The NFL’s salary cap remains on the rise, as do the average salaries of the league’s highest-paid players.
In an increasingly offense-oriented, fantasy football-driven sport, it’s typical to find the iconic quarterbacks and wide receivers bringing home the big bucks.
However, the most highly touted defenders are right up there, too, especially those who can rush the passer and play lockdown coverage on the game’s elite pass-catchers.
Twenty (20) players on defense now earn at least $30 million annually. At the top of the list sits Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson, who inked a three-year, $150 million deal in April 2026.
Here is the rest of the NFL’s top 25 most handsomely paid defenders.
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Highest-Paid NFL Defensive Players, by Average Annual Value
1. Will Anderson, Houston Texans
- AAV:$50 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $150 million
2. Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers
- AAV:$46.5 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $186 million
3. Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
- AAV:$45 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $180 million
4. Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams
- AAV:$41.6 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $208.2 million
5. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
- AAV:$41 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $123 million
6. Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans
- AAV:$40.1 million
- Contract details: 1 year, $40.1 million
7. Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles
- AAV:$38 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $152 million
8. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
- AAV:$35.5 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $106.5 million
9. Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys
- AAV:$35.3 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $105.9 million
10. Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
- AAV:$35.2 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $105.8 million
11. Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
- AAV:$34 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $170 million
12. Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
- AAV:$33 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $132 million
13. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
- AAV:$31.7 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $158.7 million
14. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
- AAV:$31.1 million
- Contract details: 2 years, $62.2 million
15. Trent McDuffie, Los Angeles Rams
- AAV:$31 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $124 million
16. Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, Indianapolis Colts
- AAV:$30.1 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $120.4 million
T-17. Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- AAV:$30 million
- Contract details: 1 year, $30 million
T-17. Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks
- AAV:$30 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $90 million
T-17. Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans
- AAV:$30 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $90 million
T-17. Jaelan Phillips, Carolina Panthers
- AAV:$30 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $120 million
T-21. Dexter Lawrence, Cincinnati Bengals
- AAV:$28 million
- Contract details: 1 year, $28 million
T-21. Trey Hendrickson, Baltimore Ravens
- AAV:$28 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $112 million
23. Travon Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars
- AAV:$27.5 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $110 million
24. Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos
- AAV:$26.5 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $106 million
25. Jordan Davis, Philadelphia Eagles
- AAV:$26 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $78 million
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