The New York Jets were determined to spend money this week, signing wide receiver Garrett Wilson and cornerback Sauce Gardner to lucrative contract extensions on consecutive days. Wilson's $130 million deal ties him to New York through 2030, making him one of the NFL's top 10 highest-paid pass catchers. Gardner's $120.4 million agreement is equally massive, making him the league's highest-paid cover man in terms of average annual value ($30.1 million) going into the 2025 season.
Then on Thursday, the Steelers locked down star pass rusher T.J. Watt by giving him a three-year, $123 million deal -- making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history in terms of annual average value ($41 million).
There are all kinds of ways to evaluate NFL contracts. Guaranteed money often means much more than surface-level extension numbers, given that teams often terminate or renegotiate deals early. And only new-money averages tend to be factored into widespread conversations around "highest-paid players," even though existing portions of contracts are factored into how players are actually paid over the life of their respective deals.
Even so, we can get a general sense of each position's market by examining the latest per-year averages in free-agent contracts and actual extensions. So here's a look at the highest-paid players according to that metric:
Note: Contract figures are courtesy of Over the Cap and Spotrac.
QB: Dak Prescott ($60 million per year)
- Signed in: 2024 | Signed through: 2028
- Total contract: 4 years, $240 million
RB: Saquon Barkley ($20.6 million)
- Signed in: 2025 | Signed through: 2028
- Total contract: 2 years, $41.2 million
FB: C.J. Ham ($4.325 million)
- Signed in: 2023 | Signed through: 2029
- Total contract: 2 years, $8.65 million
WR: Ja'Marr Chase ($40.25 million)
- Signed in: 2025 | Signed through: 2029
- Total contract: 4 years, $161 million
TE: George Kittle ($19.1 million)
- Signed in: 2025 | Signed through: 2029
- Total contract: 4 years, $76.4 million
OT: Tristan Wirfs ($28.12 million)
- Signed in: 2024 | Signed through: 2029
- Total contract: 5 years, $140.6 million
OG: Trey Smith ($23.5 million)
- Signed in: 2025 | Signed through: 2028
- Total contract: 4 years, $94 million
C: Creed Humphrey ($18 million)
- Signed in: 2024 | Signed through: 2028
- Total contract: 4 years, $72 million
EDGE: T.J. Watt ($41 million)
- Signed in: 2025 | Signed through: 2028
- Total contract: 3 years, $123 million
DL: Chris Jones ($31.75 million)
- Signed in: 2024 | Signed through: 2028
- Total contract: 5 years, $158.75 million
LB: Fred Warner ($21 million)
- Signed in: 2025 | Signed through: 2029
- Total contract: 3 years, $63 million
CB: Sauce Gardner ($30.1 million)
- Signed in: 2025 | Signed through: 2030
- Total contract: 4 years, $120.4 million
S: Kerby Joseph ($21.5 million)
- Signed in: 2025 | Signed through: 2029
- Total contract: 4 years, $86 million
K: Harrison Butker ($6.4 million)
- Signed in: 2024 | Signed through: 2028
- Total contract: 4 years, $25.6 million
P: Michael Dickson ($4.05 million)
- Signed in: 2025 | Signed through: 2029
- Total contract: 4 years, $16.2 million
Breakdown by position
| Rank | Position | Top AAV |
|---|---|---|
1 | QB | $60M |
2 | WR | $40.25M |
3 | EDGE | $40M |
4 | DL | $31.75M |
5 | CB | $30.1M |
6 | OT | $28.12M |
7 | OG | $23.5M |
8 | S | $21.5M |
9 | LB | $21M |
10 | RB | $20.6M |
11 | TE | $19.1M |
12 | C | $18M |
13 | K | $6.4M |
14 | FB | $4.325M |
15 | P | $4.05M |
Breakdown by team
| Rank | Team | Highest-Paid Players |
|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | |
2 | 2 | |
3 | T-9 | 1 |
