Top 10 Highest Paid NFL Players
Football is one of America’s national sports, with millions of fans tuning in to watch the big events on TV. While the sport has not seen much popularity overseas, America’s large population still helps ensure that the sport receives impressive viewing figures and attendances at venues.
High viewing figures, attendances, sponsorships, and merchandise sales also mean that a lot of revenue is generated. This high revenue also translates into high income levels for players and other staff. The players at the top can earn some very high figures indeed, and here we take a look at the top 10 highest paid players in the NFL.
1. Matt Ryan - $26.5 million
Matt Ryan is a quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons where he is also the team captain. Ryan has had a very successful career with is team, with a string of awards and trophies for his trophy cabinet. With a salary of 21.5 million, plus endorsements of $5 million, he is the 10th highest paid NFL player of all time. In 2018, Ryan signed an extension worth $150 million to remain with the Falcons for at least another 5 years. He spent 4 years at Boston College before being drafted by the Falcons, where has so far played for 10 seasons. Ryan was valued as the NFL’s most valuable player in 2016.
2. Brandin Cooks - $28 million
Brandin Cooks is a wide receiver that plays for the Los Angeles Rams. With a salary of around $27.5 million and endorsements of around $500,000, Cooks is paid around $28 million a year, making him the 9th highest NFL player overall. Cooks was drafted by The New Orleans Saints from Oregon State in 2014.
In 2017, he signed for the New England Patriots until being traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. On July 17, 2018, Cooks signed a 5-year extension with the Rams, valued at approximately $81 million. In the last four seasons, Cooks has topped 1,000 receiving yards.
3. Trey Flowers - $29.1 million
Trey Flowers, who plays as a defensive end, played college football at Columbia high school in Huntsville, Alabama. His rookie pro year came in 2015 when he was selected by the New England Patriots, but his season was plagued by injury.
It was the following season that Flowers had his breakthrough season, playing in all 16 regular games of that season. In early 2019, Flowers signed a 5-year deal with the Detroit Lions valued at $90 million. With a salary of $28.9 million and endorsements of $250,000, Flowers is the 8th highest paid player with a total of $29.1 million.
4. Kirk Cousins - $29.8 million
Kirk Cousins played college football for the Michigan State Spartans and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 2017. Kirk Cousins played a total of 62 games for the Redskins until he eventually left as a free agent in 2017. Here, he broke numerous records, including the most 300 yard passing games in a season and most 400 yard passing games in a career.
In March 2018, Cousins signed a 3-year contract worth $84 million with the Minnesota Vikings that was fully guaranteed, and he played every regular game of the 2018 season. With a salary of $28 million and endorsements of $1.8 million, Cousins is the NFL’s 7th highest paid player in 2019.
5. DeMarcus Lawrence - $31.3 million
DeMarcus “Tank” Lawrence currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys where he is a defensive end. He played college football with the Boise State Broncos and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2014. Lawrence still plays for the Dallas Cowboys having played 64 games so far.
In April 2019, he signed a 5-year extension to his contract for $105 million. $65 million of that amount is guaranteed. Lawrence is currently tied in 4th place for the most sacks since the beginning of 2017, and he is the highest paid defensive end in the NFL, and the 6th highest paid player overall.
6. Nick Foles - $32.8 million
Nick Foles currently plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars as a quarterback. He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats and in 2012 he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. Foles has played for 4 professional teams in his career so far, including the Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He also spent a second spell at the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2018, Foles was granted MVP as the Philadelphia Eagles played in their first ever Super Bowl. In March 2019, he signed a 4-year deal with the Jacksonville Tigers worth $88 million. With a salary of $30.8 million and endorsements of $2 million, Foles comes in at 5th in the list of highest paid players.
7. Tom Brady - $35 million
Tom Brady is a veteran of the game. He is a quarterback who played college football with the Michigan Wolverines and was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2000. Brady still plays for the New England Patriots, having amassed 273 regular season games, 40 playoff games, and 9 Super Bowl games.
He has won the Super Bowl 6 games and was Super Bowl MVP 4 times. Despite his advancing age, Brady signed a 2-year extension with the New England Patriots in August 2019 that was worth $70 million. With a salary of $23 and endorsements of $12 million, Tom Brady comes in at number 4 on the list of highest paid NFL players.
8. Drew Brees - $39 million
Quarterback Drew Brees is another veteran of the NFL. Brees played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in 2001 and in 2006, he signed a deal with the New Orleans Saints, where he still plays today.
Brees is the proud holder of records such as the most touchdown passes in a single game, and the most career passing completions. He has also won the Super Bowl and has been the NFL offensive player of the year twice. In March 2018, Brees signed a 2-year extension with the Chargers worth $50 million, with $27 million guaranteed.
9. Ben Roethlisberger - $46 million
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, also known as Big Ben, played college football for the Miami RedHawks. In 2004, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Stealers, the team that he still plays for today. He has played 218 regular games for the Stealers and 21 post-season games.
Roethlisberger has won 2 Super Bowls and 6 Pro Bowls as well as a number of other accolades. In April 2019, Roethlisberger signed a 2-year extension to his contract valued at $68 million, plus a $37.5 million signing bonus. Roethlisberger is the 2nd highest paid player in the NFL, with earnings of around $46 million a year.
10. Russell Wilson
Wilson is a quarterback that plays for the Seattle Seahawks. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers in which he set records for passing efficiency. In 2012 he was drafted to play for the Seattle Seahawks, a team that he still plays for today.
Wilson has been an ever-present for the Seahawks and has played 117 games for the team so far. He has also won the Super Bowl once in 2013. In April 2019, he signed a 4-year extension to his contract with the Seahawks, which was valued at $140 million. This makes him the highest paid player in the NFL.
