The combined worth of the NFL now exceeds $160billion, so it’s no surprise that the highest-paid players are earning a pretty penny.
With the salary cap rising to a record $279.2million per team this year, teams have more money than ever to spend on superstar quarterbacks, elite pass rushers and explosive wideouts.
Across all 32 franchises, that’s nearly $9 billion in total player spending. The race to secure top-tier talent has driven average annual salaries to historic highs.
From multi-year mega deals to nearly fully guaranteed contracts, here are the 20 highest-paid NFL players in 2025 based on average per year from Over the Cap.
1. Dak Prescott – $60million
Dak Prescott tops the list in 2025 with a four-year, $240million extension that averages $60million per year.
The Cowboys quarterback has thrown for over 29,000 yards and 202 touchdowns since entering the league in 2016, with three Pro Bowl nods and four NFC East titles to his name.
He led the league in passing touchdowns in 2023 and brought Dallas to the NFC Championship, although Dallas missed out in 2024.
Known for his toughness and poise, ESPN described him as “one of the most reliable leaders in the game.” With this deal, the Cowboys are all-in on Prescott as their franchise cornerstone.
=2. Trevor Lawrence – $55million
Trevor Lawrence tied the top spot in the highest-paid NFL players list when he signed a five-year, $275million extension with the Jaguars in June 2025.
The deal includes $142million guaranteed and reflects Jacksonville’s confidence in its franchise quarterback.
Since entering the league as the No. 1 pick in 2021, Lawrence has shown steady growth, leading the Jags to a playoff win in 2022 and throwing for over 4,000 yards in back-to-back seasons.
Known for his composure and athleticism, he’s regarded as one of the most balanced young QBs in the league. With this contract, Jacksonville has guaranteed they’re on the way up.
=2. Josh Allen – $55million
Josh Allen inked a six-year, $330million extension with the Buffalo Bills in 2021, giving him $55million annually and making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league.
Since entering the NFL, Allen has developed into one of the most physically gifted passers in football, with 176 total touchdowns and over 22,000 passing yards to date.
He’s led the Bills to multiple division titles and remains the engine of one of the NFL’s most explosive offences. On winning the 2024 MVP award, Sean McDermott said, “It validates everything that he’s been doing for years… the way he’s played on the field… his decision making.”
With his rare combination of size, arm strength, and athleticism, Allen is Buffalo’s long-term bet to bring home a Super Bowl.
=2. Jordan Love – $55million
After a breakout 2024 season, Jordan Love secured his future with a five-year, $275million deal from the Green Bay Packers, matching the highest average salary in the NFL at $55million per year.
Love threw for 4,400 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2024, guiding Green Bay back to the playoffs and proving he’s more than just Aaron Rodgers’ successor.
The front office moved quickly to lock him up, showing complete confidence in his long-term upside.
At just 26 years old, Love has both the arm talent and mobility to lead the franchise for years to come, surely helping them bounce back from the thinnest of post-season snubs in 2024.
=2. Joe Burrow – $55million
Joe Burrow signed a five-year, $275million extension with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023, giving him an annual average salary of $55million.
The 2020 No. 1 pick has already led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance and back-to-back AFC Championship games, cementing himself as one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.
Known for his accuracy, composure, and leadership, Burrow has thrown 97 touchdown passes in three full seasons as a starter.
Off the field, he’s become one of the NFL’s most marketable stars, with a reputation that blends humility and swagger. The Bengals are fully invested in their franchise QB.
6. Tua Tagovailoa – $53.1million
The Dolphins gave Tua Tagovailoa a five-year, $265.5million deal in April 2025, averaging $53.1million per year.
It’s a statement of belief after a career-best season where he threw for 4,375 yards and 30 touchdowns while leading Miami to an 11–6 record.
His timing and accuracy make him a perfect fit in Mike McDaniel’s scheme, and Miami’s offence ranked top five in most key metrics last year. Though durability has been a concern, Tua has answered the critics with his play.
The Dolphins are betting that, with weapons like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the best is still to come.
=7. Brock Purdy – $53million
Brock Purdy signed a five-year, $265million extension with the 49ers in May 2025, giving him an average annual salary of $53million. It’s a remarkable leap for a player who entered the league as the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
“Mr. Irrelevant” has more than lived up to the hype. Purdy has led San Francisco to back-to-back NFC Championship appearances and thrown 59 touchdowns across the past two seasons.
At just 24, he’s earned praise for his poise, decision-making, and ability to deliver in big moments. His control of the offence has made him a perfect fit in Kyle Shanahan’s system.
The 49ers saw enough to commit long-term. With his new deal, Purdy now earns like a franchise QB — and ranks firmly among the highest-paid NFL players despite his underdog origin story.
=7. Jared Goff – $53million
Jared Goff’s four‑year, $212million extension with the Detroit Lions in 2024 secures him a $53million average annual salary, a new benchmark for stability in Detroit.
He brings a veteran calm under pressure and an impressive playoff résumé, including leading the Lions to their first NFC Championship game in decades.
Goff has also climbed into the NFL’s top 10 career leaders for passing yards and touchdowns, underscoring his consistent production since the Lions drafted him #1 overall in 2016.
This deal reflects their belief in his leadership as they continue building toward a Super Bowl run. Meticulous preparation and dependable decision-making have become his hallmarks.
9. Justin Herbert – $52.5million
Justin Herbert signed a five-year, $262.5million extension with the Los Angeles Chargers in July 2023, locking in $52.5million per year.
That deal briefly saw him top the highest-paid NFL players list before being overtaken by others just weeks later.
A former Rookie of the Year, Herbert holds the record for most passing yards through a quarterback’s first four seasons in NFL history, with over 17,000.
He threw a total of touchdowns in 2023 before an unfortunate finger injury ended his season in Week 14. It’s not Peyton Manning’s 55-season TD, but it eclipses the league average. Known for his arm talent and poise, Pro Football Focus called him “an elite processor with A+ physical tools.”
10. Lamar Jackson – $52million
The Ravens locked up Lamar Jackson on a five-year, $260million deal in 2023, averaging $52million per year. That came after months of negotiation and speculation, and made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.
A two-time Pro Bowler and 2019 NFL MVP, Jackson remains one of the league’s most electrifying playmakers.
In 2023, he led Baltimore to a 13–4 record, threw for over 3,600 yards, and added 821 rushing yards.
His dynamic style forces defences to account for him on every snap, so it’s no wonder ESPN labelled him “the league’s most unique offensive weapon.”
11. Jalen Hurts – $51million
Jalen Hurts signed a five-year, $255million extension with the Philadelphia Eagles in April 2023, including the franchise’s first-ever no-trade clause. That breaks down to $51million per year, briefly making him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
Hurts has emerged as one of the league’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks, combining power, speed, and poise.
He led the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII and has thrown 48 touchdowns over the past two seasons while rushing for 23 more.
A 2023 Pro Bowl selection and MVP runner-up in 2022, Hurts remains the face of one of the NFC’s top contenders.
12. Kyler Murray – $46.1million
Kyler Murray signed a five-year, $230.5million extension with the Arizona Cardinals in July 2022, locking in an average annual value of $46.1million
Murray remains one of the league’s most dynamic dual-threat QBs, pushing the Cardinals’ offence with his arm and legs.
Though injury concerns persist, he’s led Arizona’s offence since 2019, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year, a Pro Bowl nod in 2021, and guiding the Cardinals to their first playoff appearance in six years.
That eye-popping AAV cements him as one of the NFL’s top-earning signal-callers through June 2027, and his play style continues to energise fans and defy traditional QB roles.
13. Deshaun Watson – $46million
Watson remains the only player in NFL history with a fully guaranteed contract of this scale — a five-year, $230million deal signed with the Browns in 2022, averaging $46million per year.
That historic contract raised eyebrows across the league and reset expectations for quarterback deals.
However, Watson’s play has been inconsistent in Cleveland, with injuries and suspensions interrupting his form.
The Browns have committed long-term, but after a 3–14 season in 2024, the pressure is on for Watson to rediscover the level that earned him this payday.
=14. Patrick Mahomes – $45million
Mahomes’ 10-year, $450million contract signed in 2020 still holds as one of the largest ever, averaging $45million annually.
The two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl winner is the NFL’s gold standard, even if others now top him on paper. But hey, he doesn’t mind: “I worry about legacy and winning rings more than making money at this moment.”
While his base salary has remained relatively modest, Kansas City structured the deal to remain flexible and competitive, a move that’s rare among the highest-paid NFL players.
Mahomes continues to deliver elite production year after year, and a contract adjustment or extension is widely expected in 2025 to reflect his ongoing dominance.
=14. Kirk Cousins – $45million
The Falcons handed Cousins a four-year, $180million contract in 2024, paying him $45million per year despite a season-ending Achilles injury in Minnesota.
Atlanta is betting on experience and stability, as Cousins threw for 4,000+ yards in four straight years before the injury and remains one of the league’s most accurate passers.
The 36-year-old’s arrival immediately lifted expectations in Atlanta, where a playoff-ready roster needed a veteran under centre.
Reuniting with former Vikings staff, Cousins gives the Falcons a proven leader in a wide-open NFC South.
16. Ja’Marr Chase – $40.25million
Chase became one of the highest-paid NFL players and the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history when he signed a five-year, $201.25million deal in 2025.
Averaging $40.25million per year, the Bengals’ star reset the market. With 5,000+ receiving yards and 35 touchdowns in four seasons, Chase is already among the NFL’s elite.
His chemistry with Joe Burrow is a cornerstone of Cincinnati’s offence, and this deal ensures they remain linked for the long haul.
The Bengals acted early, locking up their game-breaking wideout before deals for Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb drove prices even higher.
=17. Matt Stafford – $40million
Stafford signed a two-year, $80million extension with the Rams ahead of the 2025 season, keeping him in Los Angeles at an average of $40million per year.
The deal includes a $24 million option bonus and signals the franchise’s faith in their 37-year-old veteran to lead one last playoff push.
A Super Bowl champion in 2022 and top 10 all-time in passing yards, Stafford still offers high-level quarterback play.
He reportedly drew outside interest but chose to stay put, underlining his value and fit in Sean McVay’s offence.
=17. Myles Garrett – $40million
Myles Garrett is the highest-paid NFL player in his position – and history – after signing a four-year, $160million extension with the Browns.
The deal includes a staggering $123million guaranteed and locks in the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year through 2030.
Garrett had requested a trade earlier in 2025, frustrated by another Cleveland rebuild, but the new contract—plus a no-trade clause—secured his future.
With 102.5 career sacks and 14 more in 2024, he’s still at the peak of his powers. If the Browns can’t compete, at least they’ve secured their most dominant asset.
19. Geno Smith – $37.5million
Now 34, Geno Smith’s long NFL journey takes him to Las Vegas, where he reunites with Pete Carroll and lands a fresh two-year, $75million extension.
The veteran quarterback has rebuilt his career in style since taking over in Seattle, throwing for over 4,000 yards in two of the last three seasons.
He’s now the face of a Raiders offence stacked with talent like Brock Bowers and rookie RB Ashton Jeanty.
Smith recently made headlines off the field, too, firing back at a heckler during a youth event with a now-viral line: “That’s why they bring the big bucks to me!”
20. Danielle Hunter – $35.6million
The Houston Texans didn’t hesitate to pay up for veteran pass rusher Danielle Hunter, handing him a one-year extension worth $35.6 million.
That figure puts him among the NFL’s top earners and reflects just how vital he is to one of the league’s best defensive fronts.
Hunter racked up 12 sacks last season and ranked seventh among edge defenders for total pressures. Paired with rising star Will Anderson Jr., the Texans now boast a terrifying pass-rushing duo.
If Houston’s defence takes another leap in 2025, Hunter’s price tag might just look like a bargain. DeMeco Ryans said, “The guy doesn’t say much, but his play speaks very loud.”
