Listing the is an inexact science. Patrick Mahomes' recordcontract with the Chiefs,for example, makeshim the league's highest-paid player... in terms of average annual salary and total dollars attached to the deal.Someargue total guaranteed money at signing is the only number that matters in an NFL contract, and Mahomes does not lead the league in
Kenta Maeda Jersey that category. No current NFL contractfeatures more guaranteed money at signing than the $94.5 million the Falcons promised Matt Ryan in 2018.MORE: For the purpose of this list, though, Sporting News will stick with average annual salary as the determining factor in ranking the NFL's highest-paid players and use total guaranteed money at signing as the tiebreaker. The list, as always, is subject to change.Tip of the cap to our friends over at for the contract figures.NFL's highest-paid players25. Jalen Ramsey, CB, RamsAverage annual salary: $21 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $71.2millionThe Rams in Sept. 2020 gave Ramsey a five-year deal worth $105 million in new money, making him the first defensive back in NFL history to get a deal worth $100 million or more.24. Laremy Tunsil, LT, TexansAverage annual salary: $22 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $40 millionTunsil signed a three-year contract extension with the Texans in 2020 worth $66 million in new money. 23. Julio Jones, WR, FalconsAverage annual salary: $22 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $64millionJones is in the second season of the three-year, $66 million contract extension he signed with the Falcons in 2019. The extension takes affect next season, and he is signed through 2023.22. Aaron Donald, DL, RamsAverage annual salary: $22.5 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $50millionDonald is in the third season of the six-year, $135 million contract extension he signed with the Rams in 2018. He is signed through 2024.21. Alex Smith, QB, RedskinsAverage annual salary: $23.5 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $55 millionSmith is in the third season of his current contract with the Redskins, which was extended with a four-year, $94 million deal after he was traded by the Chiefs in 2018. He is signed
Walker Buehler Jersey through 2022. The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded.20. Khalil Mack, DE/OLB, BearsAverage annual salary: $23.5 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $60 millionMack is in the third season of his current contract with the Bears, which was extended with a six-year, $141 million deal after he was traded by the Raiders in 2018. He is signed through 2024.T18: Philip Rivers, QB, ColtsAverage annual salary: $25 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $25 millionRivers signed a one-year contract with the Colts in 2020 NFL free agency. The full $25 million is guaranteed and includes a $12 million signing bonus.T18. Drew Brees, QB, SaintsAverage annual salary: $25 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $25millionBrees signed a two-year contract extension with the Saints in 2020 that gave him a $23 million signing bonus. The 2022 and 2023 seasons are void years so New Orleans can prorate that signing bonus; he is under contract through 2021.17. Derek Carr, QB, RaidersAverage annual salary: $25 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $40 millionCarr is in the fourth year of his current contract with the Raiders, which was extended with a five-year, $125.025 million deal in 2017. T15. Tom Brady
Fernando Valenzuela Jersey , QB, BuccaneersAverage annual salary: $25 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $50 millionBrady signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers in 2020 NFL free agency. The full $50 million is guaranteed, not including $9 million in available incentives.T15. Myles Garrett, DE, BrownsAverage annual salary: $25 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $50 millionGarrett is entering the first year of his new contract with the Browns after cashing in with a five-year deal worth up to $125 million.14. Matthew Stafford, QB, LionsAverage annual salary: $27 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $60.5 millionStafford is in the fourth year of his currentcontract with the Lions, which was extended with a five-year, $135 million deal in 2017.13. Joey Bosa, DE, ChargersAverage annual salary: $27 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $78 millionLos Angeles not only made Bosa the highest-paid NFL defender in terms of average money per year with his
Cody Bellinger Jersey five year-deal, but no defensive player has ever been guaranteed more at signing.12. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, CardinalsAverage annual salary: $27.25 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $42.75 millionA few months after receiving Hopins in a trade with the Texans, the Cardinals extended the wide receiver's contract with a two-year deal worth $54.5 million in new money. The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded.11. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ersAverage annual salary: $27.5 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $48.7 millionGaroppolo is in the third season of the five-year, $137.5 million contract he signed with the 49ers in 2018after he was traded by the Patriots.10. Ryan Tannehill, QB, TitansAverage annual salary: $29.5 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $62 millionTannehill is in the first season of his current contract with the Titans, which was extended with a four-year, $118 million deal in 2020.9. Matt Ryan, QB, FalconsAverage annual salary: $30 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $94.5millionRyan is in the third season of his current contract with the Falcons, which was extended with a five-year, $150 million deal in 2018. He is signed through 2023. The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded.8. Dak Prescott, QB, CowboysAverage annual salary: $31.41 million (franchise tag)Total guaranteed at signing:$31.41 millionThe Cowboys placed the franchise tagon Prescott in 2020, and the quarterback signed the tender in late June to guarantee his full 2020 salary.7. Carson Wentz, QB, EaglesAverage annual salary: $32 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $66.471millionWentz is in the second season of his current contract with the Eagles, which was extended with a four-year, $128 million deal in 2019. He is signed through 2024.6. Kirk Cousins, QB, VikingsAverage annual salary: $33millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $61 millionCousins is in the first season of his current contract with the Vikings, which was extended with a two-year, $66 million deal in
Los Angeles Dodgers Jersey 2020. He is signed through 2022.5. Jared Goff, QB, RamsAverage annual salary: $33.5 millionTotal guaranteed at signing: $57.043 millionGoff is in the second season of his current contract with the Rams, which was extended with a four-year, $134 million deal in 2019. He is signed through 2024. The referenced media source is mi sing and needs to be re-embedded.4. Aaron Rodgers, QB, PackersAverage annual salary: $33.5millionTotal guaranteed at s
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