The best player for the Raiders for the last couple of seasons, Maxx Crosby, has developed into a terrifying name for opposing teams to handle. His aggressiveness, combined with tenacity and a penchant for hunting the quarterback, makes him a dangerous matchup any week. A two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowl selection, he has become a major part of the Las Vegas franchise and was rewarded with a massive three-year extension worth $106.5 million that briefly made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
Now entering his 10th NFL season, Tyreek Hill remains one of the most explosive playmakers in football. He led the league in receiving yards in 2023 and remains the centerpiece of Miami’s offense. Even at 31, his elite speed and route-running haven’t dropped off.
Miami has several bloated contracts nearing their completion, led by Tyreek Hill. The Cheetah is effectively in a contract year, as he won’t be back on his $51.9 million cap number in 2026. However, his base salary for this season is only $10 million, making him very tradeable if the Dolphins change their mind about entertaining trade offers for another aging core player. In reality, there are very few teams that wouldn’t be interested in Hill’s services. Even in a down year, Hill averaged 1.79 yards per route, right behind DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. That ticked up to 1.85 yards per route in games started by Tua Tagovailoa, roughly the same number as Courtland Sutton last season. If the Dolphins put Hill up for a trade, it’s possible they recoup another receiver and a premium pick.
The highest-paid non-quarterback on this list belongs to the All-Pro left tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, Trent Williams. The future Hall-of-Famer signed a six-year, $138.06 million in 2021 with the 49ers and is now the league’s highest-paid player outside of the quarterback position. His $31.56 million cap hit this season is almost $6 million more than the next player at his position (Laremy Tunsil) and $2 million more than the tackle role entirely (Taylor Moton).
Lamar Jackson’s time as the highest-paid quarterback in league history only lasted a few months. Now, he’ll have to settle for the seventh-highest cap charge in the NFL entering 2024. The league’s reigning MVP is just a year removed from signing his five-year, $260 million contract with the Ravens and leading them to the AFC Title game. Jackson will carry a cap charge of over $30 million but has allowed Baltimore to continue adding to its already elite roster.
Last season, Patrick Mahomes was celebrating a Super Bowl victory as the NFL’s highest-paid player. Now? He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion who is the sixth-highest-paid player in the NFL. Mahomes’ historic 10-year, $450 million contract essentially keeps him in Kansas City for the rest of his career as he chases all-time greats in front of him. A reworked part of his deal allows him to also make a combined $200 million between 2023-26. Life is good for the league’s best quarterback.
Daniel Jones was selected 6th overall in 2019. In six seasons, he has played 70 games, throwing for 14,528 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions. He has 1 Pro Bowl selection (2023).
When healthy, there’s no debate that Matthew Stafford is one of the best quarterbacks in all of football. That’s why the Rams continue to pay him as one of the best. Stafford signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Rams in 2021 and has three years left on his deal. That means the $49.5 million he earns this season could be the lowest his number is over the next few seasons, especially now that Aaron Donald has retired for Los Angeles on the defensive side of the ball.
Dak Prescott is now the longest-tenured Cowboy, having joined the team as a fourth-round draft pick in the NFL Draft. Prescott is also the starting quarterback and the highest-paid player on the roster.
Deshaun Watson’s unprecedented five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Browns continues to be the barometer for the quarterback position and contracts in general. Ever since then, organizations have tried to scale back other quarterbacks’ demands for fully guaranteed contracts throughout the league. Watson’s $63.77 cap hit is the highest in NFL history and shows that with the growing NFL revenue stream, the contracts are only going to increase in the future.
