Boardroom highlights the top 20 most expensive NFL players of the upcoming season by both total salaries and overall salary cap hits.
In 2021, Dak Prescott made more in athletic salary than any sports figure on planet earth. This is a fact — more than Lionel Messi, more than Cristiano Ronaldo. More than Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.More than LeBron and Steph and KD. All told, the signing bonus specifics of Dak’s contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys afforded him an incredible $97.5 million (per Forbes) last year in on-field compensation alone.
This year? Prescott’s salary remains a mighty healthy $20 million. But instead of being No. 1 in the world, the Dallas signal-caller is tied for No. 33 in theNFL as of this writing.
So, who gets the distinction this time around? Check out Boardroom’s list of the highest-paid NFL players for the 2022 season — both by total compensation and overall salary cap hit.
(Spoiler alert: you’re going to meet a few quarterbacks, but stay tuned for some defensive players you might not have expected.)
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Highest-paid NFL Players of 2022 by Total Compensation
All salary figures via Spotrac.
1. Rams QB Matthew Stafford: $61,500,000
- Contract: 4 years, $160,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $130,000,000
- Click here to read more about Matthew Stafford’s contract extension with the Rams
2. Broncos QB Russell Wilson: $57,000,000
- Contract: 4 years, $140,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $107,000,000
3. Bills QB Josh Allen: $46,961,405
- Contract: 6 years, $258,034,000
- Total guaranteed: $150,000,000
4. Browns QB Deshaun Watson: $46,000,000
- Contract: 5 years, $230,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $230,000,000
- Click here to read more about Deshaun Watson’s contract extension with the Browns
5. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: $42,000,000
- Contract: 3 years, $150,815,000
- Total guaranteed: $101,515,000
- Click here to read more about Aaron Rodgers’ contract extension with the Packers
6. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins: $40,000,000
- Contract: 1 year, $35,000,000 (extension thru 2023 season)
- Total guaranteed: $35,000,000
NOTE: Including the existing terms from Cousins’ previous two-year, $66,000,000 contract, his extension effectively puts him on a two-year, $70,000,000 deal with the Vikings before hitting free agency.
7. Rams DT Aaron Donald: $31,500,000
- Contract: 3 years, $95,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $95,000,000
- Click here to read more bout Aaron Donald’s contract extension with the Rams
8. Packers QB Jaire Alexander: $31,076,000
- Contract: 4 years, $84,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $30,000,000
9. Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf: $31,000,000
- Contract: 3 years, $72,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $58,200,000
t-10. Buccaneers QB Tom Brady: $30,000,000
- Contract: 1 year, $15,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $15,000,000 (does not include deferred 2021 bonuses)
- Click here to read more about Tom Brady’s contract extension with the Bucs
NOTE: Brady’s one-year contract is technically a restructure of the salary he already had on the books for 2022 when he retired. The $30,000,000 number takes into account his guaranteed money this season plus a deferred $15,000,000 bonus from 2021.
t-10. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray: $30,000,000
- Contract: 5 years, $230,500,000
- Total guaranteed: $160,000,000
- Click here to read more about Kyler Murray’s contract extension with the Cardinals
t-10. Rams WR Cooper Kupp: $30,000,000
- Contract: 3 years, $80,100,000
- Total guaranteed: $75,000,000
- Click here to read more about Cooper Kupp’s contract extension with the Rams
13. Commanders WR Terry McLaurin: $29,479,000
- Contract: 3 years, $68,364,000
- Total guaranteed: $53,154,000
14. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: $29,450,000
- Contract: 10 years, $450,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $141,481,905
- Click here to read more about Patrick Mahomes’ contract extension with the Chiefs
15. Titans QB Ryan Tannehill: $29,000,000
- Contract: 4 years, $118,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $91,000,000
16. Commanders QB Carson Wentz: $28,294,119
- Contract: 4 years, $128,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $107,970,683
- Click here to read more about the Colts-Commanders Carson Wentz trade
t-17. Chargers WR Mike Williams:$28,000,000
- Contract: 3 years, $60,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $40,000,000
t-17. Chargers CB J.C. Jackson: $28,000,000
- Contract: 5 years, $82,500,000
- Total guaranteed: $40,000,000
19. Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill: $26,635,000
- Contract: 4 years, $120,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $72,200,000
- Click here to read more about Tyreek Hill’s contract extension with the Dolphins
20. Lions QB Jared Goff: $26,150,000
- Contract: 4 years, $134,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $110,042,682
Most Expensive NFL Players by 2022 Salary Cap Hit
NOTE: “Dead cap” refers to the total amount a team would owe against the salary cap even if it releases a player immediately.
Players whose 2022 cap numbers are not currently known will not be listed.
1. Titans QB Ryan Tannehill: $38,600,000
- Contract: 4 years, $118,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $57,400,000
2. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: $35,793,381
- Contract: 10 years, $450,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $92,173,524
3. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins: $31,416,668
- Contract: 1 year, $35,000,000 (extension thru 2023 season)
- 2022 dead cap: $80,166,668
4. Lions QB Jared Goff: $31,150,000
- Contract: 4 years, $134,000,000
- Total guaranteed: $30,500,000
5. Steelers EDGE TJ Watt: $31,118,694
- Contract: 4 years, $112,011,000
- 2022 dead cap: $72,474,776
6. Chiefs DT Chris Jones: $29,415,667
- Contract: 4 years, $80,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $32,207,333
7. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: $28,533,569
- Contract: 3 years, $150,815,000
- 2022 dead cap: $150,997,137
8. Commanders QB Carson Wentz: $28,294,119
- Contract: 4 years, $128,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $15,000,000
9. Chargers EDGE Joey Bosa: $28,250,000
- Contract: 5 years, $135,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $42,250,000
10. Giants EDGE Leonard Williams: $27,300,000
- Contract: 3 years, $63,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $35,600,000
11. Rams DT Aaron Donald: $24,000,000
- Contract: 6 years, $135,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $21,500,000
- Click here to read more about Donald’s contract
12. Rams CB Jalen Ramsey: $23,200,000
- Contract: 5 years, $100,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $47,800,000
13. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: $23,016,000
- Contract: 5 years, $32,774,549
- 2022 dead cap: $23,016,000
14. Giants WR Kenny Golladay: $21,150,000
- Contract: 4 years, $72,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $31,100,000
15. Broncos OT Garett Bolles: $21,000,000
- Contract: 4 year, $68,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $29,000,000
16. Falcons LB Deion Jones: $20,017,431
- Contract: 4 years, $57,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $24,321,569
17. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: $19,730,000
- Contract: 4 years, $160,000,000
- 2022 dead cap: $108,800,000
18. Raiders QB Derek Carr: $19,352,519
- Contract: 3 years, $121,500,000
- 2022 dead cap: $24,877,519
t-19. Chargers WR Keenan Allen: $19,200,000
- Contract: 4 years, $80,100,000
- 2022 dead cap: $26,100,000
t-19. Titans OLB Bud Dupree: $19,200,000
- Contract: 5 years: $82,500,000
- 2022 dead cap: $30,050,000
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