Getting paid in the NFL is the goal of every football player in history. Getting that second contract to set up a player and his family for generations is among the greatest feelings in the world. Very few get there and even fewer players get to be among the richest NFL players in history.
Being at the top of your position, especially when it’s a premium position, is a good way of getting paid that ridiculous contract that will have fans and rivals crying out “too much! Think of the rest of the team!” Feelings on spreading the wealth under the Salary Cap aside, it cannot be argued that those among the richest salaries are also the most elite in the NFL.
Counting Down the 10 Richest NFL Contracts
10: Nick Bosa: $170M
Starting off with number 10, Nick Bosa has been among the NFL’s best pass rushers since being drafted in 2019. His rookie season was a massive coming-out party where he earned a Pro Bowl bid and was also voted as Defensive Rookie of the Year. After suffering a season-ending injury in year two, Bosa kicked it up a notch.
In 2021, he earned a Pro Bowl nod by leading the way with 21 TFLs but last year was his best. He led the NFL with 18.5 sacks, earned another Pro Bowl, garnered MVP votes, and won Defensive Player of the Year. He’s a massive force on one of the best defenses in the NFL and is likely going to lead his team to the NFC Championship at the very least yet again.
9: Deshaun Watson: $230M Fully Guaranteed
Deshaun Watson, the quarterback who threw a massive wrench in everything both with his off-the-field antics as well as his ability to fleece the Browns into giving him a fully guaranteed contract after trading away the farm to get him after willingly not playing football for over a year.
Pre-allegations Watson was a top-five quarterback in Houston. In Cleveland, he’s been okay. However, he’s turned into a case study into why NFL teams don’t and will never give out fully guaranteed contracts. He has one of the richest NFL quarterback salaries.
8: Kyler Murray: $230.5M
Ever since being drafted by the Cardinals in 2019, Kyler Murray has been a dynamic, fun, never-know-what-you’re-going-to-get quarterback. In his first three years, Murray earned Pro Bowl bids while playing on an objectively bad Cardinals roster. After his injury in 2022, his future was called into question. This was all accomplished under the rules of NFL Draft salaries.
This year, however, he’s played better. In three games, he’s accounted for five touchdowns and has at least kept a team expected to pick in the top five interesting. This being one of the biggest NFL salaries is going to be interesting moving forward if Arizona wants to try its hand at a rookie quarterback.
7: Russell Wilson: $252.5+
Last year, letting Russ cook resulted in a burnt-down restaurant. This year? Shades of Seattle Russell Wilson. As a Seahawk, Wilson was the franchise. He led the team to over 100 wins, a pair of Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl blowout, and a whole lot of incredible play.
The nine-time Pro Bowler, impressively, has never earned an MVP vote in his career. If he can continue his play in 2023 with Denver, he may get one down the ballot as another member of this list takes home the hardware again. Wilson is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and paying him his salary is still well worth it. He may have had an ugly breakup with Seattle but the fact remains that he was a legend in the Pacific Northwest.
6: Jalen Hurts: $255M
Quite possibly a top-five quarterback in 2023 and a potential MVP candidate, Jalen Hurts has shown that he is well worth the extension. That he is amongst the most expensive NFL quarterback salaries should be obvious. There was always a belief that Hurts was going to be fun it did not occur to many that he would be able to do what he’s doing now.
Last year, while leading his team to a near Super Bowl victory, Hurts finished second in MVP voting and finished third in Offensive Player of the Year. “Brotherly Shove” “Tush Push” or whatever you want to call it, it’s a small part of his elite game that he’s continuing to develop as the Eagles are primed for another Super Bowl run.
5: Josh Allen: $258M+
The wheelin’, dealin’, gunslinger in Buffalo is easily a top-five quarterback and is paid as such. Even though he was more of a project coming out of college, Allen has developed into one of the elites in the NFL. He’s the case NFL teams try to replicate and is often the reason teams wait too long to trash their quarterback. The jump he made from his second year to his third was unprecedented and will likely never be replicated.
Over the last few years, Allen has dominated to the tune of well over 4,000 passing yards and over 700 rushing yards. The gripe with him is his turnovers but when you see the plays he makes, the interceptions are well worth it.
Not many quarterbacks are as willing of a runner as he and he is just as willing to jump over a defender.
4: Lamar Jackson: $260M
This offseason was chock full of paydays and Lamar Jackson was one well-deserved one. From the jump, it was obvious Jackson was a special talent. He was the unanimous MVP in his second year while leading the NFL with 36 touchdown passes. Not too bad for a “running back”.
Over the last few years, he’s had his seasons cut short due to injury but in each and every game he’s in, he shows how dynamic of a player he is. He’s likely already proven to be the Ravens’ greatest offensive player in franchise history and is well on his way to earning some MVP hype this year as he leads his team back to the playoffs.
3: Justin Herbert: $262.5M
Perhaps the player on this list who deserves better than what his team has given him, Justin Herbert is well on his way to being one of the premier quarterbacks in the league. Despite throwing for well over 4,000 yards in each of his first three years, his team hasn’t been able to do anything.
The 2020 Rooke of the Year is a special thrower of the football and it’s obvious that he has serious talent. Perhaps we will get to see just what he can do if the Chargers make a change at head coach and a high draft pick. To have Herbert on one side and such a disappointing defense on the other is malpractice. He’s well worth the money.
2: Joe Burrow: $275M
Quite possibly the savior of the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Burrow finally inked his massive extension in this past offseason which made him the highest-paid player at the time. Between his knee obliteration as a rookie and his most recent wrist injury, there has been much made about his durability versus his paycheck.
Considering he led the Cincinnati Bengals, of all franchises, to the Super Bowl in his first full season, he’s worth it. Burrow is among the elites of all time when it comes to accuracy and his ability to command the Bengals’ offense is second to none in franchise history. Depending on his this season ends, Burrow could have another top-10 weapon (or lineman) to add to his arsenal.
1: Patrick Mahomes: $450M
You could give Patrick Mahomes a majority stake in the Kansas City Chiefs, and it would be worth it. In just his sixth season as QB1 in KC, Mahomes has proven to be one of, if not the greatest talents to have played the game. He is the richest NFL player based on salary by a long way.
The two-time MVP and two-time Super Bowl Champion has never played a road playoff game. All he does is win and make ridiculous plays. As the year goes on, Mahomes is likely going to break the all-time Kansas City Chiefs career passing mark…in almost half of the games played. We have never seen a talent quite like Mahomes and, if he is not stopped, he is going to challenge Tom Brady for the GOAT mantle.
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