (TEN), $12.6 million
4. Erik McCoy (NO), $12.5 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Creed Humphrey, $50 million
Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Frank Ragnow (DET), $42 million
3. Ryan Kelly (IND), $34 million
4. Erik McCoy (NO), $33 million
Cornerback
Highest three-year APY:
1. Jalen Ramsey, $24.1 million
Signed: September 2024 (contract ends in 2029)
2. Pat Surtain II (DEN), $24 million
3. Jaire Alexander (GB), $21.8 million
4. A.J. Terrell (ATL), $20.6 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Pat Surtain II, $73.9 million
Signed: September 2024 (contract ends in 2030)
2. Denzel Ward (CLE), $71.25 million
3. Marshon Lattimore (NO), $68.3 million
Safety
Highest three-year APY:
1. Antoine Winfield Jr., $21.5 million
Signed: May 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Derwin James Jr. (LAC), $19.6 million
3. Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT), $18.6 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Antoine Winfield Jr., $45 million
Signed: May 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Derwin James Jr. (LAC), $42 million
T3. Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT), $36 million
T3. Jessie Bates III (ATL), $36 million
Edge Rusher
Highest three-year APY:
1. Maxx Crosby, $35.5 million
Signed: March 2025 (contract ends in 2029)
2. Nick Bosa (SF), $34.7 million
3. Josh Hines-Allen (JAX), $31 million
4. T.J. Watt (PIT), $30.5 million
5. Brian Burns (NYG), $30 million
6. Myles Garrett (CLE), $26.7 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Nick Bosa, $119.9 million
Signed: September 2023 (contract ends in 2029)
2. Myles Garrett (CLE), $100 million
3. Maxx Crosby (LV), $91.5 million
4. Josh Hines-Allen (JAX), $88 million
5. Brian Burns (NYG), $87.5 million
Defensive Tackle
Highest three-year APY:
1. Chris Jones, $31.7 million
Signed: March 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Christian Wilkins (LV), $28 million
3. Alim McNeill (DET), $24 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Chris Jones, $101 million
Signed: March 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Christian Wilkins (LV), $82.7 million
3. Quinnen Williams (NYJ), $66 million
Off-Ball Linebacker
Highest three-year APY:
1. Roquan Smith, $20 million
Signed: January 2023 (contract ends 2027)
2. Fred Warner (SF), $19.5 million
3. Tremaine Edmunds (CHI), $19 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Roquan Smith, $60 million
Signed: January 2023 (contract ends 2027)
2. Tremaine Edmunds (CHI), $45 million
3. Fred Warner (SF), $40.5 million
Kicker
Highest three-year APY:
1. Harrison Butker, $6.5 million
Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Justin Tucker (BAL), $6.2 million
3. Jake Elliott (PHI), $6 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Harrison Butker, $17.75 million
Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Justin Tucker (BAL), $17.5 million
3. Jake Elliott (PHI), $14.1 million
Long-Snapper
Highest three-year APY:
1. Luke Rhodes, $1.67 million
Signed: September 2023 (contract ends 2027)
2. Joe Cardona (NE), $1.63 million
3. Zach Wood (NO), $1.62 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Tyler Ott, $2.8 million
Signed: March 2024 (contract ends 2026)
2. Thomas Hennessy (NYJ), $2.62 million
3. Joe Cardona (NE), $2.6 million
Punter
Highest three-year APY:
1. Michael Dickson, $3.9 million
Signed: June 2021 (contract ends in 2025)
2. Jack Fox (DET), $3.6 million
3. Tress Way (WSH), $3.3 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Michael Dickson, $8.5 million
Signed: June 2021 (contract ends in 2025)
2. Jack Fox (DET), $7.5 million
3. Tress Way (WSH), $6.4 million
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