The National Football League (NFL) is the most popular sport in America drawing in hundreds of million viewers across the season.
Each year 32 teams battle it out for the right to be called Super Bowl Champions.
Due to its position as America’s number one sport, the NFL is awash with money. However even with all of this revenue, a manager, executive or agent has to be careful to work within the salary cap that the NFL commissioner has set.
Despite these hurdles, the top players in the NFL can earn life changing amounts and are amongst some of the highest paid athletes in the world.
In this article, our resident NFL expert Kate Richardson is on hand to reveal who are some of the highest paid players in NFL history.
1. Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs
‘I want people to know that I’m going to leave every single thing on the field’.
The above quote was made when Patrick Mahomes was first drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and so far he has certainly lived up to that billing.
The quarterback position is the most important position in all of sport and there’s nobody who does it better than Mahomes.
When it comes to determining who is the richest football player, Mahomes easily takes the crown. Signing a whopping ten year deal back in 2021, Mahomes’ eye watering contract is worth a staggering $450 million. That doesn’t even take into account the amount of endorsements he makes!
The Chiefs know that Mahomes is well on his way to being an all-time great and the contract that was negotiated a few years ago, still remains the biggest NFL contract ever offered.
Now with three Super Bowl rings thanks to the Chiefs recent Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Mahomes is clearly worth every penny.
2. Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals
After breaking almost every quarterback record whilst in college, Joe Burrow has made the transition to the professional game with ease.
A former number one pick in the 2020 draft, Burrow led the Bengals to the Super Bowl back in 2021 and looks set to be the face of the franchise for years to come.
Signing a five year deal worth $275 million at the end of the 2023 season, the Bengals owner will hope that Burrow can lead the Bengals to their first ever Super Bowl crown.
3. Justin Herbert – Los Angeles Chargers
When it comes to overall arm talent, Justin Herbert is truly a special player. Drafted by the Chargers as the number six pick in the 2020 draft, Herbert has established himself as a top ten quarterback in the league.
Although he is yet to win a playoff game, Herbert’s $262.5 million contract didn’t raise eyebrows, due to the fact it’s obvious he is one of the most talented players in the entire NFL.
Fact: Now set to work under a legendary coach in the shape of John Harbaugh, Herbert will hope to lead his team to a new wave of success.
4. Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens
‘I already said it when I got drafted: I wanted to bring a Super Bowl to Baltimore.’
A two time league MVP, Lamar Jackson is one of the faces of today’s NFL. Deadly with both the ball in his hands and with his legs, Jackson is simply box office.
Fact: Drafted back in 2018, Jackson has helped breathe new life into the Ravens and has turned them into perennial playoff contenders.
Arguably containing the most explosive offense in the league, Jackson is surrounded by talent, including the highest paid kicker in NFL, Justin Tucker. With so much potential, this coming season could finally be the time for Jackson to lead his team to the Super Bowl.
5. Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills
There are two conferences in the NFL, the AFC and the NFC, remarkably Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson all represent teams in the AFC and they are joined by another special talent in the shape of Josh Allen.
Having been dominated by the New England Patriots for so long, Allen has helped turn the fortunes around for the Buffalo Bills and despite the presence of the Patriots, New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins, Allen has helped lead his team to four consecutive AFC East titles.
Allen has yet to guide the Bills to a Super Bowl but has created an extraordinary rival with Patrick Mahomes. With both players under contract for the foreseeable future, the two look set to battle it out for years to come.
6. Jalen Hurts – Philadelphia Eagles
A surprise second round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jalen Hurts has changed the fortunes of the Philadelphia Eagles. After leading his team to the 2022 Super Bowl, Hurts was quick to sign a five year, $255 million deal.
2023 would end up to be a frustrating season for the Eagles and Hurts but they will hope to return as the top dogs in the NFC this season and will start the year as one of the Super Bowl favourites.
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7. Russell Wilson – Pittsburgh Steelers
Now with the Pittsburgh Steelers following two years with the Denver Broncos, Russell Wilson became one of the highest players in league history when signing his $242 million deal.
A former Super Bowl winner with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson is still raking in millions from the Broncos due to the fact that he had years to play on his mega money deal. He will hope to show the Broncos what they are missing out on and lift a struggling Steelers franchise back to where they belong.
8. Kyler Murray – Arizona Cardinals
Although Kyler Murray is the smallest quarterback in the NFL, his bank balance is certainly on the large side.
Having looked like one of the best players in the league, Murray’s career was put in check when he suffered a serious knee injury.
Able to hit the field for the last few games of the 2023/2024 season, Murray was able to propel the Cardinals to several victories and offered a glimpse of what they could achieve this coming season.
All of the players we have highlighted in our list are quarterbacks, however there are some players outside of the quarterbacks who deserve a special mention.
9. Chris Jones – Kansas City Chiefs
The defensive tackle position is quickly becoming one of the highest paid positions in NFL and nobody plays it better than Chris Jones.
A huge presence in the middle of the Kansas City defensive line, Jones is a master of stopping the run, but can also wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Delayed negotiations over his new deal saw the star defender earn a $1,000,000 bonus last year. With the Chiefs keen to retain his talents, he recently signed a $158 million contract making him the NFL’s highest paid defensive player and he will hope to play a key part in helping the Chiefs win more Super Bowls.
10. Davante Adams – Las Vegas Raiders
Wide receiver is arguably the hardest skill position in the NFL. Wide receivers are often the quickest players in the team and catch the ball up the field and try to receive the ball in the endzone.
Having started his career with the Green Bay Packers, Adams has moved to the Las Vegas Raiders and despite the team struggling, Adams has still maintained his position as the best receiver in the game.
The highest paid receiver in the NFL due to his $140 million contract, Adams will hope that this is the year where the Raiders can finally post a decent season.
Every year the NFL is growing in popularity. The league has long established deep international connections and this coming season will see games being played in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Germany and the UK.
Due to the extra money that the league is generating, the salary cap is going up and that means that several NFL stars are set for exceptionally large pay days.
With Mahomes leading the way when it comes to overall yearly money, it surely won’t be too long before his total is eclipsed.
