Highest paid players in NFL: Ranking players by salary for 2020 season
Jeremy Cluff
Here's a look at the highest paid players in the league for the 2020 NFL season, based on current contracts.
77 NFL players now make at least $15 million a season in average annual salary, according to overthecap.com, a site that tracks NFL player contracts (though Sept. 12, 2020).
The highest paid player in the league now is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes makes $45 million per season in average annual salary with the deal that he signed before the 2020 season.
The second highest paid player in the league is now Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who makes $39 million in average annual salary.
Mahomes and Watson have surpassed Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who makes $35 million in average annual salary per year.
Update:NFL's highest paid players in 2021: Quarterbacks dominate ranking of NFL players by salary
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- Edge rushers | Highest paid players: Overall | By position
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The quarterback position dominates the list.
20 of the 77 players who make at least $15 million are QBs and the 18 highest paid players in the league are quarterbacks.
Of the players that are not quarterbacks on the list, 11 are interior defensive linemen, 17 are edge rushers, 13 are wide receivers, seven are offensive linemen, five are cornerbacks, three are running backs and one is a tight end.
PHOTOS: Ranking the NFL's highest paid players by average annual salary
NFL's highest paid players regardless of position (average annual salary):
- 1. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: $45 million
- 2. Texans QB Deshaun Watson: $39 million
- 3. Seahawks QB Russell Wilson: $35 million
- 4. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger: $34 million
- 5. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: $33.5 million
- 5. Rams QB Jared Goff: $33.5 million
- 6. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins: $33 million
- 8. Eagles QB Carson Wentz: $32 million
- 9. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: $31.5 million
- 10. Falcons QB Matt Ryan: $30 million
- 11. Titans QB Ryan Tannehill: $29.5 million
- 12. Colts QB Jacoby Brissett: $27.98 million
- 13. 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo: $27.5 million
- 14. Lions QB Matthew Stafford: $27 million
- 15. Raiders QB Derek Carr: $25.005 million
- 16. Saints QB Drew Brees: $25 million
- 16. Buccaneers QB Tom Brady: $25 million
- 16. Colts QB Philip Rivers: $25 million
- 16. Browns DE Myles Garrett: $25 million
- 20. Redskins QB Alex Smith: $23.5 million
- Source: overthecap.com
To see the 77 NFL players who make at least $15 million a year in average salary, ranked from highest average salary to lowest, click here.
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