As the NFL salary cap continues to rise, quarterbacks remain the highest-paid players in the league, and it’s not particularly close.
The top 12 earners in the NFL — and 14 of the top 25 — are all quarterbacks.
Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes now holds the crown for the highest-paid after signing a restructured $504 million deal with the Chiefs in June 2026. He now has an average annual value (AAV) just north of $63 million per year, according to Spotrac.
Who’s the highest-paid non-quarterback?
That title belongs to Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson, who ranks No. 13 with an AAV of $50 million.
Here’s a look at the league’s top 25 most highly compensated players by AAV:
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Highest-Paid NFL Players, by Average Annual Value
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
- AAV:$63.1 million
- Contract details: 8 years, $504.7 million
2. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
- AAV:$60 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $240 million
T-3. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
- AAV:$55 million
- Contract details: 1 year, $55 million
T-3. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
- AAV:$55 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $220 million
T-3. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
- AAV:$55 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $275 million
T-3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
- AAV:$55 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $275 million
T-3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
- AAV:$55 million
- Contract details: 6 years, $330 million
T-8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
- AAV:$53 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $212 million
T-8. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
- AAV:$53 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $265 million
10. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
- AAV:$52.5 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $262.5 million
11. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
- AAV:$52 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $260 million
12. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
- AAV:$51 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $255 million
13. Will Anderson, Houston Texans
- AAV:$50 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $150 million
14. Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers
- AAV:$46.5 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $186 million
15. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
- AAV:$46 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $230 million
16. Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
- AAV:$45 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $180 million
17. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
- AAV:$44 million
- Contract details: 2 years, $88 million
18. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
- AAV:$42.1 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $168.6 million
19. Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams
- AAV:$41.6 million
- Contract details: 5 years, $208.2 million
20. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
- AAV:$41 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $123 million
21. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
- AAV:$40.2 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $161 million
22. Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans
- AAV:$40.1 million
- Contract details: 1 year, $40.1 million
23. Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles
- AAV:$38 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $152 million
24. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
- AAV:$35.5 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $106.5 million
25. Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys
- AAV:$35.3 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $105.9 million
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