The 15 Highest Paid Players in the NFL

It is quite lucrative to play in the NFL and that is especially true if you play quarterback. In fact, each of the 15 highest paid players by annual salary are signal callers. There are the 15 highest paid players in the National Football League.
15. Matthew Stafford – Los Angeles Rams – $40,000,000

As the first overall selection of the 2009 NFL Draft, Matthew Stafford has been making millions for his entire career. A long-time Detroit Lion, Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 and led the team to a Super Bowl win in his first season. The quarterback will make $40 million during the 2024 season.
14. Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills – $43,000,000

Josh Allen was a project when he was drafted in 2018, but the gamble has really paid off for the Buffalo Bills as he has blossomed into one of the best players in the league. The quarterback signed his current contract back in 2021 and at this point, you can make the argument that he is underpaid. Allen is sure to make up the difference the next time his contract is up.
T-12th. Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs – $45,000,000

There is no doubt that Patrick Mahomes is the best QB in the league. Only 29 years-old, the Kansas City Chiefs megastar has already won three Super Bowl Championships and three MVP Awards. Mahomes signed a massive 10-year deal with the Chiefs in 2020 that made him the highest paid player in the sport, but today he only sits at a tie for 12th.
T-12th. Kirk Cousins – Atlanta Falcons – $45,000,000

Kirk Cousins, who has made four Pro Bowls during his career, is undoubtedly an excellent player. But Cousins is even better at making money. The former 4th round pick has made more than $294 million during his career (Source: Spotract). His latest deal came from the Atlanta Falcons during the 2024 offseason.
11th. Deshaun Watson – Cleveland Browns – $46,000,000

The Deshaun Watson contract is considered to be one of the worst deals in the league. A three-time Pro-Bowler with the Houston Texans, Watson’s career was derailed by misconduct allegations. That didn’t stop the Browns from giving him a $230 million deal that now looks like a total disaster.
10th. Kyler Murray – Arizona Cardinals – $46,100,000

After being selected first overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, Kyler Murray and coach Kliff Kingsbury were expected to win for the next decade. Kingsbury is now gone, but Murray is still in Arizona and thriving. The two-time Pro Bowler is having another strong season in 2024.
9th. Jalen Hurts – Philadelphia Eagles – $51,000,000

It was a bit of a surprise when the Philadelphia Eagles selected Jalen Hurts in the second round of the 2020 Draft as the team already had Carson Wentz. By 2021, Hurts had won the starting job and didn’t look back. A Pro-Bowler in 2022 and 2023, Hurts signed a $255 million deal in 2023 that made him the highest paid player in NFL history (but only for 10 days).
8th – Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens – $52,000,000

Despite a spectacular college career that saw him win the Heisman Trophy in 2016, Lamar Jackson wasn’t taken until the 32nd pick of the 2018 draft. Seeing that he’s won two MVP Awards, the Baltimore Ravens haven’t regretted the decision for one second. Jackson was rewarded with a 5-year $260 million contract.
7th. Justin Herbert – Los Angeles Chargers – $52,500,000

When the Chargers drafted Justin Herbert out of the University of Oregon, he was thought to be a project quarterback with big tools. But Herbert has been one of the better quarterbacks in the league since he took the field. He signed a 5-year extension in 2023.
6th. Jared Goff – Detroit Lions – $53,000,000

Despite leading the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2019, the team attempted to upgrade at quarterback by trading Goff for Matthew Stafford. The signal caller took his game to the next level in Detroit, making the Pro Bowl in 2022 and helping the Lions become one of the best teams in the league.
5th. Tua Tagovailoa – Miami Dolphins – $53,100,000

He had a troubling ankle issue in college and has struggled with concussions in the NFL, but when Tua Tagovailoa is healthy, he plays like a star. He has been a perfect fit for Mike McDaniel’s offense and the Dolphins gave him a four-year extension in the summer of 2024.
T-2nd. Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals – $55,000,000

Everything changed for Joe Burrow when he transferred to LSU. He went on to win a Heisman Trophy, a National Championship and the first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s been a huge success in the NFL as well, making a Pro Bowl and leading the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance.
T-2nd. Trevor Lawrence – Jacksonville Jaguars – $55,000,000

Trevor Lawrence felt like one of those once every 10 years kind of quarterback prospects and he’s mostly made good on his promise, making the Pro Bowl in 2022. But things have gone badly sideways for the Jaguars over the last year and a half and the quaterback will have to prove he’s worthy of his current deal.
T-2nd. Jordan Love – Green Bay Packers – $55,000,000

The Green Bay Packers quarterback plan has worked out like a dream, going from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. Taking over the starting role in 2023, Love has been awesome for Green Bay and he was rewarded with a massive deal over the 2024 offseason.
1st. Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys – $60,000,000

The Dallas Cowboys pulled off a major coup when they drafted Dak Prescott in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. Prescott has won the Rookie of the Year Award and has made three Pro Bowls but this contract and his career will be measured on whether he can acheive more playoff success.
All contact figures are courtesy of Overthecap.com unless otherwise noted. Contracts are as of 12/5/24