The question of who is the highest paid NFL player has a clear answer in 2026: Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. In June 2026, Mahomes agreed to a restructured contract that adds two years to his existing deal and keeps him in Kansas City through the 2033 season. The agreement has a base value of $504.75 million, with incentives and escalators that could take it to $522.25 million, making it the first contract in NFL history to pass the half-billion-dollar mark.
On an annual basis, the deal averages about $63.1 million per year. That figure is higher than the $60 million per year Dak Prescott receives from the Dallas Cowboys, which had been the league-leading average before Mahomes signed. The gap between the top two may look small, but it reflects how quickly the quarterback market has moved over the last few years.
Highest Paid NFL Player in 2026: Quick Summary
The following table summarizes Patrick Mahomes’ contract using the four measures most often used to describe NFL pay.
| Measure | What it means | Mahomes |
| Average annual value (AAV) | Total contract value divided by number of years | About $63.1 million |
| Total contract value | Headline value of the full deal | $504.75 million (up to $522.25 million) |
| Guaranteed money | Pay protected even if the team releases the player | $237.25 million over the first four years, guaranteed against injury |
| Cash in 2026 | Money actually paid in the current season | About $56.76 million |
Mahomes leads the league in average annual value and in total contract value. His cash payment in 2026 is lower than his AAV because the contract pays more in later years. That difference is one reason why articles sometimes report slightly different figures for the same player.
Highest Paid NFL Player Timeline: Year-by-Year History
2017–2019: The rise of a franchise quarterback
Patrick Mahomes was selected 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, who moved up in the draft to select him. He spent his rookie season behind Alex Smith before taking over as the starter in 2018.
In his first season as a starter, Mahomes threw for more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdown passes and won the NFL Most Valuable Player award. That performance, delivered on a rookie-scale contract, set up one of the largest negotiations the league had seen.
2020: The $450 million benchmark
In 2020, Mahomes signed a 10-year contract worth $450 million with the Chiefs. At the time, it set a benchmark not only for quarterbacks but for football players in general. The deal averaged $45 million per year and tied him to Kansas City for a decade.
The contract was also designed with flexibility in mind. The Chiefs have reworked it regularly in the offseason, using restructures to create salary cap space and to keep a strong supporting cast around their quarterback.
2022–2023: The $50 million barrier is broken
Quarterback pay rose quickly after 2020. Aaron Rodgers became the first player to pass $50 million per year when he agreed to a new deal with the Packers in 2022. In 2023, Joe Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million extension with the Bengals, an average of $55 million per year. Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts also signed extensions that pushed their averages above $50 million.
These deals changed the shape of the market. A contract that looked unusually large in 2020 became only one of several large quarterback contracts within three years.
2024: Prescott reaches $60 million per year
Dak Prescott signed a four-year, $240 million contract with the Cowboys, averaging $60 million per year. At that point, he held the league-leading average annual value, ahead of the $55 million tier occupied by Burrow and others.
Prescott’s contract also showed that the market for quarterbacks was no longer limited to players who had won championships. Dallas paid him as a franchise quarterback because replacing that position is difficult.
2025: Another round of quarterback extensions
In 2025, several more quarterbacks reached the top of the market. Jordan Love signed a four-year, $220 million deal with the Green Bay Packers. Trevor Lawrence agreed to a five-year, $275 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Josh Allen signed a six-year, $330 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. Brock Purdy, the last player selected in his draft class, also signed a major contract that year.
Reports show that many of these deals clustered around an average of $55 million per year. In December 2025, Mahomes tore ligaments in his left knee late in a loss to the Chargers and required season-ending surgery. The injury did not stop Kansas City from negotiating a new agreement the following summer.
2026: Mahomes passes $500 million
In June 2026, the Chiefs and Mahomes agreed to the restructured contract that extended his deal through 2033. According to the Associated Press, the agreement came after Prescott, Love, Burrow and Allen had reset the quarterback market. Mahomes’ new average of $63.1 million moved him above Prescott’s $60 million.
By the 2026 season, the NFL salary cap had risen above $300 million per team. That increase gave clubs more room to sign top players, and it also gave players more reason to ask for record deals.
Patrick Mahomes Contract Breakdown
Mahomes’ contract is complex because it includes bonuses, guarantees and payments that vary by year. The figures below are based on a breakdown published by Sports Illustrated. The first five rows are cumulative totals.
| Period | Amount | Note |
| 2026 | About $56.76 million | Cash in the first year |
| First 2 years | $114.75 million | Cumulative |
| First 3 years | $174.75 million | Cumulative |
| First 4 years | $237.25 million | Guaranteed against injury |
| First 5 years | $301 million | Cumulative |
| 2030 | About $63.75 million | Cash in that season |
| 2033 | $70 million | Fully guaranteed in March 2033 |
The deal also includes a $30 million roster bonus paid in May. It becomes fully guaranteed in March 2028, which is one year earlier than it otherwise would have been. This type of structure gives the player security sooner while allowing the team to spread the payment across several seasons.
The contract has been described as a restructure. In NFL terms, a restructure converts part of a player’s salary into a bonus, which lowers the salary cap charge in the current year. The Chiefs have used this method with Mahomes repeatedly, which has allowed them to add talent while keeping their quarterback under contract.
Highest Paid NFL Quarterbacks in 2026
Quarterbacks make up the top of the league’s pay scale. The table below lists the best-known quarterback contracts from the reports reviewed for this article. Where only total value and length were available, the average is calculated by dividing the total by the number of years, so it is approximate.
| Player | Team | Contract | AAV |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs | Through 2033, $504.75M | $63.1M |
| Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys | 4 years, $240M | $60M |
| Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills | 6 years, $330M | About $55M |
| Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals | 5 years, $275M | About $55M |
| Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville Jaguars | 5 years, $275M | About $55M |
| Jordan Love | Green Bay Packers | 4 years, $220M | About $55M |
| Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3 years, $165M | About $55M |
| Justin Herbert | Los Angeles Chargers | Not listed here | $52.5M |
| Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens | Not listed here | $52M |
| Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles | Not listed here | $51M |
Several patterns stand out. First, there is a group of quarterbacks clustered around $55 million per year, which has become a common market price. Second, Mahomes and Prescott sit above that group, which shows how a new record contract can pull other deals upward. Third, contract length varies from three to six years, so total value alone does not always tell the full story.
Other contract situations differ. Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams is on a one-year contract, which is an example of a veteran quarterback who does not have a long-term deal. Brock Purdy, drafted as the final pick, became the highest paid player ever selected in that position after signing his extension in 2025.
Highest Paid NFL Players by Position
Quarterbacks earn the most, but several other positions have seen record contracts. The table below summarizes the highest paid players by position, based on reports published in 2026.
| Position | Player | Team | AAV |
| Edge rusher / defense | Will Anderson Jr. | Houston Texans | About $50M |
| Edge rusher / defense | Micah Parsons | Not listed here | $46.5M |
| Wide receiver | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle Seahawks | $42.15M |
| Offensive tackle | Laremy Tunsil | Washington Commanders | $30.1M |
| Safety | Derwin James | Los Angeles Chargers | $25.2M |
| Offensive guard | Tyler Smith | Dallas Cowboys | $24M |
| Running back | Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions | $22.5M |
| Running back | Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles | $20.6M |
| Tight end | George Kittle | San Francisco 49ers | $19.1M |
Will Anderson Jr. is the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history, with a three-year, $150 million contract that averages about $50 million per year. His deal is significant because it shows that a defensive player can approach the level of top quarterbacks.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba leads the receivers with a four-year, $168.8 million contract. Reports link the deal to his Offensive Player of the Year season, when he recorded 119 receptions, 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, and helped Seattle win the Super Bowl.
At running back, Jahmyr Gibbs signed a three-year, $67.5 million extension with Detroit, which made him the highest paid player at his position at $22.5 million per year. It followed Atlanta’s three-year, $66.75 million extension for Bijan Robinson. Brandon Aubrey, meanwhile, now holds the record as the highest paid kicker in NFL history.
Most Important Record Contracts in NFL History
Some deals are remembered because they changed what players and teams considered normal. The table below lists the key milestones from the information reviewed above.
| Year | Player | Milestone |
| 2020 | Patrick Mahomes | 10-year, $450 million contract, a benchmark for all football players |
| 2022 | Aaron Rodgers | First player to reach $50 million per year |
| 2023 | Joe Burrow | Five-year, $275 million deal at about $55 million per year |
| 2024 | Dak Prescott | Four-year, $240 million deal at $60 million per year |
| 2025 | Josh Allen | Six-year, $330 million contract |
| 2026 | Will Anderson Jr. | Highest paid non-quarterback at about $50 million per year |
| 2026 | Patrick Mahomes | $504.75 million, the first contract above $500 million |
The pattern in the table is consistent. Each time a quarterback sets a new record, other quarterbacks and their agents use it as a reference point. Over six years, the highest annual average rose from $45 million to more than $63 million.
Patrick Mahomes Career Timeline
Understanding why Mahomes holds the biggest contract requires a look at what he has done on the field.
| Year | Event | Result |
| 2017 | NFL Draft | Selected 10th overall by the Chiefs |
| 2018 | First season as a starter | Over 5,000 passing yards, 50 touchdowns, NFL MVP |
| 2020 | Super Bowl LIV | Won against the San Francisco 49ers |
| 2021 | Super Bowl LV | Lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 2023 | Super Bowl LVII | Won against the Philadelphia Eagles |
| 2024 | Super Bowl LVIII | Won against the 49ers in overtime |
| 2025 | Super Bowl LIX | Lost to the Eagles |
| December 2025 | Knee injury | Torn ligaments, season-ending surgery |
| June 2026 | New contract | Extension through 2033 |
Mahomes has won three Super Bowls and three Super Bowl MVP awards, and the Associated Press describes him as a two-time league MVP. He was born in Tyler, Texas, and is the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Pat Mahomes. He played at Texas Tech before entering the NFL.
Following his knee injury in December 2025, Mahomes said his goal was to be ready for Week 1 of the next season. The Chiefs’ decision to sign him to a longer deal after the injury shows how strongly the organization values him as the centre of its team.
How NFL Contract Numbers Work
Reading NFL contracts accurately requires understanding a few terms. The headline number is often not the amount a player will actually receive.
Non-guaranteed money. Unlike the NBA or Major League Baseball, NFL contracts are mostly not fully guaranteed. A team can release a player and stop paying the non-guaranteed portion. For that reason, players and agents focus on how much money is guaranteed, and when it becomes guaranteed.
The salary cap. Each team has a limit on the amount it can spend on players in a season. In 2026, the cap is above $300 million per team. When one player takes a large share, less is available for the rest of the roster, which is why teams restructure contracts and use bonuses to spread costs across years.
AAV versus yearly cash. Average annual value is a useful comparison tool, but it is not the same as what a player receives in a particular season. As Mahomes’ contract shows, the cash paid in 2026 is about $56.76 million, which is less than his AAV of about $63.1 million.
Age and injury risk. A contract that runs through 2033 means Mahomes will be 38 at the end of the deal. Long deals carry a risk that performance or health will change, which is why guarantees tied to injury are important to players.
These factors explain why the same contract can be described in different ways. A $504.75 million total, a $63.1 million average and a $237.25 million four-year guarantee are all accurate descriptions of the same agreement.
Is Patrick Mahomes Worth the Highest Salary in the NFL?
The question of value is one of the most debated topics around record contracts. The arguments on both sides are summarized below.
| Arguments in favour | Arguments against |
| Quarterback is widely seen as the most influential position in football | A very large share of the salary cap goes to one player |
| Mahomes has won three Super Bowls and three Super Bowl MVP awards | Age and injury risk increase over a contract that runs to 2033 |
| A star quarterback raises ticket sales, merchandise and television audiences | Every record deal pushes other quarterback salaries higher |
| Other teams would likely have pursued him if the Chiefs had not extended him | Long contracts with frequent reworks can limit a team’s future flexibility |
Supporters point out that no other position changes a team’s outlook as much as quarterback. A player who keeps a team competitive every season has value beyond the field, since ticket sales, sponsorship and television ratings can rise with success.
Critics point out that cap space is limited, and a very large contract can reduce the quality of the supporting roster. The Chiefs’ approach of restructuring the deal regularly is intended to address that risk, but it also means that future seasons carry obligations that need to be managed.
On balance, the contract reflects the position’s market rather than an unusual decision. Once other quarterbacks reached the $55 million range, it was widely expected that Mahomes would be paid more.
What Makes the Highest Paid NFL Player Debate Special?
Several factors make this topic more complicated than a simple ranking.
- Different ways to measure pay: AAV, total value, guarantees and yearly cash can each produce a different ranking.
- A fast-moving market: Record contracts have been broken repeatedly, and new deals can change the rankings within a single offseason.
- The quarterback premium: Quarterbacks earn far more than most other positions, even though other players, such as Will Anderson Jr., are now approaching the $50 million level.
- Salary cap growth: A rising cap has made larger contracts possible, and it is likely to continue to push numbers upward.
- Injury and age risk: Long contracts are valuable only if the player remains healthy and productive, which is why guaranteed money matters.
These elements help explain why the title of highest paid NFL player can change and why reports sometimes disagree on the exact numbers.
What to Watch Next
Several developments could affect the rankings in the coming seasons. The first is Mahomes’ recovery from his knee injury and his performance over the next few years. The second is the continued growth of the salary cap, which tends to lift contract values across the league. The third is the next wave of quarterback extensions, since each new record gives other players a new target.
The Chiefs and the NFL do not publish every detail of player contracts, so figures are usually reported through sources and can vary slightly between outlets. Restructures and extensions may also change totals during a season.
Check Also: Geno Smith | Puka Nacua | Bijan Robinson | Myles Garrett | Sam Darnold | Jaxson Dart | Jalen Hurts | Maliek Collins
Final Conclusion
Patrick Mahomes is the highest paid NFL player in 2026 by average annual value and total contract value. His restructured contract with the Kansas City Chiefs is worth $504.75 million through 2033, averages about $63.1 million per year, and includes $237.25 million in injury guarantees over the first four years.
The timeline shows how quickly the market has moved. From Mahomes’ $450 million deal in 2020 to Rodgers’ $50 million average in 2022, Burrow’s $55 million in 2023 and Prescott’s $60 million in 2024, each record has been surpassed by the next one. Outside the quarterback position, Will Anderson Jr.’s deal at about $50 million per year shows that the pay scale is rising across the league.
For readers comparing contracts, the key point is to check which measure is being used. Average annual value, total value, guaranteed money and yearly cash all describe different parts of the same agreement. Understanding the difference makes it easier to read NFL contract news accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs is the highest paid NFL player, with an average annual value of about $63.1 million. Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys is second at $60 million per year.
His restructured contract has a base value of $504.75 million through the 2033 season. Incentives and escalators could raise the value to $522.25 million.
Not automatically. NFL contracts are mostly not fully guaranteed. Reports state that $237.25 million over the first four years is guaranteed against injury, and some later payments become guaranteed on set dates, such as $70 million in 2033.
According to a Sports Illustrated breakdown, he will receive about $56.76 million in 2026, which is lower than his average annual value.
AAV stands for average annual value. It is calculated by dividing the total contract value by the number of years in the deal and is commonly used to compare contracts of different lengths.
Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans holds that title, with a three-year, $150 million contract averaging about $50 million per year.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks is the highest paid wide receiver, with a four-year, $168.8 million contract worth $42.15 million per year.
Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions has the highest average at $22.5 million per year, based on a three-year, $67.5 million extension.
His contract runs through the 2033 season, when he will be 38 years old. It adds two years to the previous 10-year deal he signed in 2020.
First contract in NFL history to exceed $500 million, and the highest in the league by average annual value. This article does not compare it with contracts in other sports.
Source: NFL
