The high stakes of the NFL world mean that some players get better compensation than others. And after Super Bowl LVIII, which was a true spectacle, the spotlight was not only on the amazing plays and Taylor Swift, but also on the teams’ salaries and bonuses.
In this guide, we review the salaries and incomes of the 2023 season’s top-earning players. These earnings reflect their market value, a combination of their football brilliance, their ability to draw fans into stadiums and viewers to screens, and, of course, their potential to drive their teams to the Super Bowl.
Let’s dive in.
The 20 Highest-Paid NFL Players, 2023–24
These 20 highest-paid NFL players are the true titans of the franchise – both on and off the field.
Very few of these athletes play for the same team, but many play in the same position (albeit not all). Let’s learn more about the touchdowns of their earnings.
Like this infographic? Feel free to use it on your website or blog, but please remember to give us credit by linking back to https://techreport.com/statistics/top-20-highest-paid-nfl-players
Rankings 20 to 16
20. Aaron Donald
Earnings, 2023: $31.7 million (retired)
Former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald scores the first salary touchdown on our list. Although he retired last month, the 32-year-old player is regarded as one of the greatest defensive players ever.
He spent his entire post-college NFL career with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, joining them in 2014 on a $10.1 million contract. In 2023, Donald made $31.7 million on the field.
He has endorsement contracts with Nike, GoPuff, and AirBnB, to name a few, and his net worth is estimated to be $60 million.
19. Derek Carr
Earnings, 2023: $32.5 million
33-year-old New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr joined the team in March 2023 on a $150 million contract. Before that, Carr spent nine seasons with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.
Carr earned $32.5 million in 2023, comprising a salary of $30 million and $2.5 million in endorsements. He has deals with brands such as Nike and Haute Living. His estimated net worth is approximately $80–85 million.
18. Kirk Cousins
Earnings, 2023: $33 million
35-year-old Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is number 18 in our rating. He joined the Georgia team on a 4-year, $180 million contract in March of this year. However, he hasn’t had the smoothest start, as there are rumors of tampering.
Before joining the Falcons, Cousins played for the Minnesota Vikings for six seasons (2018–2023). While playing for the Vikings in 2023, Cousins made $30 million in salary and $3 million in endorsement revenues.
He has deals with Nike, Bose, and DraftKings, among other brands. Cousins’ reported net worth is $120 million.
17. Jared Goff
Earnings, 2023: $33.5 million
Another quarterback on our list is the 29-year-old Detroit Lions player Jared Goff. He was traded to the Lions in 2021 from the Los Angeles Rams (in exchange for another quarterback on our list – Matthew Stafford), where he had played for five seasons, including one Super Bowl (2018).
Goff’s salary in 2023 was approximately $33.5 million. He also has endorsement deals with Nike, Hulu, and BMW, and his net worth is believed to be $70 million.
16. Orlando Brown Jr.
Earnings, 2023: $33.8 million
The first offensive tackle on our list is Orlando Brown Junior, the 27-year-old Cincinnati Bengals star. He joined the Bengals in 2023 after signing a four-year contract worth $64 million.
Before that, he spent two seasons with the current champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. According to Sportico, Brown made $33.8 million in 2023, most of which came from his salary and $100,000 in endorsements. He has a net worth of $2.8 million.
Rankings 15 to 11
15. Chris Lindstrom
Earnings, 2023: $35.8 million
The 15th American football player on our list is the 27-year-old guard Chris Lindstrom. The Atlanta Falcons drafted him in 2019 out of college, and he has been with them ever since. In 2023, Kirk Cousins’ teammate signed a $105 million contract extension for five years with the Falcons.
Lindstrom reportedly made $35.8 million in 2023, $35.8 million of which came from his salary and $100,000 from endorsements.
14. Josh Allen
Earnings, 2023: $37 million
The sole representative of the Buffalo Bills in our ratings is the 27-year-old quarterback Josh Allen. The New York team drafted him from college in 2018 and he is still with them as of 2024.
Credit: Statista
In 2023, Allen earned $37 million in total, which breaks down as follows:
$28 million in salary
$9 million in endorsements from brands like Nike, Hyundai, and Microsoft Surface
In addition to these income streams, Allen is a shareholder in a Buffalo golf ball company. His reported net worth is $14 million.
13. Russell Wilson
Earnings, 2023: $38 million
The 35-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson joined the Philadelphia team in March 2024, only for one year.
Before that, he had spent two years with the Denver Broncos (2022–2023) and ten years with the Seattle Seahawks, winning the Super Bowl in 2013.
Credit: Statista
Wilson made $28 million in salary and $10 million in endorsement revenues in 2023 – a total of $38 million. The latter revenues came from deals with brands like Nike, Amazon, and Mercedes Benz. Wilson’s reported net worth is $165 million.
12. Rashan Gary
Earnings, 2023: $39.9 million
In 12th place is the 26-year-old defensive end Rashan Gary, of the Green Bay Packers. Unlike many other players on the list, Gary hasn’t been in the NFL that long, having joined the Wisconsin team in a 2019 draft.
Before that, he was in college and ran his own sports agency, Rashan Gary Sports. In 2023, Gary confirmed that his contract with the Packers would be extended for $107.5 million.
As of 2023, Gary earned $39.9 million, consisting of $39.5 million in salary and $400,000 in endorsement.
11. Matthew Stafford
Earnings, 2023: $40 million
Number 11 on our list is the Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. After joining the Rams in 2021, he led them to a 2021 Super Bowl victory.
Credit: Statista
Before that success, Stafford spent 12 successful seasons with the Detroit Lions, which he joined in 2009 after leaving school early.
Stafford reportedly earned $40 million in 2023. His net worth is believed to be $85 million.
Rankings 10 to 6
10. Kyler Murray
Earnings, 2023: $42.5 million
Kicking off the top ten highest-paid NFL athletes is the 26-year-old Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
He’s the only athlete on the list who was also considered for MLB and the NFL but ultimately chose a career in American football.
In 2019, Murray was drafted by the Cardinals from college in a four-year rookie contract worth $35.2 million and has been with them ever since. The renewed contract, signed in 2022, was worth $230 million.
In 2023, Murray made $42.5 million, including $39 million in salary and $3.5 million in endorsements. He has deals with Nike and BodyArmor and partly owns Myna Swap. Murray’s reported net worth is $40 million.
9. Dak Prescott
Earnings, 2023: $45 million
The only Dallas Cowboys man on our list is the 30-year-old quarterback Dak Prescott. He was drafted by the Cowboys in 2016 and renewed his contract in 2021 for another four years. The contract’s reported value was $160 million.
Credit: Statista
Prescott earned $45 million in 2023, as reported by Sportico. These earnings included a salary of $31 million and endorsement revenues of $14 million. These endorsements include deals with AT&T, Adidas, and Pepsi. Prescott’s net worth is estimated to be $70 million.
8. Aaron Rodgers
Earnings, 2023: $45.9 million
The oldest athlete in our ranking is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks of all time, next to Peyton Manning. The 40-year-old New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was initially drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2005 and spent 17 seasons with them before being traded to the Jets in 2022.
Credit: Statista
In 2023, Rodgers signed a reworked two-year contract worth $75 million with the New York team.
In 2023, Rodgers made $45.9 million, comprising $36.9 million in salary and $9 million in endorsements. He has deals with Adidas, Pizza Hut, and Sharpie, to name a few. Rodgers’ reported net worth is $200 million.
7. Deshaun Watson
Earnings, 2023: $46.5 million
Number seven on our list is the 28-year-old quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Cleveland Browns quarterback joined the Ohio team in 2022 on a five-year contract worth $230 million. He previously played for the Houston Texans between 2017 and 2021.
The lion’s share of Watson’s 2023 earnings ($46.5 million) comes from his salary, with only $500,000 coming from endorsement contracts. However, he has deals with big brands like Nike and Rolex. Watson’s net worth is believed to be $60 million.
6. Daniel Jones
Earnings, 2023: $47.5 million
The only New York Giants quarterback on our list is 26-year-old Daniel Jones. He was initially drafted in 2019 by the New York team out of college and signed a four-year $25.7 million contract. In 2023, Jones renewed his contract for $160 million.
Jones is the 36th highest-paid athlete of 2023 and the 6th highest-paid NFL player. Last year, he made $47.5 million: $46 million in salary and $1.5 million in endorsement revenues. He works with brands like Pepsi, Nike, and Verizon. Jones’ reported net worth in 2024 is $25 million.
Rankings 5 to 1
And now it’s time for the top five highest-paid NFL players, 2023 to 2024.
Like this infographic? Feel free to use it on your website or blog, but please remember to give us credit by linking back to https://techreport.com/statistics/top-20-highest-paid-nfl-players
5. Jalen Hurts
Earnings, 2023: $51 million
In fifth position of the top 20 highest-paid NFL players in 2023 is the 25-year-old Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Although he hasn’t played professionally for long, having joined the Eagles in the 2020 draft, Hurts signed one of the most lucrative NFL deals in history in 2023.
The contract extension, worth $255 million, means he’ll be with the Pennsylvania team for five more years.
Hurts’ reported earnings for 2023 amount to $51 million. He also has endorsement deals with Pepsi, Gillette, and other brands. Hurts’ net worth is believed to be $30 million.
4. Joe Burrow
Earnings, 2023: $51.5 million
Another Cincinnati Bengals star on our list is the 27-year-old quarterback Joe Burrow. Drafted in 2020 by the Ohio team with a $36.1 million four-year contract, Burrow has since become one of the highest salaried players, thanks to the 2023 contract extension worth $275 million.
Credit: Statista
Burrow’s $45.5 million salary and endorsement earnings of $6 million put him in fourth place. He has deals with Nike, Bose, and Nerf. Burrow’s estimated net worth is $40 million.
3. Nick Bosa
Earnings, 2023: $53.6 million
While a somewhat controversial figure, San Francisco 49ers Nick Bosa is nonetheless one of the highest-paid NFL athletes and the richest defensive player.
The California team drafted the 26-year-old defensive end in 2019 with a four-year contract. He renewed his contract for five more years in 2023 for $170 million.
Bosa’s earnings in 2023 amounted to $53.6 million, including a salary of $51.1 million and endorsement revenues of $2.5 million. He has endorsement contracts with brands like Nike, Kroger, and EA. Bosa’s net worth is estimated to be $50 million.
2. Lamar Jackson
Earnings, 2023: $82.5 million
The silver medal in the highest-paid NFL player ranking goes to Lamar Jackson. The 27-year-old quarterback has been playing for the Baltimore Ravens since being drafted in 2018.
In April 2023, Jackson renewed his contract with the Ravens, with the new one worth $260 million.
Credit: Statista
Jackson reportedly made $82.5 million in 2023 – one of the only two players on our list whose salary exceeds $52 million. His earnings break down as follows:
Salary of $80 million
Endorsement deals with Oakley and other brands worth $2.5 million
Jackson’s net worth is believed to be $60 million.
1. Patrick Mahomes
Earnings, 2023: $84.3 million
Unsurprisingly, Patrick Mahomes, the MVP of the last two Super Bowls, takes top place on our list. The 28-year-old Kansas City Chiefs quarterback was selected by the Chiefs in the 2017 draft and joined with a $16.2 million contract, initially for four years.
Credit: Statista
In 2020, Mahomes signed a new ten-year contract with the team worth $503 million. To date, it is the largest NFL contract ever and the third-largest sports contract of all time.
In addition to being the highest-paid NFL player of 2023, Mahomes is also the tenth highest-paid athlete overall for that year. His total earnings amount to $84.3 million, which includes salary earnings of $59.3 million and $25 million in endorsement deals.
So, although his salary is lower than Jackson’s, he made more than the Ravens quarterback, thanks to the deals. And Mahomes has a large portfolio of endorsement deals, including Oakley, Adidas, Head & Shoulders, and Prime. His reported net worth is around $80 million.
Which NFL Team Pays the Best?
In the 2022/2023 American football season, the Los Angeles Rams had the highest payroll, amounting to $330 million.
They were closely followed by the New Orleans Saints ($320 million), the Tampa Bay Buccanneers ($310 million), and the Los Angeles Chargers ($304 million). The lowest-paying team was the Chicago Bears, with a payroll of $191 million.
What Was the Most Expensive NFL Transfer of All Time?
As we’ve mentioned, the most expensive NFL contract of all time was Patrick Mahomes’ contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, worth $503 million.
Like this infographic? Feel free to use it on your website or blog, but please remember to give us credit by linking back to https://techreport.com/statistics/top-20-highest-paid-nfl-players
It’s also the third-largest sports contract of all time, after Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract with the LA Dodgers and Cristiano Ronaldo’s $536 million transfer to Al Nassr.
And as the infographic shows, even though Joe Burrow had the second-largest NFL contract, it was worth far less than Mahomes’.
Concluding Thoughts
This ranking of the highest-paid NFL players of 2023 is a testament to the athletes’ skill and marketability, given their huge number of endorsements.
The highest-paid athlete is, of course, the MVP Patrick Mahomes, who shone in the last two Super Bowls. However, we believe that if he had still been playing, Tom Brady would’ve easily overtaken Mahomes.
According to Sportico, he’s the 23rd highest-paid athlete of all time, having earned $745 million during his career. But as he’s now retired, we’ll be keeping a close watch on the athletes on this list, especially those in their prime, like Mahomes and Burrow.
Sources
Click to expand sources
Where does Shohei Ohtani’s deal rank among the 10 biggest pro sports contracts ever? (CBS)
100 Highest-Paid Athletes in the World (Sportico)
50 Highest-Paid Athletes of All-Time (Sportico)
Highest paid players in the NFL in 2023 (Statista)
Largest contracts in NFL history in the United States as of September 2023, by average annual value (Statista)
Largest contracts in NFL history in the United States as of September 2023, by total value (Statista)
Detroit Lions all-time passing leaders from 1930 to 2024 (Statista)
Most popular NFL players among 18- to 29-year-olds in the United States as of August 2023 (Statista)
Buffalo Bills all-time leaders number of touchdowns scored from 1960 to 2024 (Statista)
Seattle Seahawks all-time passing leaders from 1976 to 2024 (Statista)
Dallas Cowboys all-time passing leaders from 1960 to 2024 (Statista)
Most popular National Football League (NFL) players in the United States from 2019 to 2022, by average monthly search volume (Statista)
Kansas City Chiefs franchise value from 2002 to 2023 (Statista)
Player payroll in the National Football League 2022/23 season, by team (Statista)
Jalen Hurts Net Worth 2023 (Sportskeeda)
Matthew Stafford Net Worth (Updated for 2023) (Sportskeeda)
Aaron Donald Net Worth (Updated 2023) (Sportskeeda)
What is Derek Carr’s Net Worth in 2023? (Sportskeeda)
Kirk Cousins Net Worth (Sportskeeda)
Jared Goff Net Worth (Sportskeeda)
Orlando Brown Jr.’s net worth: Exploring the Bengals OT’s contract details (Sportskeeda)
Josh Allen’s Net Worth 2023 (Sportskeeda)
Russell Wilson’s Net Worth 2024 (Sportskeeda)
Matthew Stafford Net Worth (Sportskeeda)
7 NFL superstars who earn millions in endorsements feat. Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and more (Sportskeeda)
Dak Prescott Net Worth 2023 (Sportskeeda)
The 3 most talented quarterbacks in NFL history (Sportskeeda)
Aaron Rodgers Net Worth (Sportskeeda)
Deshaun Watson Net Worth (Sportskeeda)
Daniel Jones’ Net Worth (Sportskeeda)
Jalen Hurts Net Worth 2023 (Sportskeeda)
Joe Burrow’s Net Worth 2024 (Sportskeeda)
Nick Bosa Net Worth (Sportskeeda)
Lamar Jackson’s Net Worth 2024 (Sportskeeda)
Patrick Mahomes Net Worth 2024 (Sportskeeda)
The NFL’s 25 highest-paid players in 2023, from Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes to Geno Smith (Sporting News)
Why Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is the greatest interior defensive lineman of all time | Baldy’s Breakdowns (NFL)
Dak Prescott, Cowboys agree to 4-year, $160M contract (NFL)
Giants, QB Daniel Jones agree to four-year, $160 million contract (NFL)
Jalen Hurts, Eagles agree to terms on five-year, $255 million contract extension (NFL)
QB Joe Burrow, Bengals agree to five-year, $275 million extension (NFL)
49ers’ Nick Bosa apologizes for controversial social media posts (NFL)
Lamar Jackson, Ravens agree to terms on five-year, $260 million contract (NFL)
Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes agree to 10-year, $503M extension (NFL)
Aaron Donald Retires As Perhaps The Most Successful And Richest Defensive Tackle Ever (Celebrity Net Worth)
Kyler Murray Net Worth (Celebrity Net Worth)
New Orleans Saints agree to terms with quarterback Derek Carr on four-year contract (New Orleans Saints)
NFL investigating whether Falcons tampered with Kirk Cousins (SI)
Deshaun Watson is Headed to the Browns (SI)
Bengals Sign Orlando Brown Jr. (Bengals)
Bengals Sign Quarterback Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Falcons sign guard Chris Lindstrom to five-year extension (Falcons)
Packers’ Rashan Gary agrees to 4-year, $107.5M extension (ESPN)
Aaron Rodgers signs reworked contract with Jets (ESPN)
Source: 49ers’ Nick Bosa is highest-paid defensive player (ESPN)
Daniel Jones signs $25.6M rookie contract with New York Giants (247 News)
NFL prospect Rashan Gary is a pioneer with own sports agency (AP News)
Wilson signed to one-year contract (Steelers)
Kyler Murray Gets New Contract Through 2028 Season (Arizona Cardinals)
Kyler Murray Signs 4-Year Cardinals Rookie Contract Worth Reported $35.2M (Bleach Report)
>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : TechReport – https://techreport.com/statistics/top-20-highest-paid-nfl-players/
