Which players in the NFL earn the highest salaries for their respective positions? Many groundbreaking deals have been struck in the past year, as the quarterback position has been redefined by four different players claiming the title of highest paid player. Starting with Jalen Hurts, followed by Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert, and most recently Joe Burrow, who entered the 2023 season as the highest paid player in NFL history.
In August, tight end T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings set a new standard for tight ends, while San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa became the highest-paid defensive player. Additionally, wide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Vikings made history in June by receiving a record-breaking $110 million in guaranteed money, the most ever for a non quarterback on the offensive side.
We monitored the highest paid athletes in 16 various positions, including long snapper and will continue to update the data as new records are set. In order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the top earners in the league, we organized positions into two categories. In some instances, the same player holds the top spot in both categories:
three year average (APY)
total guaranteed money
Salary information was gathered from the Roster Management System. Lets begin with Burrow and the quarterbacks with the highest salaries.
The top three-year APY available for deposit.
Quarterback
1. Joe Burrow, $62.9 million
Signed: September 2023 (contract ends in 2030)
2. Jared Goff (DET), $57.3 million
3. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), $55 million
4. Justin Herbert (LAC), $53.3 million
5. Lamar Jackson (BAL), $52 million
6. Jalen Hurts (PHI), $51 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Deshaun Watson, $230 million
Signed: March 2022 (contract ends in 2027)
2. Joe Burrow (CIN), $219.01 million
3. Patrick Mahomes (KC), $208.1 million
4. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), $200 million
5. Justin Herbert (LAC), $193.7 million
6. Kyler Murray (ARI), $189.5 million
Running back
Highest three-year APY:
1. Christian McCaffrey, $17.2 million
Signed: April 2020 (contract ends in 2026)
2. Jonathan Taylor (IND), $14 million
3. Alvin Kamara (NO), $12.7 million
4. Saquon Barkley (PHI), $12.6 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Christian McCaffrey, $36.3 million
Signed: April 2020 (contract ends in 2026)
2. Alvin Kamara (NO), $34.3 million
3. Jonathan Taylor (IND), $26.5 million
4. Saquon Barkley (PHI), $26 million
Wide receiver
Highest three-year APY:
1. Justin Jefferson, $35 million
Signed: June 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. A.J. Brown (PHI), $32 million
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET), $30 million
4. Jaylen Waddle (MIA), $28.3 million
5. Cooper Kupp (LAR), $26.7 million
6. Stefon Diggs (HOU), $26.2 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Justin Jefferson, $110 million
Signed: June 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. A.J. Brown (PHI), $84 million
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET), $77 million
4. Jaylen Waddle (MIA), $76 million
5. Cooper Kupp (LAR), $75 million
6. Tyreek Hill (MIA), $72.2 million
Tight end
Highest three-year APY:
1. Travis Kelce, $17.1 million
Signed: April 2024 (contract ends in 2025)
2. Darren Waller (NYG), $17 million
3. T.J. Hockenson (MIN), $16 million
4. 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, $28 million
Signed: April 2024 (contract ends in 2029)
2. Laremy Tunsil (HOU), $25 million
3. Andrew Thomas (NYG), $24.2 million
4. Ronnie Stanley (BAL), $21.2 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Penei Sewell, $85 million
Signed: April 2024 (contract ends in 2029)
2. Ronnie Stanley (BAL), $64.1 million
3. Andrew Thomas (NYG), $61.9 million
4. Ryan Ramczyk (NO), $60.2 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
4. Mike Onwenu (NE), $19 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. Frank Ragnow, $14 million
Signed: May 2021 (contract ends in 2026)
2. Lloyd Cushenberry (TEN), $12.6 million
3. Erik McCoy (NO), $12.5 million
4. Ryan Kelly (IND), $12.4 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Frank Ragnow, $42 million
Signed: May 2021 (contract ends in 2026)
2. Ryan Kelly (IND), $34 million
3. Erik McCoy (NO), $33 million
4. Lloyd Cushenberry (TEN), $30 million
Cornerback
Highest three-year APY:
1. Jaire Alexander, $21.8 million
Signed: May 2022 (contract ends in 2027)
2. Jalen Ramsey (MIA), $20.6 million
3. Marshon Lattimore (NO), $20.3 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Denzel Ward, $71.25 million
Signed: April 2022 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Jalen Ramsey (MIA), $71.2 million
3. Marshon Lattimore (NO), $68.3 million
Safety
Highest three-year APY:
1. Antoine Winfield Jr., $21.03 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. Nick Bosa, $34.7 million
Signed: September 2023 (contract ends in 2029)
2. T.J. Watt (PIT), $30.5 million
T3. Josh Allen (JAX), $30 million
T3. Brian Burns (NYG), $30 million
4. 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. Josh Allen (JAX), $88 million
4. Brian Burns (NYG), $87.5 million
Defensive tackle
Highest three-year APY:
1. Chris Jones, $31.7 millon
Signed: March 2024 (contract ends in 2028)
2. Aaron Donald (LAR), $31.6 million
3. Christian Wilkins (LV), $28 million
4. Derrick Brown (CAR), $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
4. Aaron Donald (LAR), $65 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. C.J. Mosley (NYJ), $51 million
3. Tremaine Edmunds (CHI), $45 million
Kicker
Highest three-year APY:
1. Justin Tucker, $6.2 million
Signed: August 2022 (contract ends in 2027)
2. Matt Gay (IND), $5.9 million
3. Chris Boswell (PIT), $5.6 million
Total guaranteed money:
1. Justin Tucker, $17.5 million
Signed: August 2022 (contract ends in 2027)
2. Graham Gano (NYG), $13.2 million
2. Matt Gay (IND), $13 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, $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