Money in football is getting weird. We're at a point where a backup-level performance might still net a guy $50 million because of a piece of paper signed three years ago. If you're looking for the short answer to who is the most paid NFL player, the name is Dak Prescott.
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback currently sits atop the mountain with a staggering $60 million average annual value (AAV). He basically broke the scale when he signed that four-year, $240 million extension. It's wild to think about. For a long time, we thought $40 million was the ceiling. Then $50 million became the "elite" mark. Now, Dak has moved the goalposts so far that $60 million is the new benchmark for any franchise passer who hits the open market or reaches the final year of a deal.
But honestly, "highest paid" is a tricky phrase in the NFL. Are we talking about the biggest check received this morning? The most guaranteed money? Or the total value of the contract?
Who is the most paid NFL player right now?
When experts talk about the "highest paid," they almost always mean the average annual salary. It’s the easiest way to rank guys. Behind Dak’s $60 million, there’s a massive logjam of talent at the **$55 million per year** mark.
It’s actually kinda funny how teams seem to settle on the same number. Right now, you have Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, and Josh Allen all sitting at that $55 million AAV. It’s like the league's GMs all got into a group chat and decided that was the "fair" price for a guy who can actually win you a playoff game.
The Top 5 NFL Earners by Annual Salary
- Dak Prescott (Cowboys): $60,000,000
- Joe Burrow (Bengals): $55,000,000
- Jordan Love (Packers): $55,000,000
- Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars): $55,000,000
- Josh Allen (Bills): $55,000,000
Wait, where is Patrick Mahomes? This is the part that usually shocks people. The best player in the world, the guy with the most rings among active QBs, is technically the 15th highest-paid player by annual average. He’s making $45 million a year.
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Now, don't feel too bad for him. His contract is a ten-year monster worth $450 million. He chose long-term security and "team-friendly" flexibility over the constant leapfrogging that Dak and Burrow do. It's a different strategy. Mahomes wants to win; Dak wanted the bag. Both got what they were looking for, I guess.
The "Guaranteed" Trap: Why $240 Million isn't always $240 Million
NFL contracts are notorious for being "fake." In the NBA or MLB, if you sign for $200 million, you get $200 million. In the NFL, you might sign for $200 million and get cut after two years with only half of it in your pocket.
This is why Deshaun Watson is still a name that makes GMs shiver. His contract with the Cleveland Browns was $230 million—and every single cent was fully guaranteed. That was a massive outlier. Usually, a player like Dak Prescott has a huge total value ($240M) but a slightly lower "fully guaranteed" amount at signing (around $129M).
If you want to know who is the most paid NFL player in terms of actual cash hitting the bank account in 2026, the rankings shift. Because of how signing bonuses are structured, some guys get a "quiet" year where they only make a couple million in base salary, followed by a "boom" year. For instance, in 2026, Patrick Mahomes is projected to take home over $56 million in total cash, while Deshaun Watson’s cap hit—the amount he costs his team against the rules—is a projected $80.7 million. That is a terrifying number for a front office.
Non-Quarterbacks: The "Best of the Rest"
Let's step away from the QBs for a second. They play a different game. If you aren't under center, the money is still great, but it's not "buy a small island" great.
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The wide receiver market recently exploded. Ja’Marr Chase finally got his deal, landing at an AAV of **$40.25 million**. He jumped over Justin Jefferson ($35M) and CeeDee Lamb ($34M) to become the highest-paid non-QB in league history.
On the defensive side, Aidan Hutchinson reset the market for edge rushers. He’s pulling in $45 million a year now. It makes sense. If you can't have the $60 million QB, you better pay $45 million to the guy whose only job is to hit that QB.
Defensive and Skill Position Leaders
- Edge Rusher: Aidan Hutchinson ($45M AAV)
- Wide Receiver: Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25M AAV)
- Linebacker: Micah Parsons ($46.5M AAV - Note: Parsons' recent deal with the Packers moved him into a unique hybrid stratosphere)
- Running Back: Saquon Barkley ($20.6M AAV - The first RB to break the $20M ceiling)
How the Salary Cap Changes Everything
You might wonder why these numbers keep going up. It’s not just greed. The NFL salary cap is fueled by TV deals and gambling revenue. As the league makes more money, the cap rises. When the cap rises, the "percentage" of the cap a player takes stays roughly the same, but the raw dollar amount looks insane to us regular people.
Back in 2013, Joe Flacco became the highest-paid player ever at $20.1 million per year. People thought the world was ending. Today, a $20 million salary is what you pay a "pretty good" wide receiver or a mid-tier offensive tackle. By the time 2027 or 2028 rolls around, we will probably see a quarterback sign for **$70 million a year**. It’s just math.
What this means for your team
If your favorite team has a "most paid" player, it’s a double-edged sword. It means you have a superstar. It also means your team is broke.
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When the Dallas Cowboys pay Dak $60 million, that is roughly 20-24% of their total spending money for the entire 53-man roster. It's hard to build a defense when one guy is eating a fifth of the pie. That’s why you see teams like the Chiefs or the Eagles constantly "restructuring" deals. They turn base salary into signing bonuses to push the "bill" down the road.
Eventually, the bill comes due. Look at the Browns with Watson or the Saints almost every year. They are in "cap hell."
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're following the money to understand how the league works, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the "Potential Out" year: Most big contracts have a "back door" after year three. If a player is underperforming, the team can cut them with minimal "dead cap" damage. Don't look at the total years; look at when the guarantees run out.
- Quarterback leverage is king: As long as the NFL is a passing league, the most paid NFL player will always be a QB. If you have a young star like C.J. Stroud, be prepared for him to ask for $65 million the second he is eligible for an extension.
- The Cap is a myth (until it isn't): Teams can manipulate the numbers for about 3-4 years. After that, they either have to win a Super Bowl or go through a "reset" year where they cut everyone and start over.
The landscape of NFL wealth is shifting faster than ever. What was a "record-breaking" deal last March is just "standard starter money" by September. Keep an eye on the AAV, but always check the guarantees if you want to know who really has the power.