NFL's Highest-Paid Player on Every Team in 2026: Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes and More
Quarterbacks dominate the NFL's highest-paid player rankings in 2026, but they do not lead every team.
Several franchises have quarterbacks still playing on rookie contracts. Others have invested heavily in elite players at positions such as wide receiver, edge rusher, defensive line and offensive line.
The result is a fascinating look at how NFL teams distribute their biggest contracts.
Using average annual salary data from Over The Cap through August 30, 2026, here is the highest-paid player on every NFL team for the 2026 season.
Patrick Mahomes Leads the NFL at $64 Million
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has the highest average annual salary in the league at $64 million.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott ranks second at $60 million.
Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence are among the other quarterbacks earning $55 million per season, while Matthew Stafford also reaches that mark.
Highest-Paid NFL Players by Team in 2026
Here is the highest-paid player on each NFL team, ranked by average annual salary.
Kansas City Chiefs: QB Patrick Mahomes, $64 million
Dallas Cowboys: QB Dak Prescott, $60 million
Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow, $55 million
Buffalo Bills: QB Josh Allen, $55 million
Green Bay Packers: QB Jordan Love, $55 million
Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, $55 million
Los Angeles Rams: QB Matthew Stafford, $55 million
Detroit Lions: QB Jared Goff, $53 million
San Francisco 49ers: QB Brock Purdy, $53 million
Los Angeles Chargers: QB Justin Herbert, $52.5 million
Baltimore Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson, $52 million
Philadelphia Eagles: QB Jalen Hurts, $51 million
Houston Texans: EDGE Will Anderson Jr., $50 million
Cleveland Browns: QB Deshaun Watson, $46 million
Indianapolis Colts: QB Daniel Jones, $44 million
Seattle Seahawks: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, $42.2 million
Pittsburgh Steelers: EDGE T.J. Watt, $41 million
Las Vegas Raiders: EDGE Maxx Crosby, $35.5 million
Atlanta Falcons: WR Drake London, $35.3 million
Tennessee Titans: DL Jeffery Simmons, $35.3 million
Minnesota Vikings: WR Justin Jefferson, $35 million
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Baker Mayfield, $33.3 million
New York Jets: WR Garrett Wilson, $32.5 million
New England Patriots: WR A.J. Brown, $32 million
New Orleans Saints: WR Chris Olave, $31 million
Washington Commanders: OL Laremy Tunsil, $30.1 million
Carolina Panthers: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, $30 million
Chicago Bears: OL Darnell Wright, $29 million
Denver Broncos: WR Jaylen Waddle, $28.3 million
New York Giants: EDGE Brian Burns, $28.2 million
Miami Dolphins: QB Malik Willis, $22.5 million
Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Josh Sweat, $19.1 millionQuarterbacks Still Control the Top of the Rankings
The 2026 numbers show how important the quarterback position remains in NFL contract negotiations.
Mahomes, Prescott, Burrow, Allen, Love, Lawrence, Stafford, Goff, Purdy, Herbert, Jackson and Hurts all lead their respective teams.
However, the Houston Texans break that trend. EDGE Will Anderson Jr. is their highest-paid player at $50 million per year.
The Seahawks also have a wide receiver at the top of their team salary rankings, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba earning $42.2 million annually.
Wide Receivers Continue to Earn Record Contracts
Wide receivers feature prominently among the highest-paid players on individual teams.
Smith-Njigba leads Seattle at $42.2 million, while Drake London leads Atlanta at $35.3 million.
Justin Jefferson earns $35 million for Minnesota. Garrett Wilson makes $32.5 million for the New York Jets, while A.J. Brown and Chris Olave lead the Patriots and Saints at $32 million and $31 million, respectively.
Jaylen Waddle also leads Denver at approximately $28.3 million per season.
Defensive Stars Lead Several Teams
Elite defensive players remain among the highest-paid stars across the league.
Will Anderson Jr. leads Houston at $50 million, while T.J. Watt leads Pittsburgh at $41 million.
Maxx Crosby leads the Raiders at $35.5 million. Jeffery Simmons leads Tennessee at $35.3 million, while Jaelan Phillips, Brian Burns and Josh Sweat are the highest-paid players for Carolina, New York and Arizona.
These contracts reflect the growing value of impact defensive players, particularly edge rushers.
Which Team Has the Lowest-Paid Highest-Paid Player?
The Arizona Cardinals have the lowest-paid team leader on this list.
Edge rusher Josh Sweat leads Arizona at an average annual salary of $19.1 million.
Miami is next, with quarterback Malik Willis listed at $22.5 million.
That creates a significant gap between the top and bottom of the team rankings. Mahomes earns $64 million annually, more than three times Sweat's $19.1 million average salary.
What the 2026 NFL Salary Rankings Show
The team-by-team rankings highlight the different approaches NFL franchises take when building their rosters.
Some teams have committed massive contracts to franchise quarterbacks. Others have made their biggest financial investments in receivers, pass rushers or offensive linemen.
The Kansas City Chiefs sit at the top with Mahomes at $64 million per year, while the Arizona Cardinals have the lowest team-leading salary at $19.1 million.
The numbers also show how quickly NFL salaries continue to rise across multiple positions.
Full List of NFL's highest paid players by Each Position in 2026 Season
Highest-Paid Quarterbacks | Highest-Paid Running backs |
Highest-Paid Wide receivers | Highest-Paid Tight ends |
Highest-Paid Cornerbacks | Highest-Paid Safeties |
Highest-Paid Linebackers | Highest-Paid Offensive-linemen |
Highest-Paid Defensive-linemen | Highest-Paid Edge rushers |
Highest paid Kickers | Highest-Paid Punters |
Highest paid Offensive Guards | Highest-Paid Centers |
Highest paid players: Overall Rankings
Highest-Paid Players By position | Highest-Paid Players By team
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