Who Is the Highest-Paid NFL Player?

Jordan Love is the latest quarterback to sign a mega deal, putting him on par with Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence as the highest annual earners ($55 million).

Quarterbacks earn the most in the gunslinger-dominated league, and it’s not even close. 

Signal-callers have the 17 most lucrative annual salaries, with wide receiver Justin Jefferson, the top non-quarterback earner, making $35 million annually. 

Patrick Mahomes, whose Kansas City Chiefs have the shortest NFL odds to win the Super Bowl, has the highest overall salary. He signed a 10-year, $450 million deal in 2020. 

Who Is the Highest-Paid NFL Player?

Highest-Paid NFL Players (2024 NFL)

Jordan Love — Green Bay Packers 

The Green Bay Packers are all in on Love, who signed a four-year, $220 million contract extension in July. He sits atop the highest annual earners list with Lawrence and Burrow. 

The contract included a record-setting $75 million signing bonus, and the deal was negotiated by David Mulugheta and Andrew Kessler of Athletes First. 

Love currently has the seventh-shortest MVP odds at BetMGM’s online sportsbook. 

Joe Burrow — Cincinnati Bengals 

Burrow signed his five-year $275 million contract extension in September. Burrow was the NFL’s highest-paid player when he put pen to paper on the deal.

Just over $219 million is guaranteed in the deal.

I can’t get over how easy it was for Joe Burrow to march down the field and put up 7 points last night.

This man is locked in. pic.twitter.com/XvxA2lgu1S

— Patrick Carey (@PatCareySports) August 11, 2024

Burrow’s contract is befitting a player among the football odds favourites to win MVP. 

Trevor Lawrence — Jacksonville Jaguars 

Lawrence followed Burrow’s lead, signing the same five-year, $275 million contract extension in June.

The 24-year-old is guaranteed $200 million, $142 of which was granted upon putting pen to paper. 

Tua Tagovailoa — Miami Dolphins 

Tagovailoa joined the mega earners’ club in late July when he signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension. 

It is easily the most lucrative salary for a southpaw quarterback in NFL history. The Dolphins’ QB is guaranteed $167.1 million. 

🎥 Tua Tagovailoa’s #NFLTop100 segment

Patrick Surtain II: “Tua Dimes – that’s his nickname – Tua Dimes… He just makes every throw look easy. Seems like it’s effortless.” (@NFL) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/kVpayUMpLv

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) August 7, 2024

The deal has built-in incentives based on playoff wins that could take the overall value to $221.4 million. 

Jared Goff — Detroit Lions 

Goff signed his four-year, $212 million contract extension in May, a month before Tagovailoa. 

His deal guarantees $170 million.

Goff, who was traded to the Detroit Lions in March 2021, led them to their first playoff win in 33 years last season. 

Justin Herbert — Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert signed a five-year, $262.5 million contract extension in July 2023. He was the highest-paid player when signing, but has since been eclipsed by five others. 

The deal will keep him in Los Angeles until 2029, when he’s 31 years old. 

Lamar Jackson — Baltimore Ravens 

In April 2023, Lamar Jackson committed to the Baltimore Ravens for five years, signing a $260 million deal. 

He is among the five 2025 NFL MVP odds favourites to win the individual accolade for the third time. Jackson is still searching for his first Super Bowl appearance. 

Jalen Hurts — Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts signed his five-year, $255 million contract extension just two months after losing to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 57. 

Hurts’ contract includes a no-trade clause, the first in Eagles’ franchise history. There is an additional $15 million in incentives up for grabs. 

Kyler Murray — Arizona Cardinals 

Despite signing his deal in 2022, Kyler Murray is still among the top 10 earners. His five-year extension, worth $230.5 million, will keep him in Arizona through the 2028 season when Murray will be 31. 

He tore his ACL five months after signing the extension.

Murray is healthy entering the 2024 season, and expectations are sky-high for the 27-year-old, especially with the highest-drafted receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr., at his disposal.  

Deshaun Watson — Cleveland Browns 

Fresh off being basically run out of Houston, Deshaun Watson signed a fully guaranteed $230 million, five-year contract with the Cleveland Browns in 2022.