The 17 Highest Paid NFL Players in 2025

It should be no surprise that all but one of the top 10 and 14 of the top 17 highest-paid NFL players in 2025 are quarterbacks. Below, you’ll find out who these players and the other two making the list are. You’ll also identify the highest-paid NFL players by position by reading further. The total cash earnings of the respective players over the 2025 NFL season 2025 figures are the foundation for the quoted figures. So, who’s the highest-paid NFL player for the current season?

1. Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers)

Age — 27

Position — Quarterback

Career Earnings — $96.2 million

2025 Earnings — $60 million

Justin Herbert signed a new five-year extension with the Chargers in July 2023, with a base salary of $15 million and a signing bonus of $45 million due in 2025 as part of his rookie contract following his overall 6th place pick in the 2020 NFL draft. You want consistency from your playmaker, and after five starting campaigns in Los Angeles, it seems the Chargers are happy paying for the privilege.

2. Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)

Age — 28

Position — Quarterback
Career Earnings — $174.61 million

2025 Earnings — $58 million

At the end of March 2025, Josh Allen and the Bills agreed on a six-year contract worth $330 million, replacing his existing four-year one, making the 2018 draft’s 7th place overall pick and reigning AP NFL MVP one of the highest-paid NFL players. With an improved passer rating of 101.38 in 2024 compared to five of his other six seasons in Buffalo, you’ll agree that his new contract offer makes sense to the Bills.

3. Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins)

Age — 27
Position — Quarterback

Career Earnings — $73.46 million
2025 Earnings — $51.05 million

After being drafted 5th in round one of the 2020 NFL draft, Tua Tagovailoa justified his high position and earned himself a four-year $212.4 million rookie contract extension in 2024. After missing five weeks with a concussion following his extension, you’d think this ultra-talented quarterback would look to earn his large payday in the current campaign.

4. Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs)

Age — 29

Position — Quarterback

Career Earnings — $182 million

2025 Earnings — $50 million

At face value, Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million contract signed in 2020 would take him past Aaron Rodgers’ total career earnings of $418 million-plus and make him the highest-paid NFL player of all time. You watched as Mahomes and the Chiefs fell just short in a 2024 NFL season that had everything. The player many call a generational talent who will challenge Tom Brady’s remarkable  NFL exploits, will be back, looking to push his pass completions back over 400 and bring the Super Bowl back to Kansas this time out.

5. Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)

Age — 31

Position — Quarterback
Career Earnings — $248.58 million

2025 Earnings — $47.75 million

After heading into his ninth year with the Cowboys after the 135th overall draft pick in 2016, Dak Prescott now holds a $240 million contract until 2028, after extending in 2024. With over $250 million in career earnings, he’s defied his low NFL draft position. Nobody predicted the hamstring injury causing Prescott to miss much of the 2024 season, but you know he’ll be ready to fire come September. Whether the quarterback can help to emulate the great Dallas Cowboys team of 1992 remains to be seen.

6. Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)

Age — 29

Position — Quarterback

Career Earnings — $188.78 million

2025 Earnings — $46 million

Deshaun Watson has three years remaining on his Browns contract after a trade from the Houston Texans in 2022, including nearly a $45 million signing bonus. Having only completed 13 games in the last two Cleveland seasons due to injury, you’d think it may be now or never for the ex-Clemson star to come good on the Browns’ hefty investment, by choosing fitness regimes that suit the preseason and before.

7. Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)

Age — 37

Position — Quarterback
Career Earnings — $364.31 million

2025 Earnings — $44 million

After a 12-year NFL career with the Detroit Lions and a further four years with the Rams, Matthew Stafford signed an $84 million restructured contract extension in 2025 that will see him continue with his current franchise until 2027. Stafford was almost an institution in Detroit, but if you’re a Rams fan, you may have noticed that, after starting his Los Angeles career with 41 touchdown passes in 2021, that figure declined to only 20 last season. Stafford will earn well in 2025, but is his age becoming a factor?

8. Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)

Age — 28

Position — Quarterback

Career Earnings — $144.56 million

2025 Earnings — $43.5 million

The Ravens picked Lamar Jackson 32nd in the 2018 draft’s first round and awarded him a $9.47 million, four-year contract. In 2023, the quarterback signed a five-year extension for $260 million. Since signing, the highly rated Jackson has outdone himself in games, with his pass completion percentages and pass ratings especially standing out. With 41 touchdown passes last year, Baltimore may consider a further extension soon.  

9. Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles)

Age — 26

Position — Quarterback
Career Earnings — $68.9 million

2025 Earnings — $42.5 million

As the starting quarterback for the reigning Super Bowl champions, Jalen Hurts has the world at his feet. Along with his athletic teammate Saquon Barkley, Hurts must rate as one of the strongest players in the NFL. Still only 26, with only five years of experience, an extension to his current five-year $255 million contract might be close. Hurts excelled on a winning Philadelphia roster in 2024, but you’d think there’s more to come if you’re an Eagles fan. When you’re part of a team of winners, anything is possible. 

10. Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals)

Age — 25

Position — Wide Receiver

Career Earnings — $30.95 million

2025 Earnings — $41.17 million

After only four completed NFL seasons with career earnings of around $31 million so far, Ja’Marr Chase’s 2025 four-year extension will earn him more in the current season than all the others together. He’s also the highest-paid Bengal player and non-quarterback in the NFL in 2025, with good reason. When you complete 1,708 yards and score 17 touchdowns, you deserve the plaudits that come your way.

11-T. Derek Carr (New Orleans Saints)

Age — 34

Position — Quarterback
Career Earnings — $195.67 million

2025 Earnings — $40 million

As the first of two journeyman quarterbacks sharing 11th position on the list of 2025’s highest NFL earners, Derek Carr will want some big paydays before his contract expires in 2027. With career earnings nearing $200 million after 11 completed top-level seasons, the Saints quarterback surpassed career expectations after being a second-round draft pick in 2014. You’ll note that the ex-Las Vegas Raiders starter only played 10 games in 2024, but enjoyed a 101.02 pass rating during those. 

11-T. Geno Smith (Las Vegas Raiders)

Age — 34

Position — Quarterback

Career Earnings — $67.45 million

2025 Earnings — $40 million

After starting in 49 Seattle Seahawks games over the past three seasons, Geno Smith’s stock has risen after his trade to the Las Vegas franchise, his fifth in 12 years, resulting in a two-year, $75 million contract earlier in 2025. As a Raiders supporter, you’ll be eager to see what Smith’s experience brings to the table, and if the late bloomer will continue to defy age and use his savvy to promote an improved team performance in 2025. 

13-T. Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks)

Age — 27

Position — Quarterback

Career Earnings — $65.25 million

2025 Earnings — $37.5 million

Much-traveled quarterback Sam Darnold signed a three-year contract worth $100.5 million with the Seahawks earlier in 2025 after starting 16 times with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. His $32 million signing bonus makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL for 2025. Although Seattle becomes Darnold’s fifth home as he begins his eighth NFL season, you might take his starting performances in 16 games for the Vikings last time out to indicate that the 2018 third overall draft pick has begun to show his undoubted pedigree.

13-T. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Age — 25

Position — Quarterback

Career Earnings — $70.12 million

2025 Earnings — $37.5 million

The Jaguars chose Trevor Lawrence as the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. As the Jacksonville starting quarterback ever since, Lawrence deserved his $275 million contract extension before the start of last season. You can’t predict injuries and the playmaker’s damaged shoulder halted his 2024 campaign six weeks early. Lawrence’s $35 million bonus option and $500,000 workout bonus, coupled with his salary, make him the highest-paid member of the Jacksonville roster.

15. Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals)

Age — 26

Position — Wide Receiver

Career Earnings — $31.96 million

2025 Earnings — $35.9 million

Tee Higgins becomes the second wide receiver from the Bengals and overall to appear on the list of 2025 NFL top earners. As Higgins begins his sixth season in Cincinnati, a new four-year, $115 million deal extension promotes him into the high-earning bracket. He’ll look to improve on the 911 receiving yards and 73 receptions achieved in only 9 game starts last year. Looking at last season’s performances, you can understand why the Bengals hierarchy offered the wide receiver a contract extension, despite the costs of running a franchise in the NFL.

16. Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)

Age — 28

Position — Quarterback

Career Earnings — $141.93 million

2025 Earnings — $35.25 million

Joe Burrow was the top overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft and stepped into the action for the Bengals with 10 starts that season. Only an ACL injury in the latter games of 2020 and a 2023 wrist injury have prevented the ex-Louisiana State starlet from a 100% starting record in his Cincinnati career. Burrows excelled with a 108.54 pass rating and 70.6% pass completion in 2024. He’s two years into his $275 million contract extension, with similar 2025 exploits promising a relook from his franchise.

17. D.K. Metcalf (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Age — 27

Position — Wide Receiver

Career Earnings — $61.69 million

2025 Earnings — $35 million

D.K. Metcalf signed a four-year contract extension worth $132 million with the Steelers in 2025, after completing a trade from the Seattle Seahawks. With a $30 signing bonus included, the six-season NFL regular becomes the third wide receiver and last player to make this list. Injury-free in his career and with time on his side, you’d expect Metcalf to perform admirably for his new franchise after the regular season kicks off in September. He has speed to burn, and may be among the fastest NFL players around. 

The Highest Paid NFL Players in 2025 by Position

While you now know who the 17 highest earners are in the NFL for 2025, they’re all quarterbacks and wide receivers. The Chargers’ Justin Herbert will take home the most cash overall and as a quarterback, while Ja’Marr Chase of the Bengals closes out the top 10 2025 NFL earners as the highest-paid wide receiver. Who are the highest-paid NFL players by position besides these two in 2025? 

Highest-Paid NFL Offensive Players in Each Position

Whether you’re looking for incredible offensive linemen, super-fast running backs and wide receivers or players who may scale heights to become among the best quarterbacks of all time, NFL franchises reward their highest performers well. These offensive players are the highest-paid among those in 2025. 

• Center — Drew Dalman (Chicago Bears) — $18 million
• Fullback — Kyle Juszczyk (San Francisco 49ers) — $3.85 million
• Guard — Aaron Banks (Green Bay Packers) — $29.4 million
• Left Tackle/Tackle — Dan Moore (Tennessee Titans) — $30 million
• Quarterback — Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) — $60 million
• Right Tackle — Penei Sewell (Detroit Lions) — $26.54 million
• Running Back — Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) — $16.5 million
• Tight End — Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals) — $22.35 million
• Wide Receiver — Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals) — 43.5 million

Highest-Paid NFL Defensive Players in Each Position

The best NFL defenses of all time all included highly paid players. For example, the best linebackers in the NFL command high salaries and must perform accordingly to maintain a position among the elite. The following are the defensive players earning the most in their positions. 

• Cornerback — Jaycee Horn (Carolina Panthers) — $30.07 million
• Defensive End/Edge — Maxx Crosby (Las Vegas Raiders) — $33.28 million
• Defensive Tackle — Christian Wilkins (Las Vegas Raiders) — $29 million
• Inside Linebacker — Fred Warner (San Francisco 49ers) — $18.25 million
• Linebacker/Outside Linebacker — Joshua Hines-Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars) — $33 million
• Safety/Free Safety — Antoine Winfield, Jr. (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) — $21 million
• Strong Safety — Derwin Jones (Los Angeles Chargers) — $16.75 million

Highest-Paid NFL Special Team Players in Each Position

Although special team players don’t earn as much as their defensive and offensive counterparts, they still play vital roles on the field. These are the NFL’s top special-teams earners in 2025.

Kicker — Brandon McManus (Green Bay Packers) — $7 million

Long Snapper — Reid Ferguson (Buffalo Bills) — $2.39 million

Punter — Jamie Gillan (New York Giants) — $3.5 million

How Will 2025’s Highest NFL Earners Perform?

Every player’s mentality is different as they’re all individuals. There’s no guarantee that a new contract or an extension will drive a player to perform at a higher level. Some of the top earners are starting afresh at new NFL franchises — will their career changes affect them well or badly? Injuries also play a part, with some players missing out for long periods in the seasons following their new deals. Perhaps you should watch the list and evaluate your favorites’ performances after the 2025 season gets underway. Roll on September.