Who is the Highest-Paid NFL Player in 2023?
From those on minimum contracts to the highest-paid NFL player, the men who suit up for one of the 32 teams operating at football’s premier level can earn a lot of money during their playing careers. However, due to the league’s hard salary cap, teams are limited in how much they can spend on players. That doesn’t stop them from giving their best players huge contracts, though, including the massive deal Lamar Jackson received.
Here’s a look at the NFL’s 10 highest-paid players in 2023, based on the actual cash they’ll receive.
10. Daron Payne: $31 million
- Base salary: $2.5 million
- Signing bonus: $28 million
- Total contract: 4 years, $90 million (through 2026)
Daron Payne barely edged out Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott for 10th place in total cash during the 2023 NFL season. The Washington Commanders defensive tackle has made the Pro Bowl just once in his career (2022).
9. Laremy Tunsil: $32.4 million
- Base salary: $2 million
- Signing bonus: $30 million
- Total contract: 3 years, $75 million (through 2026)
The three-time Pro Bowler for the Houston Texans earned a lucrative contract in 2023. Laremy Tunsil also made the All-SEC First Team twice in his collegiate career before becoming a standout offensive lineman in the NFL.
8. Orlando Brown Jr. : $33.7 million
- Base salary: $1.5 million
- Signing bonus: $31.1 million
- Total contract: 4 years, $64.01 million (through 2026)
After Orlando Brown Jr. won his first Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, contentious negotiations followed. Afteward, the four-time Pro Bowler signed a massive contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.
7. Chris Lindstrom: $35.7 million
- Base salary: $4.2 million
- Signing bonus: $27.5 million
- Total contract: 5 years, $102.5 million (through 2028)
The No. 14 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft, Chris Lindstrom earned his first Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro nod for the Atlanta Falcons during the 2022 season. It stands to reason that he was rewarded with a shiny new deal that makes him one of the best-paid offensive linemen in league history.
6. Aaron Rodgers: $36.9 million
- Base salary: $1.8 million
- Signing bonus: $35 million
- Total contract: 3 years, $112.5 million (through 2025)
Aaron Rodgers is one of the most popular players in the NFL, and that won’t change after a blockbuster trade sent him to the New York Jets. During his 18 years with the Green Bay Packers, he won a Super Bowl, earned Super Bowl MVP honors, won four league MVPs, and racked up plenty more honors.
5. Kyler Murray: $39 million
- Base salary: $2 million
- Signing bonus: $29 million
- Total contract: 5 years, $230.5 million (through 2027)
The 2019 first overall pick experienced early success for the Arizona Cardinals before beginning a downward trajectory. He won the Heisman Trophy in college and has two Pro Bowl selections under his belt, but he’ll have to improve his level of play to justify the massive expenditures that don’t stop anytime soon.
4. Patrick Mahomes: $40.5 million
- Base salary: $5.5 million
- Signing bonus: $10 million
- Total contract: 10 years, $450 million (through 2031)
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback may be the best football player in the world right now and is certainly in contention for the title of most popular NFL player. He’s already won two Super Bowls for Kansas City and has been named MVP twice, which is why he was made wealthier than some countries.
2(tie). Deshaun Watson: $46 million
- Base salary: $1.1 million
- Signing bonus: $45 million
- Total contract: 5 years, $230 million (through 2026)
Deshaun Watson hasn’t won any Super Bowls yet, but he was named to the Pro Bowl three times while with the Houston Texans before accusations of sexual misconduct by two dozen women shifted the focus to far more important matters. The quarterback has since returned to the field, looking more like a liability than an asset for the 2022 Cleveland Browns, who handed him a historic contract that went against the grain by guaranteeing all money owed.
2. Daniel Jones: $46 million
- Base salary: $9.5 million
- Signing bonus: $36 million
- Total contract: 4 years, $160 million (through 2026)
Daniel Jones had a successful college football career and became the New York Giants’ sixth overall pick in 2019, but he hasn’t won anything yet and hasn’t often looked like an elite option at quarterback. That needs to change quickly now that he’s making this type of money on a new deal that feels more speculative than fully earned.
1. Lamar Jackson: $80 million
- Base salary: $7.5 million
- Signing bonus: $72.5 million
- Total contract: 5 years, $260 million (through 2027)
Following protracted negotiations that led to speculation about whether he’d play another snap for the Baltimore Ravens, Lamar Jackson signed a massive contract that made the quarterback the highest-paid NFL player in 2023. Jackson was the MVP in 2019 and could return to the forefront of the award race at any moment given his dual-threat ability.
All contract information courtesy of Spotrac.
