Besides the NFL’s truly transformative defensive players, wide receivers are the positional group with salaries most closely aligned with their highly compensated quarterback counterparts.
Today, quarterbacks account for the top 12 average annual salaries across the league, all of whom are earning more than $50 million per season.
The going rate for an elite pass-catcher has risen to at least $30 million annually, with the market setters — Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase — now being paid over $40 million each year.
Here’s a list of the top 25 highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL today.
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Highest-Paid NFL Wide Receivers, by Average Annual Value
1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
- AAV:$42.1 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $168.6 million
2. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
- AAV:$40.2 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $161 million
3. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
- AAV:$35.2 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $141 million
T-4. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
- AAV:$35 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $140 million
T-4. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
- AAV:$35 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $140 million
6. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
- AAV:$34 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $136 million
7. D.K. Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
- AAV:$33 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $132 million
8. Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
- AAV:$32.5 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $130 million
9. Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders
- AAV:$32.3 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $97 million
10. A.J. Brown, New England Patriots
- AAV:$32 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $96 million
11. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
- AAV:$31 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $124 million
12. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
- AAV:$30 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $120 million
13. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
- AAV:$30 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $120 million
14. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
- AAV:$28.7 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $115 million
15. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
- AAV:$28.5 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $114 million
16. Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos
- AAV:$28.2 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $84.7 million
17. D.J. Moore, Buffalo Bills
- AAV:$27.5 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $110 million
18. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys
- AAV:$27.3 million
- Contract details: 1 year, $27.3 million
19. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
- AAV:$26.6 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $80 million
T-20. Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
- AAV:$25 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $75 million
T-20. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
- AAV:$25 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $75 million
22. Nico Collins, Houston Texans
- AAV:$24.2 million
- Contract details: 3 years, $72.7 million
T-23. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
- AAV:$23 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $92 million
T-23. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
- AAV:$23 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $92 million
T-23. Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans
- AAV:$23 million
- Contract details: 4 years, $92 million
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