NFL
The 10 Highest Paid Players In The NFL (2026)
Who are the highest paid players in the NFL? Michael Kaplan looks through the 10 biggest earners in the National Football League this season – and all 10 are quarterbacks!
Athletic stardom does not come cheaply. This is true in the National Football League, where the regular season is comprised of just 17 games played over a period of 18 weeks.
Despite their light schedule, fantastically paid pros in the NFL earn staggering sums. Massive salaries are justified by the popularity of American football, which leads to big bucks for the league and its teams. Stacks of Benjamins are generated through ticket sales, TV revenue and sponsorship deals.
Of course, to be among best paid NFL players, you need to possess serious athletic prowess and be able to take a hit. Keep that in mind when you plan your post-season sports bets and focus on players whose salaries match their abilities.
Here, then, are 10 players whose annual paychecks are total touchdowns.
NFL STARS WITH FAT WALLETS
Dak Prescott – $60 million, quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott was a Heisman Trophy contender in college and things have only gotten better for him since he turned pro. At the time of this writing, according to ESPN, he leads the league in passing yards and is an outside contender for the NFL MVP award. He is the first Cowboys quarterback to achieve that.
Josh Allen – $55 million, quarterback, Buffalo Bills
Though his pay places him a notch below Prescott, Josh Allen has attributes that seem custom designed to flummox opposing defenders: a powerful and accurate arm, serious running skills and the ability to make smart snap-decisions.
Joe Burrow – $55 million, quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals
When the pressure rises, Joe Burrow has shown himself to be the guy you want to have in the pocket. He keeps his cool, dodges rushers and is known for placing a pass with the accuracy of a flyboy landing a fighter jet.
Trevor Lawrence – $55 million, quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
While people argue that Trevor Lawrence has not yet lived up to his college promise, it’s impossible to overlook his physical gift (the well compensated QB stands 6’ 6”), his ability to avoid being sacked and his versatility as a passer. We’re rooting for you, Trevor!
Jordan Love – $55 million, quarterback, Green Bay Packers
Famous for his cool demeanour, Jordan Love capitalizes on remaining unruffled after the game-clock starts ticking. He shows an ability to throw razor sharp passes when conditions turn chaotic and that, right there, is worth a lot of money.
Tua Tagovailoa – $53.1 million, quarterback, Miami Dolphins
Brimming with an ability to successfully throw a ball where the receiver is not yet at, Tua Tagovailoa has a knack for lofting the ball into an open spot that his man can charge toward to make his catch.
Jared Goff – $53 million, quarterback, Detroit Lions
It’s easy to be good when everything is going well. But Jared Goff – on top of the passing abilities and line-reading skills that get everyone on this list – is known for bounding back quickly and regrouping his team when things head temporarily south.
Brock Purdy – $53 million, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy has clearly had a fruitful three years in the NFL and his skills are impossible to miss on the field.
On top of that, the numbers confirm it all: He holds the 49ers record for passing yards in a single season (4,280), the NFL record for most games with two or more passing touchdowns and the league record for a passer rating of more than 115.0 in his first three seasons.
Justin Herbert – $52.5 million, quarterback, Los Angeles Chargers
The heart of Justin Herbert was seriously on display this season. During the 13th week, in a game against the Raiders, he broke his non-throwing left hand and did not let that stop him.
In fact, he returned to that very game, with the hand wrapped, and led the Chargers to an overtime win. No doubt, he hopes to operate with similar gusto in the playoffs.
Lamar Jackson – $52 million, quarterback, Baltimore Ravens
Quarterbacks focus on passing and Lamar Jackson does just fine at that. But his game elevators are speed and power when it comes to running the ball.
Defenders naturally cover Ravens’ receivers, but they also keep eyes on Jackson. He has the ability to take off on a moment’s notice – and snag an all-important first down or better.
