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Highest-paid NFL players: Most guaranteed money at every position

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Orlovsky: JSN absolutely deserves this historic contract (0:50)

Dan Orlovsky and the "Get Up" crew react to Jaxon Smith-Njigba signing a historic four-year contract extension worth $168.6 million. (0:50)

Who are the NFL's highest-paid players at every position?

We tracked the best-paid players at 16 different positions -- including long-snapper -- and will keep the numbers updated as more records get broken. To get the full picture on the top earners in this league, we sorted positions by two categories, which in a few cases have the same player at No. 1:

  • Three-year average (APY)

  • Total guaranteed money

Salary information courtesy of Roster Management System.

Let's start the highest-paid quarterbacks:

Jump to a position:
QB | RB | WR | TE
OT | OG | OC | EDGE
DT | LB | CB | S
K | LS | P

Quarterback

Highest three-year APY:

1. Dak Prescott, $61.6 million

Signed: September 2024 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Joe Burrow (CIN), $61.3 million
3. Jordan Love (GB), $58.3 million
4. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), $56.9 million
5. Jared Goff (DET), $55.4 million
6. Josh Allen (BUF), $55.3 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Josh Allen, $250 million

Signed: March 2025 (contract ends in 2031)

2. Deshaun Watson (CLE), $230 million
3. Dak Prescott (DAL), $229 million
4. Joe Burrow (CIN), $219 million
5. Patrick Mahomes (KC), $208.1 million
6. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), $200 million

Running back

Highest three-year APY:

1. Saquon Barkley, $20.6 million

Signed: March 2025 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Christian McCaffrey (SF), $19 million
3. Derrick Henry (BAL), $15 million
4. Kenneth Walker III (KC), $14.3 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Saquon Barkley, $36 million

Signed: March 2025 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Ashton Jeanty (LV), $35.9 million
3. James Cook (BUF), $30 million
4. Kenneth Walker III (KC), $28.7 million

Wide receiver

Highest three-year APY:

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, $42 million

Signed: March 2026 (contract ends in 2032)

2. Ja'Marr Chase (CIN), $38 million
3. Justin Jefferson (MIN), $35 million
4. CeeDee Lamb (DAL), $34 million
5. DK Metcalf (PIT), $33 million
6. Garrett Wilson (NYJ), $32.5 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, $120 million

Signed: March 2026 (contract ends in 2032)

2. Ja'Marr Chase (CIN), $112 million
3. Justin Jefferson (MIN), $110 million
4. CeeDee Lamb (DAL), $100 million
5. Garrett Wilson (NYJ), $90 million
6. Alec Pierce (IND), $84 million

Tight end

Highest three-year APY:

1. Trey McBride, $19.3 million

Signed: April 2025 (contract ends 2029)

2. George Kittle (SF), $18 million
3. T.J. Hockenson (MIN), $16 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. T.J. Hockenson, $42.5 million

Signed: Aug. 2023 (contract ends 2028)

2. Trey McBride (ARI), $37.5 million
3. George Kittle (SF), $35 million

Offensive tackle

Highest three-year APY:

1. Laremy Tunsil, $31 million

Signed: March 2026 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Penei Sewell, $30 million
3. Rashawn Slater (LAC), $28.7 million
4. Tristan Wirfs (TB), $28.6 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Rashawn Slater, $92 million

Signed: July 2025 (contract ends in 2030)

2. Tristan Wirfs (TB), $88.2 million
3. Tyler Smith (DAL), $78.8 million
4. Charles Cross (SEA), $75 million

Guard

Highest three-year APY:

1. Trey Smith, $23.5 million

Signed: July 2025 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Chris Lindstrom (ATL), $21.8 million
3. Zach Tom (GB), $21.3 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Trey Smith, $70 million

Signed: July 2025 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Robert Hunt (CAR), $63 million
3. Chris Lindstrom (ATL), $62.7 million

Center

Highest three-year APY:

1. Tyler Linderbaum, $27 million

Signed: March 2026 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Creed Humphrey (KC), $18 million
3. Cam Jurgens (PHI), $17 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Tyler Linderbaum, $81 million

Signed: March 2026 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Creed Humphrey (KC), $50 million
3.Cam Jurgens (PHI), $43.5 million

Cornerback

Highest three-year APY:

1. Trent McDuffie, $31 million

Signed: March 2026 (contract ends in 2030)

2. Sauce Gardner (NYJ), $30.1 million
3. Derek Stingley Jr. (HOU), $28.3 million
4. Jaycee Horn (CAR), $28.2 million
5. Jalen Ramsey (PIT), $24.1 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Trent McDuffie, $100 million

Signed: March 2026 (contract ends in 2030)

2. Sauce Gardner (NYJ), $85.4 million
3. Derek Stingley Jr. (HOU), $83.5 million
4. Pat Surtain II (DEN), $73.9 million
5. Jaycee Horn (CAR), $72 million

Safety

Highest three-year APY:

1. Kyle Hamilton, $26.4 million

Signed: August 2025 (contract ends in 2030)

2. Antoine Winfield Jr. (TB), $21.5 million
3. Derwin James Jr. (LAC), $19.6 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Kyle Hamilton, $82 million

Signed: August 2025 (contract ends in 2030)

2. Antoine Winfield Jr. (TB), $45 million
3. Derwin James Jr. (LAC), $42 million

Edge

Highest three-year APY:

1. Micah Parsons, $48.3 million

Signed: Aug. 2025 (contract ends in 2030)

2. Aidan Hutchinson (DET), $45 million
3. T.J. Watt (PIT), $41 million
4. Myles Garrett (CLE), $40 million
5. Maxx Crosby (LV), $35.5 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Aidan Hutchinson, $141 million

Signed: Oct. 2025 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Micah Parsons (GB), $136 million
3. Myles Garrett (CLE), $123.5 million
4. Nick Bosa (SF), $119 million
5. T.J. Watt (PIT), $108 million

Defensive tackle

Highest three-year APY:

1. Chris Jones, $31.7 million

Signed: March 2024 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Milton Williams (NE), $26.3 million
3. Jordan Davis (PHI), $26 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Chris Jones, $101 million

Signed: March 2024 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Quinnen Williams (DAL), $66 million
3. Jordan Davis (PHI), $64.million

Off-ball linebacker

Highest three-year APY:

1. Nik Bonitto, $26.5 million

Signed: Sept. 2025 (contract ends 2030)

2. Fred Warner (SF), $21 million
3. Roquan Smith (BAL), $20 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Nik Bonitto, $70 million

Signed: Sept. 2025 (contract ends 2030)

2. Roquan Smith (BAL), $60 million
3. Fred Warner (SF), $56 million

Kicker

Highest three-year APY:

T1. Ka'imi Fairbairn, $6.5 million

Signed: March 2026 (contract ends in 2029)

T1. Harrison Butker (KC), $6.5 million
3. Jake Elliott (PHI), $6 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Harrison Butker, $17.7 million

Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Jake Elliott (PHI), $14.1 million
3. Graham Gano (NYG), $13.2 million

Long-snapper

Highest three-year APY:

1. Reid Ferguson, $1.7 million

Signed: March 2025 (contract ends 2028)

2. Luke Rhodes (IND), $1.67 million
3. Nick Moore (BAL), $1.66 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Joe Cardona, $3.4 million

Signed: March 2026 (contract ends 2027)

2. Trent Sieg (DAL), $3.1 million
3. Tyler Ott (WSH), $2.8 million

Punter

Highest three-year APY:

1. Michael Dickson, $4.25 million

Signed: June 2025 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Logan Cooke (JAX), $4.245 million
3. AJ Cole (LV), $4.243 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. AJ Cole, $11 million

Signed: May 2025 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Michael Dickson (SEA), $10.2 million
3. Logan Cooke (JAX), $10 million