Highest Paid NFL Players Ranked
NFL rolls in money each year. Despite the fact they have not made their finances public, it is estimated that the NFL’s total revenue was $12 billion in the 2023 season. Plus, the NFL’s salary cap continues to rise at a record-breaking pace. This year it was raised to an astonishing $30 million.
NFL’s highly competitive landscape is the reason for the ever-rising bar of payments. Every new deal is obviously more than the previous one, which raises the bar higher.
Keeping these numbers in mind, it is natural for NFL players to earn a good amount of bucks every year. Let’s review the highest-paid NFL players this year, starting from the bottom.
Please note that this list was made in May 2024, so the positions are bound to change as more deals will be made till the season 2024 actually kicks off.
6. Kyler Murray
With an annual salary of $46.1 million, Murray is a quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. He signed his contract extension with the Cardinals in 2022. Despite missing half of the 2023 season, Murray will make his comeback this year. He tore his ACL in 2022 but still pushed the Arizona Cardinals to a victory (25-23) against the Atlanta Falcons with his surgically repaired knee. Talk about talent, right?
Murray’s athleticism, accuracy, and talent have made him a fan favorite. His absence on the field had his fans desperate waiting for him. He was a five-star recruit and his current standing in NFL Quarterbacks is number 15th.
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5. Jalen Hurts
The quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles is the 5th highest-paid player in the NFL. His annual salary is $51 million as he signed a $255 million deal with the Eagles in 2023. It made him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks when he signed it.
Despite running into some roadblocks in 2023, Hurts’ 38 touchdowns were a major reason for the Philadelphia Eagles’ success. His dynamic passing and rushing proficiency is the reason Hurts is considered the most accurate Quarterback in the Eagles’ history.
4. Lamar Jackson
As a quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson is the 4th highest-paid NFL player in 2024 up until now. His annual income increased to $52 million as he finally signed his $260 million five-year contract after years of discussions. Turns out it was for the best as his performance for the Baltimore Ravens has exceeded expectations.
His first season with them wowed the crowds as he led his team to a 13-4 record and number 1 seed in the AFC. In terms of popularity, Jackson is in the top three NFL quarterbacks. His speed is also unmatched where he currently has a 4.34 dash game for 40 yards.
3. Justin Herbert
Currently, Justin Herbert, the quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers, is the 3rd highest-paid NFL player. With an annual income of $52.5 million, Herbert has the sixth-highest chance of becoming an MVP (Most Valued Player). His five-year $262.5 million contract is considered a good compensation for his position in the team.
But the fact is that Herbert’s talent keeps justifying his annual income and his contract with the Chargers. He is a constant for the Chargers amidst a structure change for the team this year. This is the reason why he is the fifth-best quarterback in the eyes of analyst Trevor Sikkema.
2. Jared Goff
As a quarterback for the Detroit Lions, Jared Goff’s annual salary is $53 million. He became the second-highest-paid player in the NFL after he extended his contract with the Lions. He is credited with joining the Lions when they were being rebuilt after leaving a team that regularly played the Super Bowls. He helped the Lions compete in the NFCs and is the reason why Goff is considered an important player for the Lions.
He has a total of 5 playoff wins, which is more than Lamar Jackson and equal to Joe Burrow. Despite his clear talent, he was ranked pretty low (16th) which was a shock for everyone. The silver lining is that his team seems to have complete faith in him hence the contract extension.
1. Joe Burrow
Coming to the highest-paid quarterback ever, we have the quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Burrow. His average annual salary is $55 million. Moreover, Burrow seems to be keeping his part of the deal as he took the Bengals straight into the Super Bowl in his second season. He has also brought in a total of five post-season wins for the Bengals, within his four seasons with them.
Burrow, also nicknamed as Joe Cool, has been a four-star recruit. In 2023, he was ranked number 6 in the NFL’s top 100 players. However, the 2023 season was rather frustrating for him, as he had to play with his injured calf, which clearly blocked him from showing his best. We are excited to see what 2024 has in store for him.
That is it for the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. We are not surprised how all of these are quarterbacks since they make or break the team’s performance in a game by leading the offense.
