NFL's highest paid players in 2026 NFL season: Ranking players highest-contracts, salaries..

The NFL continues to reward its biggest stars with record-setting contracts, and quarterbacks once again dominate the league's highest-paid players list in 2026.

Patrick Mahomes leads all NFL players with an average annual salary of $64 million. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott ranks second at $60 million per year.

Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence and Matthew Stafford are tied at $55 million annually, highlighting the enormous value placed on elite quarterbacks.

The rankings are based on average annual salary and include NFL players earning at least $25 million per season, according to Over The Cap data through August 30, 2026.

Patrick Mahomes Is the NFL's Highest-Paid Player

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes sits at the top of the NFL salary rankings.

Mahomes earns an average of $64 million per year, giving him the highest average annual salary among all NFL players in 2026.

Dak Prescott follows at $60 million per season, while several star quarterbacks are tied at $55 million.

Josh Allen and Joe Burrow Among NFL's Highest-Paid Stars

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow each have an average annual salary of $55 million.

They are joined at that mark by Packers quarterback Jordan Love, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The next tier includes Jared Goff at $53 million, Brock Purdy at $53 million, Justin Herbert at $52.5 million, Lamar Jackson at $52 million and Jalen Hurts at $51 million.

NFL's Highest-Paid Players in 2026

Here are the NFL players earning at least $25 million per year in average salary, ranked from highest to lowest:

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: $64 million
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: $60 million
Bengals QB Joe Burrow: $55 million
Bills QB Josh Allen: $55 million
Packers QB Jordan Love: $55 million
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence: $55 million
Rams QB Matthew Stafford: $55 million
Lions QB Jared Goff: $53 million
49ers QB Brock Purdy: $53 million
Chargers QB Justin Herbert: $52.5 million
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: $52 million
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts: $51 million
Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr.: $50 million
Packers EDGE Micah Parsons: $46.5 million
Browns QB Deshaun Watson: $46 million
Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson: $45 million
Colts QB Daniel Jones: $44 million
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: $42.2 million
Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt: $41 million
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase: $40.25 million
Texans EDGE Danielle Hunter: $40.1 million
Rams EDGE Myles Garrett: $40 million
Eagles DL Jalen Carter: $38 million
Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby: $35.5 million
Falcons WR Drake London: $35.3 million
Cowboys DL Quinnen Williams: $35.3 million
Titans DL Jeffery Simmons: $35.28 million
Ravens WR Zay Flowers: $35 million
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: $35 million
49ers EDGE Nick Bosa: $34 million
Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb: $34 million
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold: $33.5 million
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield: $33.3 million
Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon: $33 million
Steelers WR D.K. Metcalf: $32.99 million
Jets WR Garrett Wilson: $32.5 million
Patriots WR A.J. Brown: $32 million
Chiefs DL Chris Jones: $31.75 million
Browns CB Denzel Ward: $31.1 million
Saints WR Chris Olave: $31 million
Rams CB Trent McDuffie: $31 million
Commanders OL Laremy Tunsil: $30.1 million
Colts CB Ahmad Gardner: $30.1 million
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: $30.002 million
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk: $30 million
Texans WR Nico Collins: $30 million
Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.: $30 million
Eagles EDGE Jonathan Greenard: $30 million
Panthers EDGE Jaelan Phillips: $30 million
Buccaneers DL Vita Vea: $30 million
Bears OL Darnell Wright: $29 million
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin: $29 million
Bengals WR Tee Higgins: $28.75 million
Chargers OL Rashawn Slater: $28.5 million
Colts WR Alec Pierce: $28.5 million
Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle: $28.25 million
Jaguars EDGE Josh Hines-Allen: $28.25 million
Giants EDGE Brian Burns: $28.2 million
Buccaneers OL Tristan Wirfs: $28.1 million
Ravens EDGE Trey Hendrickson: $28 million
Bengals DL Dexter Lawrence: $28 million
Lions OL Penei Sewell: $28 million
Bills WR D.J. Moore: $27.5 million
Jaguars EDGE Travon Walker: $27.5 million
Cowboys WR George Pickens: $27.3 million
Raiders OL Tyler Linderbaum: $27 million
Lions WR Jameson Williams: $26.6 million
Broncos EDGE Nik Bonitto: $26.5 million
Seahawks OL Charles Cross: $26.1 million
Vikings OL Christian Darrisaw: $26 million
Patriots DL Milton Williams: $26 million
Eagles DL Jordan Davis: $26 million
Broncos DL Zach Allen: $25.5 million
Chargers safety Derwin James: $25.2 million
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton: $25.1 million
Eagles WR Devonta Smith: $25 million
Titans OL Peter Skoronski: $25 million
Eagles OL Lane Johnson: $25 million
Colts OL Bernhard Raimann: $25 million
49ers OL Trent Williams: $25 million
Panthers CB Jaycee Horn: $25 million
Steelers LB Nick Herbig: $25 million

Quarterbacks Continue to Dominate NFL Salaries

The 2026 rankings show how heavily NFL teams continue to invest in franchise quarterbacks.

Eight of the top 10 highest-paid players are quarterbacks. The top 12 also feature 11 quarterbacks, with Will Anderson Jr. the only non-quarterback in that group.

At the same time, wide receivers and defensive players continue to command massive contracts. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ja'Marr Chase, D.K. Metcalf, Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb are among the highest-paid players at their positions.