SALARYSPORT
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NFL · 2018 SEASON

NFL salaries in 2018

$1,551,972,484 paid to 503 players in the 2018 season, ranked. Aaron Rodgers took $66,900,000 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 2018 payroll was 51.8% up on 2017, which paid $1,022,239,976.

PAID IN 2018 $1.55bn
BIGGEST PAYDAY $66.9m
PLAYERS PAID 503
AVERAGE $3.1m
SHARE OF ALL TIME 3.5%

The twenty biggest paydays of 2018

Money paid in the season, not across a career

Top twenty hold 31.4%

Aaron Rodgers $67m Jimmy Garoppolo $42m Khalil Mack $41m Kirk Cousins $26m Derek Carr $23m Baker Mayfield $22m Zack Martin $22m Odell Beckham, Jr. $21m Saquon Barkley $21m Sam Darnold $21m Denzel Ward $20m Jake Matthews $19m Von Miller $19m Bradley Chubb $18m Mike Evans $18m Case Keenum $18m Danielle Hunter $17m DeMarcus Lawrence $17m Stefon Diggs $17m Matthew Stafford $16m

The twenty names above took 31.4% of the 2018 payroll between them, out of 503 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 2018

The 200 biggest, ranked

503 players paid

# Player Position Franchise Base Signing Paid in 2018
001 Aaron Rodgers California Quarterback Green Bay Packers $1.1m $57.5m $66,900,000$66.9m
002 Jimmy Garoppolo Eastern Illinois Quarterback San Francisco 49ers $6.2m $7.0m $41,950,000$41.9m
003 Khalil Mack Buffalo Outside Linebacker Chicago Bears $7.0m $34.0m $41,000,000$41.0m
004 Kirk Cousins Michigan State Quarterback Minnesota Vikings $22.5m $3.0m $26,000,000$26.0m
005 Derek Carr Fresno State Quarterback Las Vegas Raiders $7.4m $22,500,000$22.5m
006 Baker Mayfield Oklahoma Quarterback Cleveland Browns $480k $21.8m $22,329,440$22.3m
007 Zack Martin Notre Dame Guard Dallas Cowboys $2.0m $20.0m $22,000,000$22.0m
008 Odell Beckham, Jr. Louisiana State Wide Receiver New York Giants $1.5m $20.0m $21,459,000$21.5m
009 Saquon Barkley Penn State Running Back New York Giants $480k $20.8m $21,247,092$21.2m
010 Sam Darnold Southern California Quarterback New York Jets $480k $20.1m $20,558,338$20.6m
011 Denzel Ward Ohio State Cornerback Cleveland Browns $480k $19.3m $19,771,168$19.8m
012 Jake Matthews Texas A&M Left Tackle Atlanta Falcons $5.5m $13.9m $19,446,000$19.4m
013 Von Miller Texas A&M Defensive End Denver Broncos $2.0m $19,427,315$19.4m
014 Bradley Chubb North Carolina State Outside Linebacker Denver Broncos $480k $17.9m $18,426,124$18.4m
015 Mike Evans Texas A&M Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers $8.3m $18,258,000$18.3m
016 Case Keenum Houston Quarterback Denver Broncos $8.0m $6.0m $18,023,476$18.0m
017 Danielle Hunter Louisiana State Defensive End Minnesota Vikings $1.9m $15.0m $17,407,000$17.4m
018 DeMarcus Lawrence Boise State Defensive End Dallas Cowboys $17.1m $17,143,000$17.1m
019 Stefon Diggs Maryland Wide Receiver Minnesota Vikings $1.9m $15.0m $16,907,000$16.9m
020 Matthew Stafford Georgia Quarterback Detroit Lions $9.5m $16,500,000$16.5m
021 Tyrod Taylor Virginia Tech Quarterback Cleveland Browns $10.0m $16,000,000$16.0m
022 Quenton Nelson Notre Dame Guard Indianapolis Colts $480k $15.5m $15,933,750$15.9m
023 Russell Wilson Wisconsin Quarterback Seattle Seahawks $15.5m $15,500,000$15.5m
024 Calais Campbell Miami (FL) Defensive End Jacksonville Jaguars $15.0m $15,000,000$15.0m
025 Stephon Gilmore South Carolina Cornerback New England Patriots $3.6m $6.0m $15,000,000$15.0m
026 Josh Allen Wyoming Quarterback Buffalo Bills $480k $13.5m $13,965,846$14.0m
027 Andy Dalton Texas Christian Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals $13.7m $13,900,000$13.9m
028 Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina Outside Linebacker Houston Texans $12.3m $13,311,000$13.3m
029 Shaq Mason Georgia Tech Guard New England Patriots $907k $12.0m $12,907,000$12.9m
030 DeAndre Hopkins Clemson Wide Receiver Houston Texans $12.5m $12,500,000$12.5m
031 Eddie Goldman Florida State Defensive Tackle Chicago Bears $1000k $11.0m $12,000,000$12.0m
032 Joe Flacco Delaware Quarterback Baltimore Ravens $12.0m $12,000,000$12.0m
033 Roquan Smith Georgia Inside Linebacker Chicago Bears $480k $11.5m $11,997,941$12.0m
034 Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame Right Tackle San Francisco 49ers $480k $11.4m $11,899,434$11.9m
035 Tyron Smith Southern California Left Tackle Dallas Cowboys $10.0m $11,745,000$11.7m
036 Eric Kendricks California-Los Angeles Inside Linebacker Minnesota Vikings $1.1m $10.5m $11,638,080$11.6m
037 Bobby Wagner Utah State Inside Linebacker Seattle Seahawks $10.0m $11,000,000$11.0m
038 Brandin Cooks Oregon State Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $4.0m $7.0m $11,000,000$11.0m
039 Tyler Lockett Kansas State Wide Receiver Seattle Seahawks $2.0m $9.0m $11,000,000$11.0m
040 Zach Ertz Stanford Tight End Philadelphia Eagles $790k $10,680,000$10.7m
041 Minkah Fitzpatrick Alabama Safety Miami Dolphins $480k $10.0m $10,522,016$10.5m
042 Terron Armstead Arkansas-Pine Bluff Left Tackle Miami Dolphins $5.4m $10,300,000$10.3m
043 Demario Davis Arkansas State Inside Linebacker New Orleans Saints $850k $9.2m $10,200,000$10.2m
044 Trent Williams Oklahoma Left Tackle Washington Commanders $9.9m $10,053,125$10.1m
045 Kevin Zeitler Wisconsin Guard Cleveland Browns $10.0m $10,000,000$10.0m
046 Lane Johnson Oklahoma Right Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $790k $9,558,824$9.6m
047 Cameron Jordan California Defensive End Two clubs $8.7m $9,550,000$9.5m
048 Vita Vea Washington Defensive Tackle Tampa Bay Buccaneers $480k $8.9m $9,341,264$9.3m
049 Linval Joseph East Carolina Defensive Tackle Minnesota Vikings $1.1m $3.0m $9,250,000$9.2m
050 Daron Payne Alabama Defensive Tackle Washington Commanders $480k $8.6m $9,046,080$9.0m
051 Cameron Heyward Ohio State Defensive End Pittsburgh Steelers $915k $9,000,000$9.0m
052 Robert Woods Southern California Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $790k $8,990,019$9.0m
053 Lavonte David Nebraska Inside Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers $8.7m $8,750,000$8.7m
054 C.J. Mosley Alabama Inside Linebacker Baltimore Ravens $8.7m $8,718,000$8.7m
055 Marcus Davenport Texas-San Antonio Defensive End New Orleans Saints $480k $8.1m $8,554,105$8.6m
056 Jimmie Ward Northern Illinois Safety San Francisco 49ers $8.5m $8,526,000$8.5m
057 Kolton Miller California-Los Angeles Left Tackle Las Vegas Raiders $480k $7.9m $8,357,326$8.4m
058 Graham Gano Florida State Kicker Carolina Panthers $1.8m $6.2m $8,050,000$8.0m
059 Travis Kelce Cincinnati Tight End Kansas City Chiefs $6.8m $8,050,000$8.0m
060 Chris Boswell Rice Kicker Pittsburgh Steelers $705k $6.0m $8,000,000$8.0m
061 DaQuan Jones Penn State Defensive Tackle Tennessee Titans $4.0m $4.0m $8,000,000$8.0m
062 Harrison Smith Notre Dame Safety Minnesota Vikings $7.7m $8,000,000$8.0m
063 Kelvin Beachum Southern Methodist Right Tackle New York Jets $8.0m $8,000,000$8.0m
064 Tremaine Edmunds Virginia Tech Inside Linebacker Buffalo Bills $480k $7.3m $7,766,941$7.8m
065 Keenan Allen California Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $7.5m $7,750,000$7.7m
066 Derwin James Florida State Safety Los Angeles Chargers $480k $7.1m $7,570,150$7.6m
067 Jerry Hughes Texas Christian Defensive End Buffalo Bills $6.3m $7,500,000$7.5m
068 Jaire Alexander Louisville Cornerback Green Bay Packers $480k $6.8m $7,324,166$7.3m
069 Frank Ragnow Arkansas Center Detroit Lions $480k $6.6m $7,127,375$7.1m
070 Brandon Graham Michigan Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles $7.0m $7,000,000$7.0m
071 Tyrann Mathieu Louisiana State Safety Houston Texans $2.0m $4.5m $7,000,000$7.0m
072 Davante Adams Fresno State Wide Receiver Green Bay Packers $1000k $6,968,750$7.0m
073 Isaiah Wynn Georgia Guard New England Patriots $480k $6.4m $6,881,384$6.9m
074 Denico Autry Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts $3.0m $6,875,000$6.9m
075 D.J. Moore Maryland Wide Receiver Carolina Panthers $480k $6.2m $6,684,593$6.7m
076 Laken Tomlinson Duke Guard San Francisco 49ers $1.6m $5.0m $6,600,941$6.6m
077 Mitchell Trubisky North Carolina Quarterback Chicago Bears $555k $4.8m $6,597,656$6.6m
078 Hayden Hurst South Carolina Tight End Baltimore Ravens $480k $6.1m $6,586,201$6.6m
079 William Gholston Michigan State Defensive End Tampa Bay Buccaneers $6.5m $6,500,000$6.5m
080 Calvin Ridley Alabama Wide Receiver Atlanta Falcons $480k $6.0m $6,487,790$6.5m
081 Terrell Edmunds Virginia Tech Safety Pittsburgh Steelers $480k $5.9m $6,340,210$6.3m
082 Tashaun Gipson Wyoming Safety Jacksonville Jaguars $5.8m $6,250,000$6.3m
083 Joel Bitonio Nevada Guard Cleveland Browns $5.5m $6,000,000$6.0m
084 Rodney McLeod Virginia Safety Philadelphia Eagles $6.0m $6,000,000$6.0m
085 Thomas Morstead Southern Methodist Punter Two clubs $918k $5.0m $5,950,000$6.0m
086 Taven Bryan Florida Defensive Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars $480k $5.5m $5,945,424$5.9m
087 Mike Hughes Central Florida Cornerback Minnesota Vikings $480k $5.3m $5,736,352$5.7m
088 Quandre Diggs Texas Safety Detroit Lions $1000k $4.5m $5,500,000$5.5m
089 Lamar Jackson Louisville Quarterback Baltimore Ravens $480k $5.0m $5,448,471$5.4m
090 Adam Thielen Minnesota-Mankato Wide Receiver Minnesota Vikings $3.8m $5,350,000$5.3m
091 Rob Havenstein Wisconsin Right Tackle Los Angeles Rams $976k $4.0m $4,976,367$5.0m
092 Mike Pennel Colorado State-Pueblo Defensive Tackle New York Jets $1.5m $2.5m $4,500,000$4.5m
093 Austin Corbett Nevada Center Cleveland Browns $480k $3.6m $4,064,000$4.1m
094 Will Hernandez Texas-El Paso Guard New York Giants $480k $3.5m $3,978,723$4.0m
095 Nick Chubb Georgia Running Back Cleveland Browns $480k $3.4m $3,929,524$3.9m
096 Braden Smith Auburn Right Tackle Indianapolis Colts $480k $3.3m $3,791,774$3.8m
097 Jameis Winston Florida State Quarterback Tampa Bay Buccaneers $581k $3,767,580$3.8m
098 Marcus Mariota Oregon Quarterback Tennessee Titans $705k $3,736,905$3.7m
099 Courtland Sutton Southern Methodist Wide Receiver Denver Broncos $480k $3.1m $3,664,802$3.7m
100 James Daniels Iowa Guard Chicago Bears $480k $3.1m $3,614,662$3.6m
101 Morgan Moses Virginia Right Tackle Washington Commanders $3.3m $3,500,000$3.5m
102 Harold Landry Boston College Outside Linebacker Tennessee Titans $480k $3.0m $3,457,228$3.5m
103 Mike Gesicki Penn State Tight End Miami Dolphins $480k $2.9m $3,368,672$3.4m
104 Brandon Scherff Iowa Guard Washington Commanders $705k $3,328,041$3.3m
105 Greg Zuerlein Missouri Western State Kicker Los Angeles Rams $2.1m $3,300,000$3.3m
106 Cordarrelle Patterson Tennessee Running Back New England Patriots $3.0m $3,250,000$3.3m
107 Kyle Juszczyk Harvard Fullback San Francisco 49ers $2.8m $3,250,000$3.3m
108 Darius Slay Mississippi State Cornerback Detroit Lions $2.7m $3,210,644$3.2m
109 Amari Cooper Alabama Wide Receiver Las Vegas Raiders $288k $412k $3,113,661$3.1m
110 Bryan Anger California Punter Tampa Bay Buccaneers $3.0m $3,000,000$3.0m
111 Johnny Hekker Oregon State Punter Los Angeles Rams $790k $3,000,000$3.0m
112 Jordan Poyer Oregon State Safety Buffalo Bills $2.5m $3,000,000$3.0m
113 Jared Goff California Quarterback Los Angeles Rams $3.0m $2,989,788$3.0m
114 Leonard Williams Southern California Defensive End New York Jets $3.0m $2,975,572$3.0m
115 Justin Tucker Texas Kicker Baltimore Ravens $3.0m $2,950,000$3.0m
116 Carson Wentz North Dakota State Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles $630k $2,875,122$2.9m
117 Christian Kirk Texas A&M Wide Receiver Arizona Cardinals $480k $2.4m $2,847,176$2.8m
118 Joey Bosa Ohio State Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers $630k $2,802,153$2.8m
119 Uchenna Nwosu Southern California Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers $480k $2.3m $2,748,783$2.7m
120 Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State Running Back Dallas Cowboys $2.7m $2,718,758$2.7m
121 Dallas Goedert South Dakota State Tight End Philadelphia Eagles $480k $2.2m $2,650,379$2.7m
122 Jalen Ramsey Florida State Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars $2.6m $2,572,818$2.6m
123 Connor Williams Texas Center Dallas Cowboys $480k $2.1m $2,551,992$2.6m
124 Kyle Van Noy Brigham Young Outside Linebacker New England Patriots $2.0m $2,500,000$2.5m
125 Sam Martin Appalachian State Punter Detroit Lions $2.3m $2,425,000$2.4m
126 Dustin Hopkins Florida State Kicker Washington Commanders $799k $1.2m $2,400,000$2.4m
127 Ronnie Stanley Notre Dame Left Tackle Baltimore Ravens $2.3m $2,312,212$2.3m
128 Matt Prater Central Florida Kicker Detroit Lions $2.0m $2,300,000$2.3m
129 M.J. Stewart North Carolina Safety Tampa Bay Buccaneers $480k $1.8m $2,256,809$2.3m
130 Johnathan Hankins Ohio State Defensive Tackle Las Vegas Raiders $880k $370k $2,250,000$2.3m
131 Jessie Bates III Wake Forest Safety Cincinnati Bengals $480k $1.7m $2,158,410$2.2m
132 DeForest Buckner Oregon Defensive Tackle San Francisco 49ers $630k $2,103,726$2.1m
133 Marcedes Lewis California-Los Angeles Tight End Green Bay Packers $1.1m $500k $2,100,000$2.1m
134 Donte Jackson Louisiana State Cornerback Carolina Panthers $480k $1.6m $2,060,017$2.1m
135 David Andrews Georgia Center New England Patriots $900k $2,000,000$2.0m
136 Andrus Peat Stanford Guard Las Vegas Raiders $2.0m $1,988,657$2.0m
137 Isaiah Oliver Colorado Cornerback Atlanta Falcons $480k $1.5m $1,932,104$1.9m
138 Chris Conley Georgia Wide Receiver Kansas City Chiefs $1.9m $1,907,000$1.9m
139 Grady Jarrett Clemson Defensive Tackle Atlanta Falcons $1.9m $1,907,000$1.9m
140 Jamison Crowder Duke Wide Receiver Washington Commanders $1.9m $1,907,000$1.9m
141 Jordan Hicks Texas Inside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles $1.9m $1,907,000$1.9m
142 Trenton Brown Florida Right Tackle New England Patriots $1.9m $1,907,000$1.9m
143 Za'Darius Smith Kentucky Defensive End Baltimore Ravens $1.9m $1,907,000$1.9m
144 Jack Conklin Michigan State Right Tackle Tennessee Titans $1.9m $1,895,242$1.9m
145 Leonard Floyd Georgia Defensive End Chicago Bears $1.9m $1,884,806$1.9m
146 Myles Garrett Texas A&M Defensive End Cleveland Browns $1.8m $1,847,375$1.8m
147 Justin Reid Stanford Safety Houston Texans $480k $1.0m $1,813,395$1.8m
148 DJ Chark Louisiana State Wide Receiver Jacksonville Jaguars $480k $1.3m $1,794,349$1.8m
149 Arik Armstead Oregon Defensive End San Francisco 49ers $1.8m $1,777,177$1.8m
150 Brian O'Neill Pittsburgh Right Tackle Minnesota Vikings $480k $1.3m $1,764,828$1.8m
151 Carlton Davis Auburn Cornerback Tampa Bay Buccaneers $480k $1.3m $1,754,992$1.8m
152 Solomon Thomas Stanford Defensive Tackle San Francisco 49ers $555k $1,744,745$1.7m
153 Tyquan Lewis Ohio State Defensive End Indianapolis Colts $480k $1.3m $1,735,313$1.7m
154 Nelson Agholor Southern California Wide Receiver Philadelphia Eagles $1.7m $1,713,733$1.7m
155 Bud Dupree Kentucky Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers $1.7m $1,692,583$1.7m
156 Shaq Thompson Washington Inside Linebacker Carolina Panthers $936k $1,636,190$1.6m
157 Sheldon Rankins Louisville Defensive Tackle Two clubs $1.6m $1,613,786$1.6m
158 Laremy Tunsil Mississippi Left Tackle Miami Dolphins $1.6m $1,582,514$1.6m
159 Brandon Parker North Carolina A&T Right Tackle Las Vegas Raiders $480k $1.1m $1,538,424$1.5m
160 Lorenzo Carter Georgia Outside Linebacker New York Giants $480k $1.0m $1,529,804$1.5m
161 B.J. Hill North Carolina State Defensive Tackle New York Giants $480k $1.0m $1,509,516$1.5m
162 Tress Way Oklahoma Punter Washington Commanders $1.4m $1,500,000$1.5m
163 Fred Warner Brigham Young Inside Linebacker San Francisco 49ers $480k $1.0m $1,490,188$1.5m
164 Jamal Adams Louisiana State Safety New York Jets $555k $1,476,764$1.5m
165 Jerome Baker Ohio State Inside Linebacker Miami Dolphins $480k $975k $1,455,200$1.5m
166 Taylor Decker Ohio State Left Tackle Detroit Lions $1.4m $1,446,998$1.4m
167 Derrick Nnadi Florida State Defensive Tackle Kansas City Chiefs $480k $959k $1,439,400$1.4m
168 Dante Fowler Jr. Florida Defensive End Los Angeles Rams $1.5m $1.9m $1,420,800$1.4m
169 Josey Jewell Iowa Inside Linebacker Denver Broncos $480k $714k $1,414,537$1.4m
170 Mason Rudolph Oklahoma State Quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers $480k $932k $1,412,264$1.4m
171 Sam Hubbard Ohio State Defensive End Cincinnati Bengals $480k $929k $1,409,200$1.4m
172 Geron Christian Louisville Left Tackle Washington Commanders $432k $969k $1,400,806$1.4m
173 Ryan Kelly Alabama Center Indianapolis Colts $1.4m $1,400,089$1.4m
174 Andrew DePaola Rutgers Long Snapper Las Vegas Raiders $790k $1,400,000$1.4m
175 Nathan Shepherd Fort Hays State Defensive Tackle New York Jets $480k $901k $1,380,572$1.4m
176 Isaac Yiadom Boston College Cornerback Denver Broncos $480k $762k $1,365,353$1.4m
177 Mike Williams Clemson Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $1.4m $1,362,724$1.4m
178 Joe Cardona Navy Long Snapper New England Patriots $705k $650k $1,355,000$1.4m
179 Orlando Brown Jr. Oklahoma Left Tackle Baltimore Ravens $480k $866k $1,345,720
180 Justin Jones North Carolina State Defensive Tackle Los Angeles Chargers $480k $854k $1,334,140
181 Mark Andrews Oklahoma Tight End Baltimore Ravens $480k $837k $1,316,660
182 Arden Key Louisiana State Outside Linebacker Las Vegas Raiders $480k $826k $1,306,376
183 Kenny Clark California-Los Angeles Defensive Tackle Green Bay Packers $1.3m $1,301,059
184 Rakeem Nunez-Roches Southern Mississippi Defensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts $763k $539k $1,300,918
185 Oren Burks Vanderbilt Inside Linebacker Green Bay Packers $480k $821k $1,300,756
186 Joseph Noteboom Texas Christian Left Tackle Los Angeles Rams $480k $819k $1,298,892
187 Tre'quan Smith Central Florida Wide Receiver Two clubs $480k $817k $1,297,024
188 Chukwuma Okorafor Western Michigan Left Tackle Pittsburgh Steelers $480k $812k $1,292,364
189 Alex Cappa Humboldt State Guard Tampa Bay Buccaneers $480k $794k $1,273,704
190 Mario Edwards Florida State Defensive Tackle New York Giants $1.3m $1,255,521
191 Harrison Phillips Stanford Defensive Tackle Buffalo Bills $480k $775k $1,255,040
192 Christian McCaffrey Stanford Running Back Carolina Panthers $1.2m $1,248,695
193 Jordan Akins Central Florida Tight End Houston Texans $480k $762k $1,241,520
194 Ian Thomas Indiana Tight End Carolina Panthers $480k $748k $1,227,994
195 Preston Smith Mississippi State Defensive End Washington Commanders $1.2m $1,223,094
196 Patrick Mahomes Texas Tech Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs $555k $1,211,635
197 Josh Harris Auburn Long Snapper Atlanta Falcons $1.2m $1,205,000
198 Nyheim Hines North Carolina State Running Back Indianapolis Colts $480k $725k $1,204,547
199 Marshon Lattimore Ohio State Cornerback Two clubs $1.2m $1,163,162
200 Dorance Armstrong Kansas Defensive End Dallas Cowboys $480k $670k $1,149,996

The table holds the 200 biggest of the 503 players paid in 2018. 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 2018 money was made of

The season's payroll, split by kind of promise

Base salary 43.6%

  • Base salary 43.6%
  • Signing bonus 43.0%
  • Restructured money 8.4%
  • Roster bonus 3.8%
  • Workout bonus 0.8%
  • Incentives 0.4%
What the money was What it means Share Paid in 2018
Base salary the weekly paycheque, and the part that stops the day a player is cut 43.6% $677,763,148$677.8m
Signing bonus paid up front and guaranteed the moment the contract is signed 43.0% $667,334,100$667.3m
Restructured money base salary converted to signing money so a deal fits under the cap 8.4% $130,337,920$130.3m
Roster bonus paid for being on the roster on a named day of the year 3.8% $59,436,994$59.4m
Workout bonus paid for turning up to the offseason programme 0.8% $12,400,020$12.4m
Incentives paid for hitting a number 0.4% $6,104,431$6.1m

Base salary was only 43.6% of the 2018 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 2018 sits 9.3 points away from the long-run split. Signing bonus and base salary each have a page of their own.

What every franchise paid in 2018

The season's outlay, club by club

32 franchises

# Franchise Players paid Biggest single payday Per player Paid in 2018
01 Minnesota Vikings 17 Kirk Cousins $6.2m $105,367,731$105.4m
02 Green Bay Packers 14 Aaron Rodgers $6.4m $90,157,129$90.2m
03 Cleveland Browns 16 Baker Mayfield $5.6m $89,034,082$89.0m
04 San Francisco 49ers 20 Jimmy Garoppolo $4.3m $85,325,359$85.3m
05 Chicago Bears 13 Khalil Mack $6.3m $82,195,049$82.2m
06 Denver Broncos 16 Von Miller $4.3m $68,374,695$68.4m
07 Dallas Cowboys 17 Zack Martin $3.8m $64,031,224$64.0m
08 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15 Mike Evans $3.9m $57,781,150$57.8m
09 New York Giants 12 Odell Beckham, Jr. $4.6m $55,234,675$55.2m
10 Philadelphia Eagles 23 Zach Ertz $2.3m $52,475,754$52.5m
11 Baltimore Ravens 24 Joe Flacco $2.2m $52,444,566$52.4m
12 New England Patriots 16 Stephon Gilmore $3.2m $50,957,687$51.0m
13 Seattle Seahawks 16 Russell Wilson $2.9m $46,464,627$46.5m
14 Los Angeles Rams 25 Brandin Cooks $1.8m $46,008,710$46.0m
15 Detroit Lions 18 Matthew Stafford $2.5m $45,620,183$45.6m
16 Las Vegas Raiders 13 Derek Carr $3.5m $45,353,254$45.4m
17 New York Jets 15 Sam Darnold $2.9m $44,170,760$44.2m
18 Buffalo Bills 18 Josh Allen $2.4m $42,389,845$42.4m
19 Indianapolis Colts 23 Quenton Nelson $1.8m $41,749,754$41.7m
20 Houston Texans 13 Jadeveon Clowney $3.1m $40,587,635$40.6m
21 Washington Commanders 15 Trent Williams $2.5m $37,476,000$37.5m
22 Atlanta Falcons 14 Jake Matthews $2.6m $36,600,542$36.6m
23 Jacksonville Jaguars 10 Calais Campbell $3.4m $33,592,071$33.6m
24 Pittsburgh Steelers 14 Cameron Heyward $2.3m $32,875,382$32.9m
25 Miami Dolphins 12 Minkah Fitzpatrick $2.6m $31,791,258$31.8m
26 Los Angeles Chargers 16 Keenan Allen $1.9m $30,733,447$30.7m
27 Carolina Panthers 15 Graham Gano $1.8m $26,730,391$26.7m
28 Tennessee Titans 16 DaQuan Jones $1.5m $24,096,575$24.1m
29 Kansas City Chiefs 17 Travis Kelce $1.3m $21,956,843$22.0m
30 Cincinnati Bengals 8 Andy Dalton $2.6m $20,855,524$20.9m
31 New Orleans Saints 5 Demario Davis $4.0m $19,954,105$20.0m
32 Arizona Cardinals 8 Christian Kirk $883k $7,067,225$7.1m

Minnesota Vikings paid the most in 2018, $105,367,731 across 17 players. A further $22,519,252 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 2018

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

19 positions

Quarterback $341m Wide Receiver $168m Defensive End $146m Defensive Tackle $104m Outside Linebacker $104m Guard $101m Safety $92m Inside Linebacker $90m Cornerback $83m Left Tackle $74m Right Tackle $54m Tight End $52m Running Back $46m Kicker $32m Center $24m Punter $21m Long Snapper $14m Fullback $6.1m
Tackle $555k

Quarterbacks took 22.0% of the 2018 payroll across 33 players, which is $10.3m each against $3.4m for a wide receiver.

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 2018?

Aaron Rodgers, $66,900,000 at Green Bay Packers. That was 4.3% of everything the league paid out that season.

How much did the NFL pay its players in 2018?

$1,551,972,484 across 503 players, an average of $3,085,432 each. The 2018 payroll was 51.8% up on 2017, which paid $1,022,239,976.

Which team spent the most in 2018?

Minnesota Vikings, $105,367,731 across 17 players.

What was the average NFL salary in 2018?

$3,085,432 across the 503 players paid that season, against a middle figure of $875,931. The gap between those two is the top of the league: the twenty biggest paydays of 2018 were 31.4% of the whole payroll.

How much of an NFL salary is base pay?

In 2018, 43.6% of it. Signing bonus was 43.0% 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 2019 season · The 2017 season · NFL career earnings · The all-time list · Money under contract · By position · By franchise · By draft round

The biggest earners of 2018

Every season

By franchise

Elsewhere in American football