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NFL · 2017 SEASON

NFL salaries in 2017

$1,022,239,976 paid to 350 players in the 2017 season, ranked. Matthew Stafford took $51,000,000 of it.

One season rather than a career, which produces a different list: a signing bonus lands in the year the pen moved, so a player on a rookie deal can outrank a nine-figure career for a single year and never appear near the top again. The 2017 payroll was 39.2% up on 2016, which paid $734,137,910.

PAID IN 2017 $1.02bn
BIGGEST PAYDAY $51.0m
PLAYERS PAID 350
AVERAGE $2.9m
SHARE OF ALL TIME 2.3%

The twenty biggest paydays of 2017

Money paid in the season, not across a career

Top twenty hold 37.0%

Matthew Stafford $51m Derek Carr $25m DeAndre Hopkins $24m Kirk Cousins $24m Joe Flacco $21m Myles Garrett $21m Solomon Thomas $19m Davante Adams $19m Kevin Zeitler $18m Stephon Gilmore $17m Von Miller $16m Calais Campbell $15m Mitchell Trubisky $15m Jamal Adams $15m Tyrod Taylor $14m Aaron Rodgers $13m Andy Dalton $13m Mike Williams $13m Russell Wilson $13m Tyron Smith $12m

The twenty names above took 37.0% of the 2017 payroll between them, out of 350 players paid. A season chart is steeper than a career chart every time, because the thing at the top of it is usually one cheque rather than a decade of them.

Every player paid in 2017

The 200 biggest, ranked

350 players paid

# Player Position Franchise Base Signing Paid in 2017
001 Matthew Stafford Georgia Quarterback Detroit Lions $1000k $50.0m $51,000,000$51.0m
002 Derek Carr Fresno State Quarterback Las Vegas Raiders $5.0m $12.5m $25,175,000$25.2m
003 DeAndre Hopkins Clemson Wide Receiver Houston Texans $8.0m $7.5m $24,000,000$24.0m
004 Kirk Cousins Michigan State Quarterback Washington Commanders $23.9m $23,950,935$24.0m
005 Joe Flacco Delaware Quarterback Baltimore Ravens $6.0m $15.0m $21,000,000$21.0m
006 Myles Garrett Texas A&M Defensive End Cleveland Browns $465k $20.3m $20,723,004$20.7m
007 Solomon Thomas Stanford Defensive Tackle San Francisco 49ers $465k $18.6m $19,080,903$19.1m
008 Davante Adams Fresno State Wide Receiver Green Bay Packers $956k $18.0m $18,961,963$19.0m
009 Kevin Zeitler Wisconsin Guard Cleveland Browns $6.0m $12.0m $18,000,000$18.0m
010 Stephon Gilmore South Carolina Cornerback New England Patriots $4.5m $12.0m $16,906,250$16.9m
011 Von Miller Texas A&M Defensive End Denver Broncos $16.5m $16,500,000$16.5m
012 Calais Campbell Miami (FL) Defensive End Jacksonville Jaguars $9.0m $6.0m $15,000,000$15.0m
013 Mitchell Trubisky North Carolina Quarterback Chicago Bears $465k $14.4m $14,906,490$14.9m
014 Jamal Adams Louisiana State Safety New York Jets $465k $14.3m $14,793,154$14.8m
015 Tyrod Taylor Virginia Tech Quarterback Buffalo Bills $7.5m $7.0m $14,500,000$14.5m
016 Aaron Rodgers California Quarterback Green Bay Packers $12.6m $13,312,500$13.3m
017 Andy Dalton Texas Christian Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals $13.1m $13,300,000$13.3m
018 Mike Williams Clemson Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $465k $12.5m $12,968,584$13.0m
019 Russell Wilson Wisconsin Quarterback Seattle Seahawks $6.3m $12,600,000$12.6m
020 Tyron Smith Southern California Left Tackle Dallas Cowboys $1.3m $11,745,000$11.7m
021 Joel Bitonio Nevada Guard Cleveland Browns $3.2m $11,664,777$11.7m
022 Trent Williams Oklahoma Left Tackle Washington Commanders $11.2m $11,406,250$11.4m
023 Christian McCaffrey Stanford Running Back Carolina Panthers $465k $10.7m $11,144,128$11.1m
024 Morgan Moses Virginia Right Tackle Washington Commanders $1.3m $9.5m $11,047,000$11.0m
025 Patrick Mahomes Texas Tech Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs $465k $10.1m $10,551,026$10.6m
026 Kevin Byard Middle Tennessee State Safety Tennessee Titans $619k $10,522,221$10.5m
027 Johnathan Hankins Ohio State Defensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts $3.0m $10,468,750$10.5m
028 Marshon Lattimore Ohio State Cornerback Two clubs $465k $9.3m $9,775,591$9.8m
029 Terron Armstead Arkansas-Pine Bluff Left Tackle Miami Dolphins $4.2m $9,300,000$9.3m
030 Deshaun Watson Clemson Quarterback Houston Texans $403k $8.2m $8,618,895$8.6m
031 Haason Reddick Temple Outside Linebacker Arizona Cardinals $465k $7.9m $8,407,157$8.4m
032 Linval Joseph East Carolina Defensive Tackle Minnesota Vikings $1.1m $3.0m $8,250,000$8.2m
033 Cameron Heyward Ohio State Defensive End Pittsburgh Steelers $775k $8,000,000$8.0m
034 Kelvin Beachum Southern Methodist Right Tackle New York Jets $1.5m $4.5m $8,000,000$8.0m
035 Lane Johnson Oklahoma Right Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $7.7m $7,984,375$8.0m
036 Derek Barnett Tennessee Defensive End Philadelphia Eagles $465k $7.5m $7,951,016$8.0m
037 Darius Slay Mississippi State Cornerback Detroit Lions $4.1m $7,800,000$7.8m
038 Malik Hooker Ohio State Safety Indianapolis Colts $396k $7.3m $7,699,741$7.7m
039 Jerry Hughes Texas Christian Defensive End Buffalo Bills $5.4m $7,550,000$7.5m
040 Adam Thielen Minnesota-Mankato Wide Receiver Minnesota Vikings $2.7m $4.0m $7,496,000$7.5m
041 Kyle Juszczyk Harvard Fullback San Francisco 49ers $2.0m $5.0m $7,450,000$7.5m
042 Matt Prater Central Florida Kicker Detroit Lions $3.1m $3.6m $7,300,000$7.3m
043 Marlon Humphrey Alabama Cornerback Baltimore Ravens $465k $6.8m $7,221,348$7.2m
044 Cameron Jordan California Defensive End Two clubs $7.0m $7,100,000$7.1m
045 Robert Woods Southern California Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $3.0m $7,000,000$7.0m
046 William Gholston Michigan State Defensive End Tampa Bay Buccaneers $3.0m $7,000,000$7.0m
047 Jonathan Allen Alabama Defensive Tackle Washington Commanders $389k $6.6m $6,963,022$7.0m
048 Adoree' Jackson Southern California Cornerback Tennessee Titans $465k $6.3m $6,810,661$6.8m
049 Brandon Graham Michigan Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles $6.5m $6,750,000$6.8m
050 Keenan Allen California Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $1000k $6,750,000$6.8m
051 Garett Bolles Utah Left Tackle Denver Broncos $465k $6.2m $6,628,203$6.6m
052 Charles Harris Missouri Defensive End Miami Dolphins $465k $6.0m $6,491,356$6.5m
053 Evan Engram Mississippi Tight End New York Giants $465k $5.9m $6,400,130$6.4m
054 Jabrill Peppers Michigan Safety Cleveland Browns $465k $5.7m $6,126,446$6.1m
055 Takkarist McKinley California-Los Angeles Defensive End Atlanta Falcons $465k $5.6m $6,035,204$6.0m
056 Lavonte David Nebraska Inside Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers $6.0m $6,000,000$6.0m
057 Tre'Davious White Louisiana State Cornerback Buffalo Bills $465k $5.5m $5,943,989$5.9m
058 Cordarrelle Patterson Tennessee Running Back Las Vegas Raiders $2.5m $5,600,000$5.6m
059 David Njoku Miami (FL) Tight End Cleveland Browns $465k $5.1m $5,532,342$5.5m
060 Harrison Smith Notre Dame Safety Minnesota Vikings $5.1m $5,500,000$5.5m
061 Tashaun Gipson Wyoming Safety Jacksonville Jaguars $5.0m $5,500,000$5.5m
062 T.J. Watt Wisconsin Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers $465k $4.9m $5,338,504$5.3m
063 Jordan Poyer Oregon State Safety Buffalo Bills $1.5m $3.5m $5,100,000$5.1m
064 Ryan Ramczyk Wisconsin Right Tackle Two clubs $465k $4.6m $5,071,585$5.1m
065 Bobby Wagner Utah State Inside Linebacker Seattle Seahawks $4.0m $5,000,000$5.0m
066 Tyrann Mathieu Louisiana State Safety Arizona Cardinals $4.8m $5,000,000$5.0m
067 Kyle Van Noy Brigham Young Outside Linebacker New England Patriots $991k $3.5m $4,615,741$4.6m
068 Joey Bosa Ohio State Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers $540k $2.6m $4,178,661$4.2m
069 Zach Ertz Stanford Tight End Philadelphia Eagles $775k $4,100,000$4.1m
070 Bryan Anger California Punter Tampa Bay Buccaneers $1.5m $4,000,000$4.0m
071 Marcedes Lewis California-Los Angeles Tight End Jacksonville Jaguars $4.0m $4,000,000$4.0m
072 Rodney McLeod Virginia Safety Philadelphia Eagles $775k $4,000,000$4.0m
073 Thomas Morstead Southern Methodist Punter Two clubs $3.1m $3,750,000$3.8m
074 Cam Robinson Alabama Left Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars $465k $3.2m $3,709,118$3.7m
075 Budda Baker Washington Safety Arizona Cardinals $465k $3.1m $3,572,277$3.6m
076 Zay Jones East Carolina Wide Receiver Buffalo Bills $465k $3.1m $3,535,786$3.5m
077 Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina Outside Linebacker Houston Texans $690k $3,457,227$3.5m
078 Travis Kelce Cincinnati Tight End Kansas City Chiefs $2.7m $3,418,750$3.4m
079 Marcus Maye Florida Safety New York Jets $465k $2.9m $3,371,574$3.4m
080 Curtis Samuel Ohio State Wide Receiver Carolina Panthers $424k $2.8m $3,257,291$3.3m
081 Graham Gano Florida State Kicker Carolina Panthers $3.2m $3,250,000$3.3m
082 Johnny Hekker Oregon State Punter Los Angeles Rams $775k $2.5m $3,250,000$3.3m
083 Marcus Williams Utah Safety Baltimore Ravens $465k $2.7m $3,143,501$3.1m
084 Gerald Everett South Alabama Tight End Los Angeles Rams $465k $2.5m $3,000,977$3.0m
085 Khalil Mack Buffalo Outside Linebacker Las Vegas Raiders $690k $2,966,864$3.0m
086 Sam Martin Appalachian State Punter Detroit Lions $2.2m $2,825,000$2.8m
087 Justin Tucker Texas Kicker Baltimore Ravens $1.0m $2,800,000$2.8m
088 Jameis Winston Florida State Quarterback Tampa Bay Buccaneers $615k $2,739,662$2.7m
089 Jake Matthews Texas A&M Left Tackle Atlanta Falcons $690k $2,660,387$2.7m
090 Marcus Mariota Oregon Quarterback Tennessee Titans $615k $2,636,270$2.6m
091 Dante Fowler Jr. Florida Defensive End Jacksonville Jaguars $2.6m $2,570,478$2.6m
092 Joe Mixon Oklahoma Running Back Cincinnati Bengals $465k $2.1m $2,568,763$2.6m
093 Amari Cooper Alabama Wide Receiver Las Vegas Raiders $615k $2,495,284$2.5m
094 David Andrews Georgia Center New England Patriots $615k $1.6m $2,477,500$2.5m
095 Mike Evans Texas A&M Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers $690k $2,415,205$2.4m
096 Greg Zuerlein Missouri Western State Kicker Los Angeles Rams $1.4m $750k $2,375,000$2.4m
097 Brandon Scherff Iowa Guard Washington Commanders $615k $2,363,694$2.4m
098 DeMarcus Walker Florida State Defensive End Denver Broncos $465k $1.8m $2,295,080$2.3m
099 Demario Davis Arkansas State Inside Linebacker New York Jets $900k $100k $2,225,000$2.2m
100 Leonard Williams Southern California Defensive End New York Jets $615k $2,128,716$2.1m
101 Cairo Santos Tulane Kicker Chicago Bears $244k $1.8m $2,040,529$2.0m
102 Case Keenum Houston Quarterback Minnesota Vikings $950k $250k $2,000,000$2.0m
103 Dalvin Tomlinson Alabama Defensive Tackle New York Giants $465k $1.5m $1,930,164$1.9m
104 Raekwon McMillan Ohio State Inside Linebacker Miami Dolphins $348k $1.6m $1,904,390$1.9m
105 Odell Beckham, Jr. Louisiana State Wide Receiver New York Giants $1.8m $1,839,027$1.8m
106 Ethan Pocic Louisiana State Center Seattle Seahawks $465k $1.3m $1,811,568$1.8m
107 Cairo Santos Tulane Kicker Kansas City Chiefs $1.8m $1,797,000$1.8m
108 DaQuan Jones Penn State Defensive Tackle Tennessee Titans $1.8m $1,797,000$1.8m
109 Denico Autry Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Las Vegas Raiders $1.8m $1,797,000$1.8m
110 Nick Folk Arizona Kicker Tampa Bay Buccaneers $1000k $1,750,000$1.8m
111 Tanoh Kpassagnon Villanova Defensive End Kansas City Chiefs $465k $1.3m $1,747,707$1.7m
112 Chidobe Awuzie Colorado Cornerback Dallas Cowboys $465k $1.3m $1,720,336$1.7m
113 Jared Goff California Quarterback Los Angeles Rams $1.7m $1,719,894$1.7m
114 Carson Wentz North Dakota State Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles $1.7m $1,662,561$1.7m
115 Dion Dawkins Temple Left Tackle Buffalo Bills $465k $1.2m $1,647,356$1.6m
116 Zack Martin Notre Dame Guard Dallas Cowboys $1.6m $1,642,882$1.6m
117 JuJu Smith-Schuster Southern California Wide Receiver Pittsburgh Steelers $438k $1.2m $1,629,123$1.6m
118 Taylor Moton Western Michigan Right Tackle Carolina Panthers $465k $1.2m $1,629,110$1.6m
119 C.J. Mosley Alabama Inside Linebacker Baltimore Ravens $1.6m $1,618,365$1.6m
120 Brandin Cooks Oregon State Wide Receiver New England Patriots $782k $1,563,198$1.6m
121 Jalen Ramsey Florida State Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars $1.5m $1,511,409$1.5m
122 Andrus Peat Stanford Guard Las Vegas Raiders $1.5m $1,470,773$1.5m
123 Charley Hughlett Central Florida Long Snapper Cleveland Browns $615k $1,465,000$1.5m
124 Larry Ogunjobi Charlotte Defensive End Cleveland Browns $465k $982k $1,446,564$1.4m
125 Alvin Kamara Tennessee Running Back Two clubs $465k $973k $1,437,772$1.4m
126 Dawuane Smoot Illinois Defensive End Jacksonville Jaguars $465k $964k $1,429,160$1.4m
127 Cooper Kupp Eastern Washington Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $465k $955k $1,419,760$1.4m
128 Jimmie Ward Northern Illinois Safety San Francisco 49ers $690k $1,389,890$1.4m
129 Dan Feeney Indiana Center Los Angeles Chargers $465k $925k $1,389,632$1.4m
130 Ronnie Stanley Notre Dame Left Tackle Baltimore Ravens $1.4m $1,381,106$1.4m
131 Duke Riley Louisiana State Inside Linebacker Atlanta Falcons $465k $890k $1,354,752$1.4m
132 Arik Armstead Oregon Defensive End San Francisco 49ers $1.3m $1,329,785
133 Fabian Moreau California-Los Angeles Cornerback Washington Commanders $465k $825k $1,290,392
134 Nelson Agholor Southern California Wide Receiver Philadelphia Eagles $1.3m $1,287,489
135 DeForest Buckner Oregon Defensive Tackle San Francisco 49ers $540k $1,276,863
136 Bud Dupree Kentucky Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers $1.3m $1,273,390
137 Chris Godwin Penn State Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers $465k $792k $1,257,164
138 Tress Way Oklahoma Punter Washington Commanders $1.1m $1,250,000
139 Alex Anzalone Florida Inside Linebacker Detroit Lions $376k $865k $1,240,121
140 Shaq Thompson Washington Inside Linebacker Carolina Panthers $1.2m $1,235,793
141 Montravius Adams Auburn Defensive Tackle Green Bay Packers $465k $745k $1,224,776
142 Shaquill Griffin Central Florida Cornerback Seattle Seahawks $465k $759k $1,223,620
143 John Johnson Boston College Safety Los Angeles Rams $465k $758k $1,222,752
144 Jourdan Lewis Michigan Cornerback Dallas Cowboys $465k $753k $1,218,428
145 Laken Tomlinson Duke Guard San Francisco 49ers $1.2m $1,212,296
146 Geno Smith West Virginia Quarterback New York Giants $775k $1,187,500
147 D'Onta Foreman Texas Running Back Houston Texans $424k $759k $1,183,187
148 Jack Conklin Michigan State Right Tackle Tennessee Titans $1.2m $1,172,621
149 Jonnu Smith Florida International Tight End Tennessee Titans $465k $706k $1,171,288
150 Rasul Douglas West Virginia Cornerback Philadelphia Eagles $465k $706k $1,171,288
151 Trey Hendrickson Florida Atlantic Defensive End Cincinnati Bengals $465k $706k $1,171,288
152 DeMarcus Lawrence Boise State Defensive End Dallas Cowboys $1.2m $1,170,907
153 Leonard Floyd Georgia Defensive End Chicago Bears $1.2m $1,167,403
154 James Conner Pittsburgh Running Back Pittsburgh Steelers $451k $706k $1,157,523
155 Eddie Jackson Alabama Safety Chicago Bears $465k $666k $1,130,797
156 Rayshawn Jenkins Miami (FL) Safety Los Angeles Chargers $465k $662k $1,127,209
157 Cameron Sutton Tennessee Cornerback Pittsburgh Steelers $389k $736k $1,125,416
158 James Winchester Oklahoma Long Snapper Kansas City Chiefs $615k $1,125,000
159 Samaje Perine Oklahoma Running Back Washington Commanders $465k $660k $1,124,781
160 Josh Reynolds Texas A&M Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $465k $648k $1,113,021
161 Mack Hollins North Carolina Wide Receiver Philadelphia Eagles $465k $636k $1,100,668
162 Jordan Matthews Vanderbilt Wide Receiver Buffalo Bills $1.1m $1,094,900
163 Jalen Reeves-Maybin Tennessee Outside Linebacker Detroit Lions $465k $619k $1,083,887
164 Samson Ebukam Eastern Washington Defensive End Los Angeles Rams $465k $613k $1,078,082
165 Joshua Dobbs Tennessee Quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers $465k $599k $1,064,124
166 Deatrich Wise Arkansas Defensive End New England Patriots $465k $576k $1,040,880
167 Sheldon Rankins Louisville Defensive Tackle Two clubs $1.0m $1,031,893
168 Jamaal Williams Brigham Young Running Back Green Bay Packers $465k $566k $1,030,992
169 Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State Running Back Dallas Cowboys $1.0m $1,025,186
170 Laremy Tunsil Mississippi Left Tackle Miami Dolphins $1.0m $1,016,257
171 Shaq Mason Georgia Tech Guard New England Patriots $615k $1,014,639
172 Wes Schweitzer San Jose State Center Atlanta Falcons $540k $1,006,065
173 Mike Pennel Colorado State-Pueblo Defensive Tackle New York Jets $690k $317k $990,000
174 James Bradberry Samford Cornerback Carolina Panthers $630k $983,835
175 Mario Edwards Florida State Defensive Tackle Las Vegas Raiders $982k $982,015
176 Anthony Brown Purdue Cornerback Dallas Cowboys $540k $977,690
177 Preston Smith Mississippi State Defensive End Washington Commanders $960k $960,395
178 Eddie Goldman Florida State Defensive Tackle Chicago Bears $952k $951,938
179 Taylor Decker Ohio State Left Tackle Detroit Lions $948k $948,499
180 Joe Thuney North Carolina State Guard New England Patriots $540k $948,108
181 Dak Prescott Mississippi State Quarterback Dallas Cowboys $540k $941,006
182 Graham Glasgow Michigan Guard Detroit Lions $558k $932,849
183 Ryan Kelly Alabama Center Indianapolis Colts $925k $925,045
184 Eric Kendricks California-Los Angeles Inside Linebacker Minnesota Vikings $904k $903,720
185 J.J. Jansen Notre Dame Long Snapper Carolina Panthers $900k $900,000
186 John Jenkins Georgia Defensive Tackle Chicago Bears $800k $100k $900,000
187 Jon Weeks Baylor Long Snapper Houston Texans $900k $900,000
188 Morgan Cox Tennessee Long Snapper Baltimore Ravens $900k $900,000
189 De'Vondre Campbell Minnesota Outside Linebacker Atlanta Falcons $540k $885,298
190 Grover Stewart Albany State Defensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts $465k $420k $884,648
191 Kenny Clark California-Los Angeles Defensive Tackle Green Bay Packers $876k $875,529
192 Denzel Perryman Miami (FL) Inside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers $832k $869,224
193 Mitch Morse Missouri Center Kansas City Chiefs $835k $859,826
194 Jordan Phillips Oklahoma Defensive Tackle Miami Dolphins $832k $831,628
195 Ameer Abdullah Nebraska Running Back Detroit Lions $688k $812,830
196 Ronald Darby Florida State Cornerback Philadelphia Eagles $800k $800,426
197 Rob Havenstein Wisconsin Right Tackle Los Angeles Rams $796k $795,911
198 Josh Harris Auburn Long Snapper Atlanta Falcons $780k $780,000
199 George Kittle Iowa Tight End San Francisco 49ers $465k $298k $763,287
200 Damontae Kazee San Diego State Safety Atlanta Falcons $465k $289k $753,922

The table holds the 200 biggest of the 350 players paid in 2017. Each of them has a page carrying the whole career season by season, and the all-time list ranks all 1,924 of them across every year at once.

What the 2017 money was made of

The season's payroll, split by kind of promise

Base salary 40.9%

  • Base salary 40.9%
  • Signing bonus 45.2%
  • Restructured money 9.4%
  • Roster bonus 3.3%
  • Option bonus 0.0%
  • Workout bonus 0.7%
  • Incentives 0.5%
What the money was What it means Share Paid in 2017
Signing bonus paid up front and guaranteed the moment the contract is signed 45.2% $459,623,150$459.6m
Base salary the weekly paycheque, and the part that stops the day a player is cut 40.9% $415,116,678$415.1m
Restructured money base salary converted to signing money so a deal fits under the cap 9.4% $95,583,486$95.6m
Roster bonus paid for being on the roster on a named day of the year 3.3% $33,130,965$33.1m
Workout bonus paid for turning up to the offseason programme 0.7% $6,932,925$6.9m
Incentives paid for hitting a number 0.5% $5,468,765$5.5m
Option bonus paid to take up a season already written into the deal 0.0% $14,400

Base salary was only 40.9% of the 2017 payroll, so most of what the league handed over that year was bonus money of one kind or another. Across every season the site holds, base salary runs at 52.9% and signing bonus at 27.6%, so 2017 sits 12.1 points away from the long-run split. Signing bonus and base salary each have a page of their own.

What every franchise paid in 2017

The season's outlay, club by club

32 franchises

# Franchise Players paid Biggest single payday Per player Paid in 2017
01 Detroit Lions 15 Matthew Stafford $5.1m $77,152,002$77.2m
02 Cleveland Browns 9 Myles Garrett $7.3m $65,773,371$65.8m
03 Washington Commanders 12 Kirk Cousins $5.2m $62,218,969$62.2m
04 Baltimore Ravens 15 Joe Flacco $2.9m $42,832,782$42.8m
05 Las Vegas Raiders 12 Derek Carr $3.6m $42,830,539$42.8m
06 Buffalo Bills 11 Tyrod Taylor $3.7m $41,035,737$41.0m
07 Houston Texans 14 DeAndre Hopkins $2.9m $40,435,793$40.4m
08 Philadelphia Eagles 14 Lane Johnson $2.8m $39,094,823$39.1m
09 Green Bay Packers 10 Davante Adams $3.7m $37,397,753$37.4m
10 San Francisco 49ers 16 Solomon Thomas $2.3m $36,596,780$36.6m
11 Jacksonville Jaguars 8 Calais Campbell $4.2m $33,937,221$33.9m
12 New York Jets 10 Jamal Adams $3.3m $32,872,561$32.9m
13 New England Patriots 15 Stephon Gilmore $2.1m $31,806,034$31.8m
14 Los Angeles Chargers 10 Mike Williams $2.9m $29,040,383$29.0m
15 Denver Broncos 9 Von Miller $3.1m $28,194,451$28.2m
16 Minnesota Vikings 11 Linval Joseph $2.4m $26,362,320$26.4m
17 Los Angeles Rams 18 Robert Woods $1.5m $26,273,855$26.3m
18 Tennessee Titans 9 Kevin Byard $2.8m $25,614,050$25.6m
19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7 William Gholston $3.6m $25,162,031$25.2m
20 Chicago Bears 12 Mitchell Trubisky $2.1m $24,723,183$24.7m
21 Carolina Panthers 10 Christian McCaffrey $2.4m $23,677,557$23.7m
22 Seattle Seahawks 10 Russell Wilson $2.4m $23,631,562$23.6m
23 Kansas City Chiefs 13 Patrick Mahomes $1.8m $23,557,248$23.6m
24 Indianapolis Colts 11 Johnathan Hankins $2.1m $23,427,235$23.4m
25 Dallas Cowboys 13 Tyron Smith $1.7m $22,700,161$22.7m
26 Pittsburgh Steelers 11 Cameron Heyward $2.0m $21,768,080$21.8m
27 Miami Dolphins 8 Terron Armstead $2.6m $20,967,626$21.0m
28 Cincinnati Bengals 7 Andy Dalton $2.7m $18,788,841$18.8m
29 Arizona Cardinals 4 Haason Reddick $4.3m $17,001,034$17.0m
30 Atlanta Falcons 12 Takkarist McKinley $1.3m $15,984,421$16.0m
31 New York Giants 5 Evan Engram $2.3m $11,579,173$11.6m
32 New Orleans Saints 1 Zach Wood $465k $465,000

Detroit Lions paid the most in 2017, $77,152,002 across 15 players. A further $29,337,400 went to players who changed club inside the season, so it belongs to two franchises and is counted against neither.

What every position was paid in 2017

The season's money, by the job on the field

19 positions

Quarterback $226m Defensive End $128m Wide Receiver $108m Safety $84m Cornerback $71m Defensive Tackle $70m Left Tackle $51m Guard $42m Outside Linebacker $41m Right Tackle $38m Tight End $33m Running Back $30m Inside Linebacker $26m Kicker $25m Punter $17m Long Snapper $12m Center $11m Fullback $9.7m
Tackle $465k

Quarterbacks took 22.1% of the 2017 payroll across 30 players, which is $7.5m each against $3.9m for a defensive end.

Every NFL season we hold

What the league paid out, year by year

15 seasons

Frequently asked questions

Who was the highest paid NFL player in 2017?

Matthew Stafford, $51,000,000 at Detroit Lions. That was 5.0% of everything the league paid out that season.

How much did the NFL pay its players in 2017?

$1,022,239,976 across 350 players, an average of $2,920,686 each. The 2017 payroll was 39.2% up on 2016, which paid $734,137,910.

Which team spent the most in 2017?

Detroit Lions, $77,152,002 across 15 players.

What was the average NFL salary in 2017?

$2,920,686 across the 350 players paid that season, against a middle figure of $977,690. The gap between those two is the top of the league: the twenty biggest paydays of 2017 were 37.0% of the whole payroll.

How much of an NFL salary is base pay?

In 2017, 40.9% of it. Signing bonus was 45.2% and the rest was roster, option, workout and incentive money.

Where to next

The seasons either side, and the same money cut another way

The 2018 season · The 2016 season · NFL career earnings · The all-time list · Money under contract · By position · By franchise · By draft round

The biggest earners of 2017

Every season

By franchise

Elsewhere in American football