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! This article examines the salaries of the top 15 NFL players.
Surprisingly, the average NFL player’s salary in 2021 is expected to range 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.
So, without further ado, here are 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, the average annual salary will be used to determine the 15 Highest Paid NFL Players’ Salaries.
The information on this list has been compiled from official and reliable sources such as NFL.com and Sporting News.
Before we get into the specifics, let’s take a look at the highest-paid NFL player in terms of average salary:
| Name | Team | Average Annual Salary |
| 15. Matthew Stafford | Los Angeles Rams | $27 million |
| 14. DeAndre Hopkins | Arizona Cardinals | $27.3 million |
| 13. Jimmy Garoppolo | San Francisco 49ers | $27.5 million |
| 12. T.J Watt | Pittsburgh Steelers | $28.003 million |
| 11. Ryan Tannehill | Tennessee Titans | $29.5 million |
| 10. Matt Ryan | Atlanta Falcons | $30 million |
| 9. Carson Wentz | Indianapolis Colts | $32 million |
| 8. Kirk Cousins | Minnesota Vikings | $33 million |
| 7. Jared Goff | Detroit Lions | $33.5 million |
| 6. Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay Packers | $33.5 million |
| 5. Russell Wilson | Seattle Seahawks | $35 million |
| 4. Deshaun Watson | Houston Texans | $39 million |
| 3. Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys | $40 million |
| 2. Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills | $43 million |
| 1. Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs | $45 million |
15. John Matthew
Stafford 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.
Matthew Stafford is in action during the Redskins-Lions game. Commons.wikimedia.org is the source.
While the Lions would never be able to build a team around the 34-year-old, the Rams hope to benefit from having a top-tier quarterback on their roster.
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 and fans’ faith in him by accumulating 1,407 receiving yards.
13. Jimmy Garoppolo
James Richard Garoppolo, better known as Jimmy 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 netted him an 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.
11. Tannehill, Ryan
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 quarterback who 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, who earns a whopping $30 million per year, continues to shine for the Falcons. Furthermore, 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.
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 can return to his usual impressive self.
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 in a talented quarterback to help them cross the finish line.
Despite his inability to do so, the 34-year-old has amassed some impressive statistics.
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. Goff, Jared
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 his 16 career 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 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. In addition, he led the league with 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.
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 been a consistent performer for the Seahawks.
Furthermore, in nine seasons, the 33-year-old has never missed a start. Furthermore, over his career, he has averaged 30 pass touchdowns, 3,772 passing yards, and nine interceptions per season.
Wilson has more than justified his name by earning a colossal average annual salary of $35 million. Not to mention that he won a Super Bowl in 2013 and was named Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2020.
4. Deshaun Watson
Derrick Smith joins the long list of quarterbacks on our list. Deshaun Watson is an American football player who currently plays for the Houston Texans.
Watson is regarded as one of the game’s most promising young quarterbacks. As a result, the 26-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. Rayne, Dak
Prescott Dakota Prescott, also known as Dak Prescott, is a quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
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.
Not to mention, 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 a whopping $43 million per year on average.
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 colossal annual average salary of $45 million.
Mahomes has led his team to the last two Super Bowls, which helps to justify the massive contract. Similarly, the 26-year-old has won one.
His numbers on the field are also impressive to watch. Furthermore, Mahomes has averaged 41 pass touchdowns, 4,931 yards passing, and only eight interceptions.
Conclusion
The NFL is a demanding sport that requires strength, speed, and stamina. However, the best of the best are rewarded handsomely for their time and effort.
Furthermore, with NFL teams vying for the Super Bowl every year, shelling out millions for players appears to be a no-brainer.
Finally, the players mentioned above mark the end of our coverage of the 15 highest-paid NFL Player’s Salaries in 2022.
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