Highest-Paid NFL Players: There is a huge salary in the National Football League, and some players make more than others. Some players may spend their entire career in one place, while others may only play for a few years. However, when it comes to the highest-paid players in the NFL, there is no doubt that stars like Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson, Matthew Stafford, Russel Wilson, and many more belong amongst the top ranks.
No one knows exactly where the NFL’s highest-paid players come from, but they are certainly not limited to a small group of elite quarterbacks. There are several high-paid players on the active roster for the recent seasons, and here we’re going to talk about the top 10 highest-paid NFL players according to several reports. Stay in touch!
A list of the top 10 highest-paid NFL players:
There is no doubt that the NFL is one of the most highly paid sports leagues in the world. Players who achieve success in the league can make a lot of money. These are some of the highest-paid NFL players.
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Deshaun Watson:
Deshaun Watson is, by all means, one of the highest-paid NFL players. He plays for the Cleveland Browns. In 2022, Watson signed with the Cleveland Browns on a five-year contract worth $230 million. It’s considered to be one of the most expensive contracts in NFL history. He is the latest high-profile player to sign a lucrative contract with a major league team. And Watson’s deal eclipses that of any other player in the NFL. Despite his astronomical salary, Watson has proven himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
He played college football at Clemson, where he led the team to a national championship. He was named the 2016 NFL MVP and he currently holds the record for most quarterback touchdowns in a season. The NFL star has been named to the Pro Bowl several times and was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Watson was also selected as the 2017 NFL Rookie of the Year. He has been paid exceptionally well for endorsements and appearances. He became one of the biggest stars in the league with his stellar performance.
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Josh Allen:
Josh Allen is widely regarded as one of the highest-paid NFL players. He was signed by the Buffalo Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft and has since been making a large amount of money. The Buffalo Bills are one of the most successful teams in the NFL and have won many championships over the years, so Josh Allen must have been very successful in his football career. In total, he has made over a hundred million dollars in his career. This makes him one of the richest NFL players, even above some of the wealthier players.
He is also one of the youngest quarterbacks in the league, at just 26 years old. This makes him an attractive option for teams looking to bring in a top player. He is noted for his decision-making, leadership skills, and arm strength. He has been named to multiple All-Pro teams. Josh Allen is one of the most promising players in the NFL, and his future looks bright. He also set the Buffalo Bills franchise records for single-season passing yards and touchdowns.
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Aaron Rodgers:
Rodgers is one of the highest-paid NFL players, earning an annual salary of $50 million. Rodgers’ salary is due to his exceptional playing skills and productivity on the field. He has won the MVP Award and is currently leading the Packers to their fourth Super Bowl berth in franchise history. He is an integral part-owner of the Green Bay Packers and has been with the team since 2005. Rodgers is third all-time in receptions and touchdowns.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is one of the richest players in the game, with a salary that continues to surpass one million every season. He is followed closely by the other highest-paid athletes. Rodgers has led the NFL in touchdown-to-interception ratio six times. In 2011, he was named the Associated Press Athlete of the Year. He is also a four-time winner of the Best NFL Player ESPY Award. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most talented quarterbacks of all time.
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Matthew Stafford:
Stafford was signed by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft and has since been a part of the team’s nucleus. He has made it to the playoffs multiple times and also won several Super Bowls with the Lions. Stafford’s record-breaking deals with the Detroit Lions made him one of the highest-paid NFL players that year. He has been paid an annual salary of $23 million since he was drafted. Stafford has also been rewarded with multiple championships and MVP awards.
In addition to his salary, Stafford also receives a large signing bonus and other benefits. He was named the Most Valuable Player in some major tournaments. He is regarded as one of the most accomplished players in football and is likely to continue to be so for many years to come. In 2011, he was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He ranks in the top 20 for all-time in pass attempts, completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.
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Patrick Mahomes:
There is no doubt that Patrick Mahomes is one of the highest-paid NFL players. The Chiefs’ quarterback is currently making an annual salary of $45 million, which makes him the richest player in the league. Mahomes also has a million-dollar signing bonus and a guaranteed contract. This means that he will make an average of $100 million over his career. Mahomes started his professional career with the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2017 NFL draft.
For his extraordinary performance in his first season as a starter, he was named to the Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro. He also won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Most Valuable Player awards. It’s no wonder that Mahomes is the top earner among quarterbacks in the NFL, and he likely won’t stop making money until he retires. The Chiefs’ quarterback has starred in the big franchises, and his skills have led him to become one of the most valuable players on the field.
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Kirk Cousins:
Kirk Cousins is one of the highest-paid NFL players currently playing. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. That season was his first in the league, and he had already made a significant amount of money. Cousins is scheduled to make $30 million in 2022 and $35 million in the upcoming years. His future earnings will continue to increase. Cousins is known for having great vision, accuracy, and arm strength.
He’s also a very efficient quarterback who can run for yards as well. This makes him one of the most valuable players on the field today. Cousins is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL, and he has been able to contribute to his team on multiple levels. He is a key player for the Minnesota Vikings, and they are likely to keep him on their roster for many years to come. However, given how well he has played for his team and his hefty paychecks, it is hard to argue against him being one of the highest-paid players in the game.
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Russell Wilson:
Russell Wilson earns over $35 million annually, which makes him one of the most decorated players in the league. Wilson’s salary is not the only thing that makes him a highly paid player. He also has endorsements, including Nike, Coca-Cola, and so on. These deals give him an extra income that helps him pay for his expensive lifestyle. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. With the team, he set a record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie and was named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year.
He has been named to nine Pro Bowls and helped lead the Seahawks to two consecutive Super Bowls. After a glorious stint with the team, he joined the Denver Broncos in 2022. He was named ACC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in 2008. Wilson is the only player in the NFL who makes more than $50 million a year. He is also one of the most popular players in the league. He has been named to multiple All-Pro teams.
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Jared Goff:
Jared Goff was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams’ first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. And he has since made a name for himself as one of the most promising quarterbacks in the league with the team. Goff has been on an upward trend since he was drafted, and he is now set to earn an estimated $26 million per year. This makes him one of the highest-paid players in the league. He is known for his exceptional skills as a quarterback and is able to command large sums of money because of them.
In his first two seasons, he was a starter for the Rams and was named to the All-Pro team both years. His salary has increased each year since he became a professional player. Goff is only 27 years old, and he has plenty of time to make even more money. It’s undeniable that he has already made a large impact on his team. In 2021, Goff was traded to the Lions. He was named PFWA’s Most Improved Player in 2017. He holds the record for the most pass attempts in a single game.
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Dak Prescott:
Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, was drafted in 2016 at a record price and has since started to make a name for himself. He was named MVP of 2016, and he has also been named to two other Pro Bowls. His salary is approximately $42 million per year. This makes him one of the highest-paid NFL players. He is set to make an even larger amount of money in the upcoming years. Prescott has been amazing for the Dallas Cowboys all season, and they are looking to keep him as their starter next season.
He won the Conerly Trophy twice. It’s reported that Prescott was also given a $125 million contract extension in 2018. He is fifth on the all-time list of highest-paid quarterbacks with over $100 million in earnings. He set several rookie quarterback records and was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Dak Prescott became the first player in NFL history to pass for at least 450 yards in three consecutive games. He was ranked 14th in the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2017.
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Derek Carr:
Derek Carr makes an annual salary of $40 million, and his contract includes a $60 million signing bonus. Carr was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft and has since been a mainstay on the team’s roster. He has completed more passes than any other player in league history. In addition to his playing time, Carr is also a mainstay on the team’s coaching staff. Carr has been with the Raiders for 8 years now, and he is set to make over $50 million this year.
Derek helped lead his team to a berth in the playoffs each year. He has also been named to the All-Pro team multiple times and has started two Pro Bowls. He also won the Sammy Baugh Trophy, which is awarded annually by the Touchdown Club of Columbus. Carr is among the highest earners in professional football and his earnings are only going to continue going up. In 2009, he was named the National Player of the Year. He led Las Vegas to another postseason berth in 2021.
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Conclusion:
NFL history includes some players who made over $100 million in a single draft. Star players like Tom Brady and Russell Wilson make millions more, while backups and journeymen rake in significant paychecks as well. Some of the best players in the league are paid a huge amount of money, and some are even paid more than the expected wage. In this article, we’ve highlighted the top 10 highest-paid NFL players according to several credential resources.
All of these players have been playing and contributing to the success of their respective teams on a consistent basis. And that’s why their teams never hesitate to spend a substantial amount of money on them. It’s no wonder that all of them are big names and have a legacy in the NFL. They are popular too. We hope the content will come in handy for you.