The 10 Most Lucrative Deals in NFL History
Football is the kingpin of sports in the United States, and the NFL is the major player. As a result of its popularity, large contracts are paid to the top performers to keep them playing for your team in hopes of winning as well as drawing more viewers each week. The NFL is a business, and that business makes boatloads of money through ticket sales and merchandise sales, but especially from television deals with various networks/carriers. That money makes its way to owners, coaches, and, of course, star athletes.
Star players come in all forms and on all teams. The most common position among the top-paid players is quarterback. They are looked at as the face of a franchise and the key component in success or failure. They get the lion’s share of glory for winning and championships, as well as the biggest portion of blame for failure and the lack of success. Top-scoring running backs and receivers make big bucks, as well as game-changing defensive players. The top contract deals often come from the stars of winning teams. We now take a look at the 10 most lucrative deals in NFL history.
1. Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback
$450 million (2022-2031) AAV $45 million
Patrick Mahomes is the leader of the Kansas City Chiefs. He is the quarterback who has led them to four Super Bowls in the past five years, winning two of them and looking to win a third. He was the MVP in both victories. He has started for the Chiefs in six of his seven seasons.
He has had a QB rating over 100 in four of the past six seasons. His lifetime rating is over 100. He has thrown 219 touchdown passes in his short career, with an amazing 50 in one season. His winning and great performance garnered him the largest deal in NFL history.
2. Joe Burrows – Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback
$275 million (5 years through 2029) $55 million AAV
Joe Burrows is the quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals had become lovable losers in the NFL until his arrival brought in a culture of winning. Burrows has thrown 97 touchdown passes and 14,083 yards in his four seasons under center.
He led the Bengals to the Super Bowl, losing 23-20 in 2021, and then lost by the same score to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game a year ago. As a result of his ability to lead the team to such levels of success, he was awarded the second-largest contract in the NFL but the largest pay per year.
3. Justin Herbert – Los Angeles Chargers Quarterback
$262.5 million (5 years through 2029) $52.5 million AAV
The Los Angeles Chargers took a chance on the 6’6” 236 pound Justin Herbert four years ago. It quickly paid off as they had a winning record, going 9-8 in his second season and 10-7 with a one-point loss in the playoffs in his third season.
His fourth year showed a drop in team performance with only five wins, although Herbert still put up good numbers. In his four seasons, Justin has thrown for 17,223 yards and 114 touchdowns. Chargers ownership, management, and fans will have high expectations of the 25-year-old quarterback with such a large contract.
10. Nick Bosa – San Francisco 49ers Defensive End
$170 million (5 years through 2028) $34 million AAV
The San Francisco 49ers made Nick Bosa the highest-paid defensive player in the history of the league. His play has warranted it, as he regularly wreaks havoc on opposing offenses, especially quarterbacks. He had 53 tackles and 10.5 sacks in 2023. He has amassed 53.5 sacks in his five-year career.
While leading their defense, Bosa has contributed to the 49ers having the best record in the NFC three times in five years. He was part of the team that lost in the 2020 Super Bowl. With his style of play, 49ers fans hope Bosa leads them to a Super Bowl LVIII victory.
9. Deshaun Watson – Cleveland Browns Quarterback
$230 million (5 years through 2026) $46 million AAV
Deshaun Watson holds a distinction among all these lucrative deals. His contract is guaranteed, meaning he gets all of the money no matter what happens. His is the largest guaranteed contract value in NFL history. He has completed six seasons in the NFL. His first four years were absolutely elite.
The last two seasons have been below average, with ratings of 79.1 and 84.3. He has only played six games in each of the past two seasons. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2023. Reports are coming out via ESPN that Browns coach Kevin Stefanski says that Watson should be ready to roll in spring practices.
8. Kyler Murray – Arizona Cardinals Quarterback
$230.5 million (5 years through 2028) $46.1 million AAV
Kyler Murray has produced big numbers in his five seasons starting at quarterback. He has 15,647 yards passing, 94 passing touchdowns, and a 66.6% completion rate. But Murray brings versatility in that he has also rushed for 2,448 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Murray led the Cardinals to the playoffs but endured an early exit at the hands of the Rams. Since then, the team has suffered back-to-back losing seasons. Cardinals fans enjoy the excitement that Kyler brings to a game but are hoping to build a winning team around him so they can make a return to the postseason.
7. Russell Wilson – Denver Broncos Quarterback
$242.5 million (5 years through 2028) $48.5 AAV
Russell Wilson is the wiley older veteran of this bunch, having played twelve seasons in total, the last two with the Broncos. He is a proven winner and a great athlete. He led the Seattle Seahawks to two Super Bowls in 2014 and 2015, winning one over Denver 43-8 and then losing the next to New England in a 28-24 affair.
He led the NFL in passer rating in 2015 with an amazing 110.1. He has a lifetime quarterback rating of 100 and has totaled 43,653 yards and 334 touchdown passes with a 64.7 completion percentage in his illustrious career.
6. Jalen Hurts – Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback
$255 million (5 years through 2027) $51 million AAV
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Jalen Hurts out of Oklahoma four years ago. He did not disappoint, guiding them to a winning record the past three years, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2023, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in a thrilling 38-35 barnburner. During that great playoff run, Jalen threw three touchdown passes.
Hurts has amassed 11,764 yards passing and 67 touchdown passes in those four seasons. He had a career-high quarterback rating of 101.5 in the 2022 season. Hurts again led the Eagles to a playoff berth after the 2023 season. Eagles fans hope postseason play continues for years.
5. Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills Quarterback
$258 million (6 years through 2028) $43 million AAV
Josh Allen is one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the league. He is a Jekyll and Hyde type who can lead a team to victory in almost any scenario against even the best teams, then lay a complete egg against another team the very next week. Once he develops the consistency, he will considered one of the best.
He has passed for 22,703 yards and 167 touchdowns in his six seasons as the Bills quarterback. He has led Buffalo to a winning record the past five years, including winning four consecutive divisional titles, plus one AFC title game.
4. Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens Quarterback
$260 million (5 years through 2029) $52 million AAV
Lamar Jackson is a winner….in the regular season. His Baltimore Ravens have had a winning record in five of his six seasons leading the team, including 14-2 in 2019 and 13-4 in 2023. But he has come up a little short in the playoffs.
His leadership has shown growth over the years, and his abilities are apparent with his 100+ rating in two seasons (an otherworldly 113.3 in 2019), his 15,887 yards passing, and his 125 touchdown passes. He led the Ravens to the top seed in the NFL playoffs in 2023.
