Salaries of the 15 Highest Paid NFL Players

Surprisingly, the average NFL player salary in 2022 is expected to be between $1 million and $1.5 million. The amount, however, skyrockets for the league’s superstars. Furthermore, with such lucrative contracts, players live like kings.

Have you ever wondered how much NFL players make? Or, for that matter, have you ever considered the luxury that NFL players can enjoy? So, say no more! In this article, we look at the salaries of the top 15 NFL players.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the salaries of the 15 highest-paid NFL players.

Salaries of the 15 Highest Paid NFL Players

NFL player contracts are evaluated using a variety of complex metrics. As a result, we will use the average annual salary to determine the salaries of the 15 highest-paid NFL players.

15. Matthew Stafford

John Matthew Stafford is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Los Angeles Rams in the National Football League. Stafford, who spent more than a decade with the Lions, will join the Rams’ incredible offensive lineup on March 18, 2021. Furthermore, Matthew earned a lucrative average annual salary of $27 million after joining the Rams.

While the Lions would never be able to build a team around him, the Rams hope to capitalize on having a top-tier quarterback on their roster. Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams have agreed to a four-year contract.

According to CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the deal has been extended. According to NFL Networks’ Ian Rapoport, the new contract is worth $160 million, with $135 million guaranteed.

14. DeAndre Hopkins

DeAndre Rashaun Hopkins is a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football League. Furthermore, the 30-year-old Clemson product is regarded as one of the league’s best wide receivers. As a result, it is not surprising that Hopkins earns an annual salary of $27.3 million.

Furthermore, the Cardinals’ star player is justifying his massive contract. In his first season with the Arizona Cardinals, he tied his career high with 115 catches. Hopkins has also repaid his team’s and fans’ faith in him by accumulating 1,407 receiving yards.

13. Jimmy Garoppolo

Jimmy Garoppolo, born James Richard Garoppolo, is an American quarterback who plays for the San Francisco 49ers. Garoppolo joined the 49ers in 2017 and has been a regular starter for three seasons. Not to mention, the highly talented Illinois quarterback earned a massive average annual salary of $27.5 million.

Jimmy also justified his position by leading his team to a Super Bowl appearance in 2019. While Jimmy has been dealing with injuries recently, one can only hope that he can regain the form he displayed during the 2019 season.

12. T.J Watt

Trent Jordan Watt, also known as T.J Watt, is a Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker. Watt’s contract with the Steelers was extended on September 9, 2021. Furthermore, the contract extension provided him with an average annual salary of $28.003 million. As a result of the lucrative contract, he became the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player.

T.J has also been a standout pass rusher for the Steelers. During his four-year NFL career, he also had an impressive 49.5 sacks. Similarly, in the 2020 season, he led the NFL in sacks with fifteen. As a result, it’s no surprise that the 27-year-old landed such a lucrative contract.

Watson’s contract includes an $8.99 million signing bonus and a base salary of $1.035 million in 2022. Watson’s base salary will skyrocket to $46 million per year starting with the 2023 NFL season and remaining there until the 2026 NFL season.

11. Ryan Tannehill

Ryan Timothy Tannehill, born July 27, 1988, is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. The quarterback from Big Spring, Texas, is regarded as one of the league’s most prominent figures. Furthermore, Tannehill has an impressive 18-8 regular-season record as a starter.

Ryan also led the Titans to an AFC Championship Game appearance. As a result, it is only natural for the 34-year-old to earn a sizable annual average salary of $29.5 million.

10. Matt Ryan

Matthew Thomas Ryan is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan has been a cornerstone name for the Falcons for more than a decade. Furthermore, he is a fantastic player, averaging at least 4,000 passing yards per year.

Matt Ryan continues to shine for the Falcons, earning a whopping $30 million per year. After winning the MVP award in 2016, he led the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance. Furthermore, Ryan has only missed one game for the Falcons in the last ten years.

Ryan’s base salary is reported to be $17,205,882 with a $7.5 million roster bonus for the 2022 season. Ryan’s base salary is expected to be $21,705,882 in 2023, with a $7.5 million roster bonus.

9. Carson Wentz

Carson James Wentz, another quarterback on the list, is an American who plays for the Indianapolis Colts. Following a disastrous performance in 2021, the Colts traded Wentz in the offseason. Similarly, despite leading the league in interceptions with fifteen, the 29-year-old was benched in favor of Jalen Hurts.

Furthermore, the North Carolina native now earns a hefty annual average salary of $32 million. Meanwhile, Wentz is nursing a preseason foot injury that could keep him out of the game. As a result, one can only hope that he will be able to return to his usual impressive self.

With an average salary of $32 million, Wentz is currently the NFL’s ninth highest-paid quarterback. According to Spotrac.com, here is an annual look at Wentz’s salary and cap achieved while on contract. This season in 2022, Wentz will earn approximately $28.3 million in cap and cash.

8. Kirk Cousins

Kirk Cousins is an American quarterback who currently plays for the Minnesota Vikings. Kirk signed with the Vikings in 2018, earning a massive annual average salary of $33 million. Furthermore, the Vikings brought a talented quarterback to help them cross the finish line.

Despite his inability, the 34-year-old has put up some impressive numbers. Cousins set a career-high with 35 touchdown passes last season. He did, however, have 13 interceptions to go along with his career-high passes.

7. Jared Goff

Jared Goff, another quarterback on the list, is an American national who plays for the Detroit Lions. Furthermore, Goff will earn $33.5 million after signing with the Lions on March 18, 2021. Furthermore, with significant numbers under his belt, Jared has established himself as one of the league’s best.

Furthermore, in 16 games, the 27 has averaged 4,215 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

6. Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Charles Rodgers, born on December 2, 1983, is the oldest player on our list. Furthermore, the 38-year-old is a quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers had a fantastic 2020 season, earning MVP honors. Furthermore, he completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 4,299 yards, an NFL high. He also had a league-high 48 touchdowns and five interceptions.

As a result, it comes as no surprise that the 2020 MVP will earn one of the highest annual salaries in the league. Rodgers, who earns a whopping $33.5 million, hopes to replicate his heroics in 2020.

The new contract Rodgers and the Packers agreed to changes everything. Officially, the agreement is a three-year contract renewal worth $150.815 million. This includes a report, a great, fully guaranteed base salary of $59.5 million in 2023, and a non-guaranteed salary of $49.3 million in 2024.

5. Russell Wilson

Russell Carrington Wilson is a quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League. Wilson, who is known for his steady approach, has also consistently performed for the Seahawks. Furthermore, in nine seasons, the 33-year-old has never missed a start. He has a season average of 30 pass touchdowns, 3,772 passing yards, and nine interceptions.

Wilson has more than justified his name by earning a colossal average annual salary of $35 million. He won a Super Bowl in 2013 and was named Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2020.

4. Deshaun Watson

Derrick Deshaun Watson, an American national who plays for the Houston Texans, joins the long list of quarterbacks on our list. Watson is regarded as one of the game’s most promising young quarterbacks. As a result, the 27-year-old earns an annual salary of $39 million on average.

With 22 civil lawsuits and ten criminal sexual misconduct and sexual assault complaints, it’s difficult to say whether he’ll play again.

3. Dak Prescott

Rayne Dakota Prescott, also known as Dak Prescott, is a Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Furthermore, Prescott has been a cornerstone in the Cowboys’ ongoing rebuild. However, he suffered a horrific ankle injury during the 2020 season.

Despite a promising start to the season in which he was on pace for a 6,000-yard passing season, an ankle injury derailed his progress. The Cowboys signed Dak Prescott to a four-year contract extension in the hopes of rebuilding their defense. As a result, the 29-year-old earns a whopping $40 million per year on average.

2. Josh Allen

Moving up to number two, Joshua Patrick Allen is an American quarterback for the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen became the second-highest-paid player in terms of annual salary in 2021 after signing a massive contract in August 2021. Furthermore, the 26-year-old earns an annual salary of $43 million.

He has, on the other hand, improved in each of his three seasons. He also led the Bills to the AFC Championship Game in 2020. Furthermore, he has 4,544 yards passing, 37 touchdowns, and ten interceptions. He also rushed for 421 yards and eight touchdowns.

1. Patrick Mahomes

Finally, Patrick Lavon Mahomes is an American quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. In terms of average annual salary, Mahomes is the highest-paid NFL player. Furthermore, the Chiefs’ star player earns a whopping $45 million per year. Mahomes has led his team to the last two Super Bowls, which helps to justify the massive contract. Similarly, the 27-year-old has won one.

In addition, his numbers on the field are a sight to behold. Furthermore, Mahomes has averaged 41 pass touchdowns, 4,931 yards passing, and only eight interceptions.

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