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Highest-paid NFL players: Most guaranteed money at every position

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Schefter: Dak, Cowboys agree to 4-year, $240-million contract (1:03)

Adam Schefter breaks the news that Dak Prescott and the Cowboys have agreed to a contract that will keep the quarterback in Dallas. (1:03)

Who are the NFL's highest-paid players at every position? Plenty of record-setting deals have been made in the past year -- the quarterback position has been reset with a new highest-paid player multiple times. The Dallas Cowboys made quarterback Dak Prescott the highest-paid NFL player hours before kicking off the 2024 season.

Last August, San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa became the highest-paid defensive player. In June, Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson shattered the record for most guaranteed money given to a non-quarterback on offense, getting $110 million guaranteed.

We tracked the best-paid players at 16 different positions -- including long-snapper -- and will keep the numbers updated as more records get broken. To get the full picture on the top earners in this league, we sorted positions by two categories, which in a few cases have the same player at No. 1:

  • Three-year average (APY)

  • Total guaranteed money

Salary information courtesy of Roster Management System.

Let's start with Burrow and the highest-paid quarterbacks:

Jump to a position:
QB | RB | WR | TE
OT | OG | OC | EDGE
DT | LB | CB | S
K | LS | P

Quarterback

Highest three-year APY:

1. Joe Burrow, $61.3 million

Signed: September 2023 (contract ends in 2030)

2. Dak Prescott (DAL), $60 million
3. Jordan Love (GB), $58.3 million
3. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), $56.9 million
4. Jared Goff (DET), $55.4 million
5. Tua Tagovailoa (MIA), $54.3 million
6. Justin Herbert (LAC), $53.3 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Dak Prescott, $231 million

Signed: September 2024 (contract ends in 2030)

2. Deshaun Watson (CLE), $230 million
3. Joe Burrow (CIN), $219.01 million
3. Patrick Mahomes (KC), $208.1 million
4. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), $200 million
5. Justin Herbert (LAC), $193.7 million
6. Kyler Murray (ARI), $189.5 million

Running back

Highest three-year APY:

1. Christian McCaffrey, $17.2 million

Signed: April 2020 (contract ends in 2026)

2. Jonathan Taylor (IND), $14 million
3. Alvin Kamara (NO), $12.7 million
4. Saquon Barkley (PHI), $12.6 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Christian McCaffrey, $36.3 million

Signed: April 2020 (contract ends in 2026)

2. Alvin Kamara (NO), $34.3 million
3. Jonathan Taylor (IND), $26.5 million
4. Saquon Barkley (PHI), $26 million

Wide receiver

Highest three-year APY:

1. Justin Jefferson, $35 million

Signed: June 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. CeeDee Lamb (DAL), $34 million
3. A.J. Brown (PHI), $32 million
4. Brandon Aiyuk (SF), $30 million
5. DJ Moore (CHI), $28.5 million
6. Jaylen Waddle (MIA), $28.3 million
7. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET), $28 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Justin Jefferson, $110 million

Signed: June 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. CeeDee Lamb (DAL), $100 million
3. A.J. Brown (PHI), $84 million
4. DJ Moore (CHI), $81.5 million
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET), $77 million
6. Brandon Aiyuk (SF), $76 million

Tight end

Highest three-year APY:

1. Travis Kelce, $17.1 million

Signed: April 2024 (contract ends in 2025)

2. T.J. Hockenson (MIN), $16 million
3. George Kittle (SF), $15.3 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. T.J. Hockenson, $42.5 million

Signed: August 2023 (contract ends in 2027)

2. George Kittle (SF), $40 million
3. Mark Andrews (BAL), $37.6 million

Offensive tackle

Highest three-year APY:

1. Penei Sewell, $30 million

Signed: April 2024 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Tristan Wirfs (TB), $28.6 million
3. Christian Darrisaw (MIN), $26.6 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Tristan Wirfs, $88.24 million

Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Christian Darrisaw (MIN), $74.5 million
3. Penei Sewell (DET), $70 million
4. Andrew Thomas (NYG), $61.9 million

Guard

Highest three-year APY:

1. Chris Lindstrom, $21.8 million

Signed: March 2023 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Landon Dickerson (PHI), $21.7 million
3. Robert Hunt (CAR), $21 million
4. Quenton Nelson (IND), $20.9 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Robert Hunt, $63 million

Signed: March 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Chris Lindstrom (ATL), $62.7 million
3. Quenton Nelson (IND), $60 million

Center

Highest three-year APY:

1. Creed Humphrey, $18 million

Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Frank Ragnow (DET), $14 million
3. Lloyd Cushenberry (TEN), $12.6 million
4. Erik McCoy (NO), $12.5 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Creed Humphrey, $50 million

Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Frank Ragnow (DET), $42 million
3. Ryan Kelly (IND), $34 million
4. Erik McCoy (NO), $33 million

Cornerback

Highest three-year APY:

1. Jalen Ramsey, $24.1 million

Signed: September 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Pat Surtain II (DEN), $24 million
3. Jaire Alexander (GB), $21.8 million
4. A.J. Terrell (ATL), $20.6 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Pat Surtain II, $77.5 million

Signed: September 2024 (contract ends in 2030)

2. Denzel Ward (CLE), $71.25 million
3. Jalen Ramsey (MIA), $71.2 million
4. Marshon Lattimore (NO), $68.3 million

Safety

Highest three-year APY:

1. Antoine Winfield Jr., $21.5 million

Signed: May 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Derwin James Jr. (LAC), $19.6 million
3. Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT), $18.6 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Antoine Winfield Jr., $45 million

Signed: May 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Derwin James Jr. (LAC), $42 million
T3. Minkah Fitzpatrick (PIT), $36 million
T3. Jessie Bates III (ATL), $36 million

Edge rusher

Highest three-year APY:

1. Nick Bosa, $34.7 million

Signed: September 2023 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Josh Hines-Allen (JAX), $31 million
3. T.J. Watt (PIT), $30.5 million
4. Brian Burns (NYG), $30 million
5. Myles Garrett (CLE), $26.7 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Nick Bosa, $119.9 million

Signed: September 2023 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Myles Garrett (CLE), $100 million
3. Josh Hines-Allen (JAX), $88 million
4. Brian Burns (NYG), $87.5 million

Defensive tackle

Highest three-year APY:

1. Chris Jones, $31.7 millon

Signed: March 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Christian Wilkins (LV), $28 million
3. Derrick Brown (CAR), $24 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Chris Jones, $101 million

Signed: March 2024 (contract ends in 2028)

2. Christian Wilkins (LV), $82.7 million
3. Quinnen Williams (NYJ), $66 million

Off-ball linebacker

Highest three-year APY:

1. Roquan Smith, $20 million

Signed: January 2023 (contract ends 2027)

2. Fred Warner (SF), $19.5 million
3. Tremaine Edmunds (CHI), $19 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Roquan Smith, $60 million

Signed: January 2023 (contract ends 2027)

2. Tremaine Edmunds (CHI), $45 million
3. Fred Warner (SF), $40.5 million

Kicker

Highest three-year APY:

1. Harrison Butker, $6.4 million

Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Justin Tucker (BAL), $6.2 million
3. Jake Elliott (PHI), $6 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Harrison Butker, $17.75 million

Signed: August 2024 (contract ends in 2029)

2. Justin Tucker (BAL), $17.5 million
3. Jake Elliott (PHI), $14.1 million

Long-snapper

Highest three-year APY:

1. Luke Rhodes, $1.67 million

Signed: September 2023 (contract ends 2027)

2. Joe Cardona (NE), $1.63 million
3. Zach Wood (NO), $1.62 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Tyler Ott, $2.8 million

Signed: March 2024 (contract ends 2026)

2. Thomas Hennessy (NYJ), $2.62 million
3. Joe Cardona (NE), $2.6 million

Punter

Highest three-year APY:

1. Michael Dickson, $3.9 million

Signed: June 2021 (contract ends in 2025)

2. Jack Fox (DET), $3.6 million
3. Tress Way (WSH), $3.3 million


Total guaranteed money:

1. Michael Dickson, $8.5 million

Signed: June 2021 (contract ends in 2025)

2. Jack Fox (DET), $7.5 million
2. Tress Way (WSH), $6.4 million