Last July, reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year extension with the Kansas City Chiefs. The $503 million contract extension blows every other contract in NFL history out of the water. While most deals of large magnitude usually reset the market, Mahomes’ deal didn’t, proving that he is truly one of one.
Out of all the players in the NFL, Mahomes’ deal has a total value more than double any other contract in the entire league. Those right behind Mahomes are star signal-callers Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson. As we move further down the list, some names will surprise you.
Let’s break down the top 25 highest-paid players in the NFL:
1. Patrick Mahomes
Average Annual Salary: $45 million
Total Guaranteed: $63 million
Mahomes, as we have already discussed, recently signed the biggest contract in NFL history. How many more Super Bowls will the 25-year-old win in Kansas City? I’m thinking at least 3 or 4. The Chiefs are loaded with talent around Mahomes and a precedent of Super Bowl or bust has been set in Kansas City. While Mahomes’ total contract guarantee is technically only $63 million, as long as Mahomes is on the roster for the remainder of the 10-year deal he will receive around $477 million in guarantee mechanisms.
2. Deshaun Watson
Average Annual Salary: $39 million
Total Guaranteed: $74 million
To state the obvious, Deshaun Watson is a star. But even after signing a 4-year, $160 million extensions with the Texans in September of 2020, there are rumors that Watson wants out of Houston. After a rough season for the Texans, Watson was promised to be involved in the hiring of a new head coach and GM. Turns out, the team did not involve him and he may be looking into other options. Even with a massive contract, every team that needs a long-term solution at QB should be calling Houston.
3. Russell Wilson
Average Annual Salary: $35 million
Total Guaranteed: $70 million
Wilson is signed with the Seahawks through 2023. Wilson and Seattle have been a perfect fit since he was drafted and it seems plausible that he will finish his career as a Seahawk. After a disappointing end to Russ’ 2020-2021 postseason, there are question marks heading into next year. Seattle is still a good football team but what remains to be seen is whether Russ and the Seahawks are capable of another Super Bowl run.
4. Ben Roethlisberger
Average Annual Salary: $34 million
Total Guaranteed: $37.5 million
Roethlisberger is signed with the Steelers through the 2021 season but it is certainly possible that he retires before next season. The Steelers cutting Roethlisberger would save the team $19 million, making retirement seem even more likely as the Steelers are over the cap for next season. If the Steelers need or opt to replace Big Ben, who may they look at to replace him? Maybe Sam Darnold or Deshaun Watson? Or will they look to add someone through the draft?
5. Aaron Rodgers
Average Annual Salary: $33.5 million
Total Guaranteed: $78 million
Rodgers is signed with the Packers through 2023. Green Bay selected Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, so it’ll be interesting to see if Rodgers gets another contract in Green Bay. The Packers had a dominant season and rushing Rodgers out of town after an MVP-level season doesn’t seem likely. That being said, Rodgers said before the season that there is a chance he leaves Green Bay when his contract is up.
6. Jared Goff
Average Annual Salary: $33.5 million
Total Guaranteed: $57 million
Goff signed a 4-year, $134 million extension in 2019 and is signed through 2024. Can Goff lead the Rams back to the Super Bowl? The Rams are a great football team but Jared Goff has been a middle of the pack QB since signing his extension in 2019. He has a lot of room for improvement but there’s no one better than Sean McVay to bring it out of the young signal-caller.
7. Kirk Cousins
Average Annual Salary: $33 million
Total Guaranteed: $61 million
Kirk Cousins is signed with Minnesota through 2022. Cousins recently signed a 2-year extension with over 92% of the deal fully guaranteed. Kirk was rewarded for getting a playoff win over the Saints last season but was unable to get the Vikings back to the playoffs this year. Kirk will get another year with the Vikings, who have much to be excited about heading into next year. Rookie WR Justin Jefferson is only getting better and Dalvin Cook is polarizing. If they can re-shape the defense, Minnesota will be a surprise team next year.
8. Carson Wentz
Average Annual Salary: $32 million
Total Guaranteed: $66 million
This deal is turning out to be one of the worse deals in the NFL. Wentz signed a four-year, $128 million extension in 2019. The Eagles may look to move on from Wentz this offseason but he may need to restructure some of his deal to facilitate a move. The Colts have been discussed as a possible landing spot as Philip Rivers was only signed to a one-year deal and Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich is the Wentz’s former QB coach in Philly.
9. Dak Prescott
Average Annual Salary: $31.4 million
Total Guaranteed: $31.4 million
Dak Prescott played under the franchise tag for the Dallas Cowboys this season. Before getting injured, Dak was off to one of the best starts in the NFL and even continued to led the league in passing yards for 2 weeks following his injury. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has made it clear that the goal is to extend Prescott as soon as possible. Dak will certainly be moving higher on this list entering next season as the Cowboys will look to finally put it all together.
10. Matt Ryan
Average Annual Salary: $30 million
Total Guaranteed: $94 million
Matt Ryan is in the third season of his five-year, $150 million deal which he signed in 2018. Atlanta was extremely disappointing this season and the Falcons owner has already stated that moving on from Matt Ryan (and Julio Jones) this offseason is a possibility. The question is, how many teams will be looking to trade for Ryan, who is getting older and still owed $60 million over the next two seasons.
11. Ryan Tannehill
Average Annual Salary: $29.5 million
Total Guaranteed: $62 million
In March of 2020, Ryan Tannehill signed a 4-year, $118 million deal keeping him in Nashville through 2023. Tannehill is 32 years old but has a lot of football left in him. With head coach Mike Vrabel turning around the Titans, there are a lot of wins coming over the next few seasons for Tennessee. Especially with Derrick Henry in the backfield.
12. Jacoby Brissett
Average Annual Salary: $27.975 million
Total Guaranteed: $20 million
Jacoby Brissett is certainly one of the bigger surprises on this list. The Colts gave Brissett a 2-year deal worth $60 million back in 2019. Brissett plays a sort of Taysom Hill role with the Colts and is a great leader in the locker room but he is certainly not worth $30 million per season. It seems likely that Brissett remains in Indianapolis as the backup for next season as he’s developed both a good role in the offense and a great relationship with Frank Reich.
13. Jimmy Garoppolo
Average Annual Salary: $27.5 million
Total Guaranteed: $48 million
After being traded to San Francisco from the New England Patriots, Garoppolo signed a five-year, $137.5 million contract. Jimmy was injured for the majority of the 2020-2021 season and the 49ers missed the playoffs. Last season, The Niners reached the Super Bowl but came up short against Mahomes and the Chiefs. Can Jimmy get the Niners back into Super Bowl contention in the 2021-2022 season?
14. DeAndre Hopkins
Average Annual Salary: $27.25 million
Total Guaranteed: $42 million
After being traded from the Texans to the Cardinals, Hopkins self-negotiated a 2-year, $54.5 million deal, making him the highest-paid receiver in the National Football League. Hopkins was excellent in his first season in Arizona. At the beginning of the year, it had looked like he might’ve transformed Kyler Murray into the MVP but injuries seemed to bother Murray for most of the year. Due to Murray’s injuries, Arizona missed the playoffs, losing a do-or-die game against the Rams in week 17. All this being said, the future is very bright in Arizona.
15. Joey Bosa
Average Annual Salary: $27 million
Total Guaranteed: $78 million
Joey Bosa’s 5-year deal to remain in Los Angeles made him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL and gave him the most guaranteed money for a defensive player in NFL history. With a leader like Bosa on defense and the addition of Justin Herbert under center, the Chargers head coach vacancy has become one of the most attractive jobs on the market.
16. Matt Stafford
Average Annual Salary: $27 million
Total Guaranteed: $60 million
Stafford has one year left on his deal with the Lions. He has been excellent his entire career but it will be interesting to see if the two sides mutually part ways this offseason. Stafford is getting older and likely wants a chance to win, while Detroit has to focus on the future. If Detroit opts to take a QB in the draft, don’t be surprised if Zach Wilson or Trey Lance end up on the Lions.
t17. Myles Garrett
Average Annual Salary: $25 million
Total Guaranteed: $50 million
Garrett recently agreed to a massive 5-year, $125 million extension to keep him in Cleveland. Myles has emerged as a top-5 defensive player in the NFL over the past few seasons and this extension is well deserved. The Browns are an extremely talented football team and have one of the brightest futures in the entire NFL.
t17. Tom Brady
Average Annual Salary: $25 million
Total Guaranteed: $50 million
It’s very odd seeing Brady so low on this list, but believe it or not, this has where he has ranked for the majority of his career. In New England, Brady was never among the league’s highest-paid, he was too busy winning Super Bowls. Brady joined Tampa and never looked back as he has the Bucs headed to the divisional round to take on Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
19. Derek Carr
Average Annual Salary: $25 million
Total Guaranteed: $40 million
Derek Carr signed a 5-year, $125 million deal in 2017 and is signed with Las Vegas through 2022. Carr has been good, not great for Vegas since signing his extension. They have a talented roster in Las Vegas and will certainly look to add to it this offseason. If they make the right moves, they can be a team to watch in the AFC.
20. Philip Rivers
Average Annual Salary: $25 million
Total Guaranteed: $25 million
Philip Rivers is on a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts. It will be interesting to see if Rivers signs another deal with the Colts or opts for retirement. Retirement seems like the most likely option but it’s possible Rivers is hungry for one final chance at a Super Bowl. Rivers is a fierce competitor and one of the best to never win a conference championship.
21. Drew Brees
Average Annual Salary: $25 million
Total Guaranteed: $25 million
This is Drew Brees’ final year under contract with the Saints and early signs point towards Brees retiring after this season. What a career it’s been for Brees, who has fought through injury after injury and has always kept the Saints among the league’s elite. Can Brees and the Saints cap off one more Super Bowl run before the clock runs out? They certainly have a chance.
22. Khalil Mack
Average Annual Salary: $23.5 million
Total Guaranteed: $60 million
Mack signed a massive 6-year, $141 million deal with the Bears after being traded from the Raiders in 2018. He is signed with Chicago through the 2024 season. Mack is an absolute monster on this Chicago defense. If they can keep the core of this defense together (Mack, Akeim Hicks, Roquan Smith) they will be a force for years to come.
23. Alex Smith
Average Annual Salary: $23.5 million
Total Guaranteed: $55 million
Alex Smith is under contract with the Washington Football Team through the 2022 season. Smith has made an incredible comeback and led Washington to the playoffs after almost losing his leg and even his life. Smith likely won’t be the starter for Washington next year but remaining on the roster is a possibility.
24. David Bakhtiari
Average Annual Salary: $23 million
Total Guaranteed: $30 million
Bakhtiari is under contract in Green Bay through the 2024 season. The star lineman was recently injured but when healthy is among the best offensive lineman in the NFL. Bakhtiari has maybe the most important job in the NFL, to protect MVP Aaron Rodgers, and he’s darn good at it.
25. Aaron Donald
Average Annual Salary: $22.5 million
Total Guaranteed: $50 million
Aaron Donald signed a 6-year, $135 million contracts with the Rams in 2018. Donald continues to be a force on a very talented Rams defense. He is under contract through 2024, which is bad news for NFC West quarterbacks. If Jared Goff can get healthy and this defense can stay in form, the sky is the limit for the Los Angeles Rams.