Joe Burrow of the Bengals, Trevor Lawrence of the Jaguars, and Jordan Love of the Packers lead the top 10 highest-paid NFL players, each earning $55 million annually ahead of the 2024 NFL season. Notably, Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs, is not on the list.
This year’s quarterback market expanded the throne previously held solely by Joe Burrow, thanks to his five-year, $275 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals signed in September 2023.
The first to match Burrow’s $55 million annual earnings was Trevor Lawrence in June, with a similar five-year, $275 million extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A month later, Jordan Love joined the ranks with a four-year, $220 million deal with the Green Bay Packers.
The $55 million annual average for these three quarterbacks, who have yet to win a Super Bowl, surpasses the $45 million that Mahomes earns annually, despite his three Super Bowl rings and three MVP awards in the four Lombardi trophies he has contested.
Widely regarded as the best quarterback today, Mahomes ranks only 11th among the highest-paid players, in a list dominated by quarterbacks from the first to the 18th spot.
Before Mahomes, Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins sits in fourth place, leading the NFL in passing yards in 2023 with 4,624. Two months ago, he secured a four-year, $212 million contract with his team, averaging $53.1 million per year.
Surprisingly, Jared Goff, the 29-year-old veteran, follows closely, having committed to the Detroit Lions until the 2027 season for $212 million, just $100,000 less than Tagovailoa.
The sixth spot belongs to 2020 first-round Draft pick Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers, with a $262.5 million contract, averaging $52.5 million annually.
Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP, ranks seventh with an annual income of $52 million, stemming from his $260 million deal in 2023, which briefly made him the highest-paid player.
Next is Jalen Hurts, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl LVII, where they lost to the Chiefs. The two-time Pro Bowler has a five-year, $255 million contract, earning $51 million per season.
Arizona Cardinals‘ Kyler Murray, despite having a couple of losing seasons with his team, secured a five-year, $230 million deal, averaging $46.1 million annually.
Just ahead of Patrick Mahomes is the controversial Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns, who was sued by 24 women in 2021 for inappropriate sexual conduct. He rounds out the top 10 highest-paid players with $46 million per season.
The first non-quarterback on this list is Minnesota Vikings’ wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who ranks 19th with $35 million annually. Two spots below, at number 21, is the highest-paid defensive player, Nick Bosa, a defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers.
