For years, the landscape of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL was relatively stagnant. However, the market has completely reset during the 2025 offseason, with multiple CBs signing historic deals.
Who is the highest-paid CB in the NFL, and which other cornerbacks are among the top earners?
Who Is the Highest-Paid Cornerback in the NFL?
The highest-paid cornerback in the NFL is Houston Texans star Derek Stingley Jr. One week after Carolina Panthers CB Jaycee Horn signed a record-breaking deal that paid him $25 million annually, Stingley blew that out of the water and completely reset the cornerback market.
Stingley signed a three-year, $90 million extension that includes $89 million guaranteed, meaning he’s earning a whopping $30 million per year. Stingley is not only the highest-paid CB in NFL history but the top-earning defensive back.
Stingley’s $89 million guaranteed is almost double the next highest guarantee for a DB ($46.7 million for Horn). Stingley has five interceptions in each of the last two seasons. His 10 picks over the last two seasons rank first among CBs and are tied for fourth among all players. Stingley allowed only 4.5 yards per target (40-85, 382 yards). That was the best among 147 players to face 50+ targets during the 2024 season.
Highest-Paid Cornerbacks 2-10
2) Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers | AAV: $25 Million
On the first day of the 2025 NFL free agency period, Carolina Panthers star Jaycee Horn agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension — ($108 million max) — that includes $70 million guaranteed. At $25 million per year, he not only became the highest-paid cornerback of all time but also the highest-paid DB in NFL history at the time. He held this title for one week before Stingley inked his monster deal with the Texans.
The 2024 season Horn’s best in the NFL, as he played in 15 games and made the Pro Bowl. He had 68 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and one interception. Horn will make $12.37 million in 2025 after the Panthers picked up his fifth-year option heading into 2024, and the team rewarded its best defender with a massive extension.
3) Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins | AAV: $24.1 Million
Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey was the highest-paid corner in the NFL prior to Horn signing his deal. On Sept. 6, 2024, Ramsey signed a three-year extension that pays him $24.1 million per year, edging out Patrick Surtain II of the Denver Broncos. Ramsey sat at No. 5 before the extension.
Ramsey has long been considered one of the premier cornerbacks in the NFL and has been paid as such. In Sept. 2020, he inked a five-year, $100 million extension with the Los Angeles Rams that made him the league’s highest-paid defensive back. Thus, this most recent contract marked the second time Ramsey reset the CB market.
4) Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos | AAV: $24 Million
Surtain II was the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL for two days. In fact, he was the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history after signing a four-year, $96 million extension just days before the start of the 2024 regular season.
The average annual value (AAV) of his deal is $24 million, so there’s a significant gap between Surtain, Ramsey, and their CB peers. Also, Surtain’s deal includes $77.5 million in guaranteed money, which is significantly more than any other defensive back has received (Editor’s note: We will update this when Ramsey’s guaranteed money specs are available).
Surtain surpassed Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. for the title of highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, as Winfield signed a four-year pact worth $84.1 million earlier this offseason (with just $45 million guaranteed).
5) Byron Murphy Jr., Minnesota Vikings | AAV: $22 Million
The Minnesota Vikings re-signed Byron Murphy Jr. on a three-year, $66 million contract on Day 1 of the 2025 NFL free agency period. The deal includes $35 million in guaranteed money.
The 2024 Vikings posted their lowest passer rating against since 2017 and second-lowest over the past 18 seasons. With the offense undergoing change, bringing back Murphy was close to a non-negotiable.
In the last two years with Minnesota, he proved to be an opportunistic cover corner, picking off nine passes. In 2024, his six interceptions tied for the league lead among corners with Marlon Humphrey. He was well-tested last year — the most heavily targeted corner in the league.
6) Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers | AAV: $21 Million
Alexander signed a four-year, $84 million extension with the Green Bay Packers in May 2022. One of only five corners with an annual salary north of $20 million, Alexander set a positional record by receiving a $30 million signing bonus.
However, that signing bonus was Alexander’s only guaranteed money on his new deal with the Packers. While his cap charges were manageable in previous years, Alexander’s cap figure will hit almost $24 million in 2024 and remain there through 2026. Green Bay could theoretically cut Alexander next spring, clearing $7+ million in cap space while absorbing $18 million in dead money.
7) A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons | AAV: $20.25 Million
The Atlanta Falcons and A.J. Terrell agreed to a four-year, $81 million extension on August 22. The $65.8 in effectively full guarantees was the largest amount given to a CB on a four-year deal until Surtain topped it. The 2020 first-round pick of the Falcons finished in the top 30 in pass deflections in the NFL.
Raheem Morris is making moves on the defense. The Terrell extension is on the heels of trading for Patriots EDGE Matthew Judon and signing free agent safety Justin Simmons.
8) Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns | AAV: $20.1 Million
The Browns made Denzel Ward one of the league’s highest-paid corners in April 2022, inking him to a five-year extension worth $100.5 million. Now entering his age-27 campaign while coming off his third Pro Bowl appearance, Ward received $71.25 in total guarantees, No. 1 among corners.
Ward’s 2024 salary became guaranteed on the first day of the 2023 league year, and nearly all of his 2025 salary guarantee vested on the third day of the 2024 league year. Cleveland restructured his contract in February 2024, reducing his current-season cap charge to $12 million but increasing it to $24+ million annually from 2025 through 2027.
9) Carlton Davis, New England Patriots | AAV: $20 Million
After six years in Tampa Bay and one year in Detroit, Carlton Davis signed a three-year $60 million contract with the New England Patriots in March 2025. Davis’ deal comes with $34.5 million guaranteed.
Davis has yet to make a Pro Bowl, but was a stabilizing force for the Lions’ secondary last season. The veteran corner recorded 56 total tackles with 2 interceptions and 11 passes defended. Davis’ biggest issue throughout his NFL career has been staying healthy.
10) Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens | AAV: $19.5 Million
Marlon Humphrey signed a five-year, $97.5 million extension with the Ravens in Oct. 2020 that included $40 million in fully guaranteed money.
Baltimore has continuously restructured Humphrey’s deal, pushing money into the future while reducing his yearly cap charges. The Ravens haven’t re-done his deal yet this offseason, leaving Humphrey’s 2024 cap number at almost $23 million. He has $4 million roster bonuses due on the fifth day of the 2025 and 2026 league years, which will act as decision triggers for Baltimore’s front office.