Money in the NFL isn't just growing. It’s basically exploding. If you looked at a list of the league's highest earners five years ago, the numbers would look like pocket change compared to what’s happening right now in 2026. Teams are handing out $55 million a year like it’s a standard entry-level salary for anyone who can throw a spiral.
Honestly, it’s wild.
We’ve reached a point where the salary cap has climbed so high that the middle-class quarterback doesn't really exist anymore. You're either on a rookie deal, or you're clearing $50 million. There isn't much in between. If you've ever wondered who are the top paid quarterbacks in the nfl, the answer changes almost every few months as the next big star leaps over the previous guy's record.
The $60 Million Man: Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott currently sits alone at the very top of the mountain. After a massive extension with the Dallas Cowboys, he became the first player to hit the $60 million Average Annual Value (AAV) mark. That’s not just "star" money; that's "the franchise is betting its entire future on you" money.
His deal is a four-year, $240 million monster.
What’s crazy is the leverage he held. Because he had a no-tag clause in his previous deal, the Cowboys basically had to pay whatever he asked for or let him walk for nothing. He’s taking home a base salary of $40 million in 2026, but the cap hit is even scarier—it’s sitting at roughly $74 million this year. Jerry Jones clearly decided that having Dak, even at that price, was better than entering the draft lottery for a new signal-caller.
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The $55 Million Logjam
Behind Dak, there’s a massive traffic jam of elite talent all making exactly $55 million per year. It’s almost like agents around the league agreed that this was the benchmark for 2025 and 2026.
- Joe Burrow: The Bengals star was one of the first to hit this number. His five-year, $275 million deal set the tone. Burrow’s 2026 cash intake is around $35.25 million, but his total guarantees remain some of the highest in sports history at $219 million.
- Jordan Love: Talk about a gamble that paid off. Green Bay gave him a four-year, $220 million extension after just one full season as a starter. He rewarded them with a playoff run, and now he’s making as much as Joe Cool.
- Trevor Lawrence: The Jaguars locked up their former number-one pick with a similar five-year, $275 million extension. In 2026, Lawrence's cap hit is actually quite manageable at $24 million because of how they structured his signing bonuses, but he's still a top-tier earner.
- Josh Allen: The Bills' powerhouse is right there at the $55 million mark too. He’s the engine of that entire offense, and frankly, some would argue he’s actually underpaid given his dual-threat production.
Why Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa Are Special Cases
You can't talk about who are the top paid quarterbacks in the nfl without looking at the guys who just entered the "rich list."
Tua Tagovailoa is making $53.1 million a year. It was a deal that had plenty of skeptics because of his injury history, but the Dolphins went all-in. In 2026, he’s set to earn $55 million in total cash. If things go south, his "dead cap" hit is a staggering $99.2 million, which basically makes him un-cuttable right now.
Then there’s Brock Purdy.
Remember when he was "Mr. Irrelevant"? Those days are gone. Purdy finally got his payday from the San Francisco 49ers, jumping from one of the lowest-paid players in the league to an AAV of $53 million. It’s the ultimate "from the basement to the penthouse" story. He’s now making more than perennial MVPs like Lamar Jackson ($52M) and Jalen Hurts ($51M).
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The Patrick Mahomes "Discount"
It feels weird to say a guy making $450 million is taking a discount, but that’s the reality for Patrick Mahomes. While he signed a 10-year deal with an AAV of $45 million, he’s actually fallen down the rankings. He’s currently tied for 15th in average yearly pay with guys like Kirk Cousins.
However, don't feel too bad for him.
The Chiefs restructure his deal almost every year to give him massive lump sums of cash. Between 2023 and the end of 2026, he’s scheduled to pull in about $210.6 million. He’s basically using a "rolling" contract model that ensures he stays near the top without handicapping the team's ability to buy him a defense.
How the Salary Cap Impacts These Deals
You might wonder how teams can afford to pay one guy $60 million when the entire roster has to fit under the cap. Basically, it’s all about the "signing bonus."
When a player like Jordan Love gets a $75 million signing bonus, he gets that check immediately. But for the salary cap, the team can spread that hit over the length of the contract. This is why you’ll see Dak Prescott making $60 million a year, but his "cap hit" in specific years might be much higher or lower than that.
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The NFL salary cap is projected to keep rising. By 2027 or 2028, we might be looking at the first $70 million-per-year quarterback. If you think $60 million is crazy now, just wait until C.J. Stroud or Caleb Williams finishes their rookie deals.
What This Means for Your Team
If your team has a top-tier QB, you should expect to spend at least 20% of your total budget on that one player. It makes it incredibly hard to keep star wide receivers or elite edge rushers. Just look at the Cowboys; they had to scramble to fit CeeDee Lamb’s deal in alongside Dak's.
It’s a "winner-takes-all" economy.
If you have a top-five guy, you pay the tax and hope he carries you. If you don't have a top-five guy but you pay him like one anyway (the "Daniel Jones" trap), you usually end up looking for a new GM within three years.
Actionable Insights for NFL Fans
Tracking these numbers isn't just for nerds with calculators. It tells you exactly when a team's "championship window" is about to slam shut.
- Watch the "Potential Out" years: Most of these contracts have a "back door." For example, the Bengals have a potential out on Joe Burrow’s deal in 2028. If he’s not healthy or performing, that’s when they could move on without destroying their finances.
- Rookie Deals are Gold: The Houstons and Chicagos of the world have a massive advantage. While they have a QB on a rookie contract making under $10 million, they can spend that "saved" $50 million on three other All-Pro players.
- Follow the Guarantees: The total contract value (like $275M) is mostly fluff for the headlines. The "Fully Guaranteed at Signing" number is what actually matters. That’s the money the player is getting even if he gets cut tomorrow.
The market for quarterbacks isn't slowing down. As long as the TV deals keep getting bigger and the stadiums stay full, the price of a franchise arm will keep heading toward the moon.
Check your team's cap space on sites like Spotrac or Over The Cap before the next free agency cycle—it'll tell you exactly how much "help" your quarterback is actually going to get next season.