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NFL · 2019 SEASON

NFL salaries in 2019

$2,127,169,054 paid to 683 players in the 2019 season, ranked. Russell Wilson took $35,000,000 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 2019 payroll was 37.1% up on 2018, which paid $1,551,972,484.

PAID IN 2019 $2.13bn
BIGGEST PAYDAY $35.0m
PLAYERS PAID 683
AVERAGE $3.1m
SHARE OF ALL TIME 4.8%

The twenty biggest paydays of 2019

Money paid in the season, not across a career

Top twenty hold 22.2%

Russell Wilson $35m Matthew Stafford $33m DeMarcus Lawrence $31m Kirk Cousins $28m Brandin Cooks $27m Jared Goff $26m Grady Jarrett $25m Kyler Murray $24m Nick Bosa $23m Za'Darius Smith $22m Clelin Ferrell $21m Jameis Winston $21m Marcus Mariota $21m Derek Carr $20m Mike Evans $20m Devin White $20m Mitch Morse $20m C.J. Mosley $19m Jimmy Garoppolo $19m Joe Flacco $18m

The twenty names above took 22.2% of the 2019 payroll between them, out of 683 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 2019

The 200 biggest, ranked

683 players paid

# Player Position Franchise Base Signing Paid in 2019
001 Russell Wilson Wisconsin Quarterback Seattle Seahawks $5.0m $30.0m $35,000,000$35.0m
002 Matthew Stafford Georgia Quarterback Detroit Lions $13.5m $32,700,000$32.7m
003 DeMarcus Lawrence Boise State Defensive End Dallas Cowboys $1.5m $25.0m $31,116,747$31.1m
004 Kirk Cousins Michigan State Quarterback Minnesota Vikings $27.5m $28,000,000$28.0m
005 Brandin Cooks Oregon State Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $1000k $27,459,000$27.5m
006 Jared Goff California Quarterback Los Angeles Rams $1000k $25.0m $26,000,000$26.0m
007 Grady Jarrett Clemson Defensive Tackle Atlanta Falcons $6.5m $18.0m $24,518,433$24.5m
008 Kyler Murray Oklahoma Quarterback Arizona Cardinals $495k $23.6m $24,119,294$24.1m
009 Nick Bosa Ohio State Defensive End San Francisco 49ers $495k $22.4m $22,916,356$22.9m
010 Za'Darius Smith Kentucky Defensive End Green Bay Packers $1000k $20.0m $22,250,000$22.2m
011 Clelin Ferrell Clemson Defensive End Las Vegas Raiders $495k $20.8m $21,322,864$21.3m
012 Jameis Winston Florida State Quarterback Tampa Bay Buccaneers $20.9m $20,922,000$20.9m
013 Marcus Mariota Oregon Quarterback Tennessee Titans $20.9m $20,922,000$20.9m
014 Derek Carr Fresno State Quarterback Las Vegas Raiders $19.9m $20,000,000$20.0m
015 Mike Evans Texas A&M Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers $11.0m $20,000,000$20.0m
016 Devin White Louisiana State Inside Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers $495k $19.3m $19,835,592$19.8m
017 Mitch Morse Missouri Center Buffalo Bills $4.4m $11.0m $19,520,515$19.5m
018 C.J. Mosley Alabama Inside Linebacker New York Jets $1000k $7.5m $19,000,000$19.0m
019 Jimmy Garoppolo Eastern Illinois Quarterback San Francisco 49ers $17.2m $18,600,000$18.6m
020 Joe Flacco Delaware Quarterback Denver Broncos $1.5m $18,500,000$18.5m
021 Preston Smith Mississippi State Defensive End Green Bay Packers $850k $16.0m $18,000,000$18.0m
022 Von Miller Texas A&M Defensive End Denver Broncos $17.0m $17,500,000$17.5m
023 Daniel Jones Duke Quarterback New York Giants $495k $16.7m $17,179,768$17.2m
024 Carson Wentz North Dakota State Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles $720k $16.4m $17,087,683$17.1m
025 Odell Beckham, Jr. Louisiana State Wide Receiver Cleveland Browns $16.8m $17,013,388$17.0m
026 Cameron Jordan California Defensive End Two clubs $935k $15.5m $17,000,000$17.0m
027 Quinnen Williams Alabama Defensive Tackle New York Jets $495k $16.3m $16,753,293$16.8m
028 Bobby Wagner Utah State Inside Linebacker Seattle Seahawks $9.5m $7.0m $16,500,000$16.5m
029 Andy Dalton Texas Christian Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals $16.0m $16,212,043$16.2m
030 Tyrann Mathieu Louisiana State Safety Kansas City Chiefs $850k $14.8m $15,800,000$15.8m
031 Shaq Thompson Washington Inside Linebacker Carolina Panthers $7.5m $8.0m $15,547,701$15.5m
032 Jake Matthews Texas A&M Left Tackle Atlanta Falcons $2.1m $15,535,224$15.5m
033 Khalil Mack Buffalo Outside Linebacker Chicago Bears $2.3m $15,518,121$15.5m
034 Jordan Hicks Texas Inside Linebacker Arizona Cardinals $2.0m $12.0m $15,438,869$15.4m
035 Aaron Rodgers California Quarterback Green Bay Packers $1.1m $15,320,000$15.3m
036 Trenton Brown Florida Right Tackle Las Vegas Raiders $5.0m $15,250,000$15.3m
037 Joshua Hines-Allen Kentucky Outside Linebacker Jacksonville Jaguars $495k $14.6m $15,055,100$15.1m
038 Calais Campbell Miami (FL) Defensive End Jacksonville Jaguars $12.0m $15,000,000$15.0m
039 Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina Outside Linebacker Seattle Seahawks $8.0m $7.0m $15,000,000$15.0m
040 Jacoby Brissett North Carolina State Quarterback Indianapolis Colts $2.0m $11.0m $14,907,500$14.9m
041 Adam Thielen Minnesota-Mankato Wide Receiver Minnesota Vikings $805k $9.0m $14,273,750$14.3m
042 Jerry Hughes Texas Christian Defensive End Buffalo Bills $6.8m $6.3m $14,263,513$14.3m
043 Lane Johnson Oklahoma Right Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $805k $3.0m $14,100,705$14.1m
044 Amari Cooper Alabama Wide Receiver Dallas Cowboys $13.9m $13,939,062$13.9m
045 Brandon Graham Michigan Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles $1000k $12.5m $13,500,000$13.5m
046 Darius Slay Mississippi State Cornerback Detroit Lions $12.6m $13,018,750$13.0m
047 T.J. Hockenson Iowa Tight End Detroit Lions $495k $12.4m $12,930,436$12.9m
048 Ed Oliver Houston Defensive Tackle Buffalo Bills $495k $12.3m $12,865,503$12.9m
049 Brandon Scherff Iowa Guard Washington Commanders $12.5m $12,525,000$12.5m
050 DeAndre Hopkins Clemson Wide Receiver Houston Texans $12.5m $12,500,000$12.5m
051 Devin Bush Michigan Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers $495k $11.7m $12,239,920$12.2m
052 Dante Fowler Jr. Florida Defensive End Los Angeles Rams $9.0m $12,000,000$12.0m
053 Terron Armstead Arkansas-Pine Bluff Left Tackle Miami Dolphins $10.7m $11,768,750$11.8m
054 Tyron Smith Southern California Left Tackle Dallas Cowboys $10.0m $11,760,137$11.8m
055 Tyler Boyd Pittsburgh Wide Receiver Cincinnati Bengals $2.0m $7.0m $11,365,615$11.4m
056 Jonah Williams Alabama Right Tackle Cincinnati Bengals $495k $10.8m $11,336,940$11.3m
057 Kevin Byard Middle Tennessee State Safety Tennessee Titans $2.0m $9.0m $11,025,000$11.0m
058 Leonard Williams Southern California Defensive End New York Giants $3.5m $10.7m $10,682,352$10.7m
059 Minkah Fitzpatrick Alabama Safety Miami Dolphins $144k $1.1m $10,666,442$10.7m
060 Danielle Hunter Louisiana State Defensive End Minnesota Vikings $9.4m $10,500,000$10.5m
061 Keenan Allen California Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $10.0m $10,250,000$10.2m
062 Rashan Gary Michigan Defensive End Green Bay Packers $495k $9.6m $10,062,136$10.1m
063 Zack Martin Notre Dame Guard Dallas Cowboys $10.0m $10,020,956$10.0m
064 Kevin Zeitler Wisconsin Guard New York Giants $2.5m $7.5m $10,000,000$10.0m
065 Stephon Gilmore South Carolina Cornerback New England Patriots $1000k $10,000,000$10.0m
066 Lavonte David Nebraska Inside Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers $9.7m $9,750,000$9.7m
067 Christian Wilkins Clemson Defensive Tackle Miami Dolphins $495k $9.2m $9,743,436$9.7m
068 Andrus Peat Stanford Guard Las Vegas Raiders $9.6m $9,625,000$9.6m
069 Stefon Diggs Maryland Wide Receiver Minnesota Vikings $8.9m $9,500,000$9.5m
070 Linval Joseph East Carolina Defensive Tackle Minnesota Vikings $8.9m $9,437,500$9.4m
071 Nelson Agholor Southern California Wide Receiver Philadelphia Eagles $9.4m $9,387,000$9.4m
072 Chris Lindstrom Boston College Guard Atlanta Falcons $495k $8.7m $9,239,115$9.2m
073 Bud Dupree Kentucky Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers $9.2m $9,232,000$9.2m
074 Arik Armstead Oregon Defensive End San Francisco 49ers $9.0m $9,046,000$9.0m
075 Justin Tucker Texas Kicker Baltimore Ravens $1000k $8.0m $9,008,563$9.0m
076 Jamison Crowder Duke Wide Receiver New York Jets $1.5m $3.0m $9,000,000$9.0m
077 Kenny Moore Valdosta State Cornerback Indianapolis Colts $1000k $9,000,000$9.0m
078 Jonathan Jones Auburn Cornerback New England Patriots $720k $8.1m $8,795,000$8.8m
079 Cameron Heyward Ohio State Defensive End Pittsburgh Steelers $8.7m $8,750,000$8.7m
080 Harrison Smith Notre Dame Safety Minnesota Vikings $8.4m $8,750,000$8.7m
081 Travis Kelce Cincinnati Tight End Kansas City Chiefs $7.5m $8,750,000$8.7m
082 Tashaun Gipson Wyoming Safety Houston Texans $2.5m $1.5m $8,437,500$8.4m
083 Brian Burns Florida State Outside Linebacker Carolina Panthers $495k $7.9m $8,417,426$8.4m
084 Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State Running Back Dallas Cowboys $752k $7.5m $8,288,964$8.3m
085 Dexter Lawrence Clemson Defensive Tackle New York Giants $495k $7.7m $8,149,936$8.1m
086 Dean Lowry Northwestern Defensive End Green Bay Packers $2.1m $6.0m $8,050,000$8.0m
087 Kelvin Beachum Southern Methodist Right Tackle New York Jets $8.0m $8,000,000$8.0m
088 Zach Ertz Stanford Tight End Philadelphia Eagles $805k $8,000,000$8.0m
089 Garrett Bradbury North Carolina State Center Minnesota Vikings $495k $7.4m $7,884,360$7.9m
090 Noah Fant Iowa Tight End Denver Broncos $495k $7.2m $7,727,923$7.7m
091 Jeffery Simmons Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Tennessee Titans $495k $7.2m $7,725,004$7.7m
092 Darnell Savage Maryland Safety Green Bay Packers $495k $7.1m $7,618,772$7.6m
093 Andre Dillard Washington State Right Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $495k $7.0m $7,511,788$7.5m
094 Rob Havenstein Wisconsin Right Tackle Los Angeles Rams $2.5m $7,500,000$7.5m
095 Tytus Howard Alabama State Right Tackle Houston Texans $495k $6.9m $7,406,308$7.4m
096 Ronnie Stanley Notre Dame Left Tackle Baltimore Ravens $3.2m $7,274,812$7.3m
097 Josh Jacobs Alabama Running Back Las Vegas Raiders $495k $6.7m $7,193,836$7.2m
098 Marquise Brown Oklahoma Wide Receiver Baltimore Ravens $495k $6.6m $7,141,342$7.1m
099 Davante Adams Fresno State Wide Receiver Green Bay Packers $2.8m $7,125,000$7.1m
100 Joel Bitonio Nevada Guard Cleveland Browns $6.5m $7,035,650$7.0m
101 Cody Whitehair Kansas State Center Chicago Bears $926k $6.0m $7,031,387$7.0m
102 Jerry Tillery Notre Dame Defensive Tackle Los Angeles Chargers $495k $6.3m $7,001,707$7.0m
103 Montez Sweat Mississippi State Defensive End Washington Commanders $495k $6.5m $6,981,372$7.0m
104 Tyreek Hill West Alabama Wide Receiver Kansas City Chiefs $720k $5.8m $6,529,500$6.5m
105 Robert Woods Southern California Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $6.0m $6,500,000$6.5m
106 L.J. Collier Texas Christian Defensive End Seattle Seahawks $495k $5.9m $6,395,784$6.4m
107 Demario Davis Arkansas State Inside Linebacker New Orleans Saints $6.0m $6,200,000$6.2m
108 Kaleb McGary Washington Right Tackle Atlanta Falcons $495k $5.5m $6,117,269$6.1m
109 Wil Lutz Georgia State Kicker Denver Broncos $850k $5.3m $6,100,000$6.1m
110 DaQuan Jones Penn State Defensive Tackle Tennessee Titans $6.0m $6,000,000$6.0m
111 Tyrod Taylor Virginia Tech Quarterback Los Angeles Chargers $1000k $5.0m $6,000,000$6.0m
112 Ronald Darby Florida State Cornerback Philadelphia Eagles $1000k $3.5m $5,625,000$5.6m
113 Tyler Lockett Kansas State Wide Receiver Seattle Seahawks $3.9m $5,507,000$5.5m
114 Jason Myers Marist Kicker Seattle Seahawks $1.5m $4.0m $5,500,000$5.5m
115 Denzel Perryman Miami (FL) Inside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers $850k $4.1m $5,462,500$5.5m
116 Eddie Goldman Florida State Defensive Tackle Chicago Bears $2.3m $5,371,357$5.4m
117 Cordarrelle Patterson Tennessee Running Back Chicago Bears $3.0m $2.0m $5,250,000$5.3m
118 Kyle Van Noy Brigham Young Outside Linebacker New England Patriots $4.3m $5,093,750$5.1m
119 Morgan Moses Virginia Right Tackle Washington Commanders $4.8m $5,000,000$5.0m
120 Denico Autry Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts $3.5m $4,906,250$4.9m
121 Shaq Mason Georgia Tech Guard New England Patriots $2.3m $4,812,500$4.8m
122 Johnathan Hankins Ohio State Defensive Tackle Las Vegas Raiders $1000k $4,750,000$4.8m
123 Isaac Seumalo Oregon State Guard Philadelphia Eagles $749k $4.0m $4,749,000$4.7m
124 Kyle Juszczyk Harvard Fullback San Francisco 49ers $4.2m $4,600,000$4.6m
125 Jordan Phillips Oklahoma Defensive Tackle Buffalo Bills $2.3m $2.0m $4,533,749$4.5m
126 Byron Murphy Washington Cornerback Arizona Cardinals $495k $3.8m $4,485,293$4.5m
127 Eric Kendricks California-Los Angeles Inside Linebacker Minnesota Vikings $2.0m $4,484,375$4.5m
128 Austin Corbett Nevada Center Los Angeles Rams $290k $532k $4,354,027$4.4m
129 Jon Feliciano Miami (FL) Guard Buffalo Bills $2.4m $1.5m $4,315,014$4.3m
130 Rock Ya-Sin Temple Cornerback Indianapolis Colts $495k $3.8m $4,272,420$4.3m
131 Jawaan Taylor Florida Right Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars $495k $3.7m $4,219,308$4.2m
132 Jimmie Ward Northern Illinois Safety San Francisco 49ers $2.0m $1000k $4,218,750$4.2m
133 Harrison Butker Georgia Tech Kicker Kansas City Chiefs $645k $3.5m $4,145,000$4.1m
134 Cody Ford Oklahoma Guard Buffalo Bills $495k $3.5m $4,122,727$4.1m
135 Deebo Samuel South Carolina Wide Receiver San Francisco 49ers $495k $3.6m $4,113,076$4.1m
136 Case Keenum Houston Quarterback Washington Commanders $3.5m $3.5m $4,000,000$4.0m
137 Rodney McLeod Virginia Safety Philadelphia Eagles $1.5m $4,000,000$4.0m
138 Tyler Higbee Western Kentucky Tight End Los Angeles Rams $1000k $3.0m $4,000,000$4.0m
139 Joey Bosa Ohio State Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers $720k $3,978,230$4.0m
140 Sean Bunting Central Michigan Cornerback Tampa Bay Buccaneers $495k $3.4m $3,879,360$3.9m
141 Trayvon Mullen Clemson Cornerback Las Vegas Raiders $495k $3.3m $3,794,380$3.8m
142 William Gholston Michigan State Defensive End Tampa Bay Buccaneers $3.8m $3,750,000$3.8m
143 Dalton Risner Kansas State Guard Denver Broncos $495k $3.2m $3,709,388$3.7m
144 Jalen Ramsey Florida State Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars $1.3m $2.4m $3,654,227$3.7m
145 Drew Lock Missouri Quarterback Denver Broncos $495k $3.1m $3,613,776$3.6m
146 Jahlani Tavai Hawaii Outside Linebacker Detroit Lions $495k $3.0m $3,528,796$3.5m
147 Jordan Poyer Oregon State Safety Buffalo Bills $3.0m $3,516,207$3.5m
148 Elgton Jenkins Mississippi State Guard Green Bay Packers $495k $3.0m $3,447,812$3.4m
149 Johnny Hekker Oregon State Punter Los Angeles Rams $1000k $3,250,000$3.3m
150 Thomas Morstead Southern Methodist Punter Two clubs $3.0m $3,250,000$3.3m
151 Quandre Diggs Texas Safety Seattle Seahawks $1.1m $1.6m $3,237,808$3.2m
152 Mitchell Trubisky North Carolina Quarterback Chicago Bears $645k $3,131,564$3.1m
153 Michael Pierce Samford Defensive Tackle Baltimore Ravens $3.1m $3,130,618$3.1m
154 David Andrews Georgia Center New England Patriots $2.0m $3,100,000$3.1m
155 George Fant Western Kentucky Right Tackle Seattle Seahawks $3.1m $3,095,000$3.1m
156 Ka'imi Fairbairn California-Los Angeles Kicker Houston Texans $3.1m $3,095,000$3.1m
157 Shelby Harris Illinois State Defensive Tackle Denver Broncos $3.1m $3,095,000$3.1m
158 Solomon Thomas Stanford Defensive Tackle San Francisco 49ers $645k $3,024,490$3.0m
159 Chris Boswell Rice Kicker Pittsburgh Steelers $1000k $3,000,000$3.0m
160 Rigoberto Sanchez Hawaii Punter Indianapolis Colts $645k $3,000,000$3.0m
161 Erik McCoy Texas A&M Center Tennessee Titans $495k $2.4m $2,944,512$2.9m
162 DeForest Buckner Oregon Defensive Tackle San Francisco 49ers $720k $2,930,589$2.9m
163 Dustin Hopkins Florida State Kicker Washington Commanders $2.3m $2,825,000$2.8m
164 Raheem Mostert Purdue Running Back San Francisco 49ers $1.4m $1000k $2,650,000$2.6m
165 Leonard Floyd Georgia Defensive End Chicago Bears $2.6m $2,643,815$2.6m
166 A.J. Brown Mississippi Wide Receiver Tennessee Titans $495k $2.1m $2,625,812$2.6m
167 Jack Conklin Michigan State Right Tackle Tennessee Titans $2.6m $2,617,862$2.6m
168 Bradley Pinion Clemson Punter Tampa Bay Buccaneers $805k $2,600,000$2.6m
169 Chris Conley Georgia Wide Receiver Jacksonville Jaguars $805k $1000k $2,566,666$2.6m
170 Drew Sample Washington Tight End Cincinnati Bengals $495k $2.0m $2,562,504$2.6m
171 Laken Tomlinson Duke Guard San Francisco 49ers $2.0m $2,500,000$2.5m
172 Matt Prater Central Florida Kicker Detroit Lions $2.2m $2,500,000$2.5m
173 Jamal Adams Louisiana State Safety New York Jets $645k $2,488,528$2.5m
174 Miles Sanders Penn State Running Back Philadelphia Eagles $495k $1.9m $2,406,036$2.4m
175 Greg Zuerlein Missouri Western State Kicker Los Angeles Rams $2.3m $2,325,000$2.3m
176 Lonnie Johnson Kentucky Cornerback Houston Texans $495k $1.8m $2,307,112$2.3m
177 Mike Williams Clemson Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $2.3m $2,260,448$2.3m
178 Sheldon Rankins Louisville Defensive Tackle Two clubs $2.2m $2,195,680$2.2m
179 Dak Prescott Mississippi State Quarterback Dallas Cowboys $2.0m $2,155,229$2.2m
180 Laremy Tunsil Mississippi Left Tackle Houston Texans $2.1m $2,148,770$2.1m
181 Mecole Hardman Georgia Wide Receiver Kansas City Chiefs $495k $1.7m $2,147,764$2.1m
182 De'Vondre Campbell Minnesota Outside Linebacker Atlanta Falcons $2.0m $2,132,466$2.1m
183 Maliek Collins Nebraska Defensive Tackle Dallas Cowboys $2.0m $2,120,076$2.1m
184 Matt Judon Grand Valley State Outside Linebacker Baltimore Ravens $2.0m $2,118,556$2.1m
185 Myles Garrett Texas A&M Defensive End Cleveland Browns $2.1m $2,105,605$2.1m
186 Wes Schweitzer San Jose State Center Atlanta Falcons $2.0m $2,103,314$2.1m
187 Marcedes Lewis California-Los Angeles Tight End Green Bay Packers $1.1m $500k $2,100,000$2.1m
188 Austin Hooper Stanford Tight End Atlanta Falcons $2.0m $2,095,738$2.1m
189 Christian McCaffrey Stanford Running Back Carolina Panthers $2.0m $2,081,666$2.1m
190 Eric Murray Minnesota Safety Cleveland Browns $2.0m $2,073,675$2.1m
191 Anthony Brown Purdue Cornerback Dallas Cowboys $2.0m $2,063,764$2.1m
192 Justin Simmons Boston College Safety Denver Broncos $2.0m $2,040,000$2.0m
193 D.J. Reader Clemson Defensive Tackle Houston Texans $2.0m $2,025,000$2.0m
194 Demarcus Robinson Florida Wide Receiver Kansas City Chiefs $2.0m $2,025,000$2.0m
195 Elandon Roberts Houston Inside Linebacker New England Patriots $2.0m $2,025,000$2.0m
196 Graham Glasgow Michigan Guard Detroit Lions $2.0m $2,025,000$2.0m
197 Javon Hargrave South Carolina State Defensive Tackle Pittsburgh Steelers $2.0m $2,025,000$2.0m
198 Joe Thuney North Carolina State Guard New England Patriots $2.0m $2,025,000$2.0m
199 Kendall Fuller Virginia Tech Cornerback Kansas City Chiefs $2.0m $2,025,000$2.0m
200 Quinton Jefferson Maryland Defensive Tackle Seattle Seahawks $2.0m $2,025,000$2.0m

The table holds the 200 biggest of the 683 players paid in 2019. 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 2019 money was made of

The season's payroll, split by kind of promise

Base salary 46.9%

  • Base salary 46.9%
  • Signing bonus 38.4%
  • Restructured money 7.2%
  • Roster bonus 4.4%
  • Option bonus 1.4%
  • Workout bonus 0.9%
  • Incentives 0.8%
What the money was What it means Share Paid in 2019
Base salary the weekly paycheque, and the part that stops the day a player is cut 46.9% $996,842,103$996.8m
Signing bonus paid up front and guaranteed the moment the contract is signed 38.4% $816,091,643$816.1m
Restructured money base salary converted to signing money so a deal fits under the cap 7.2% $153,402,636$153.4m
Roster bonus paid for being on the roster on a named day of the year 4.4% $94,219,275$94.2m
Option bonus paid to take up a season already written into the deal 1.4% $29,239,500$29.2m
Workout bonus paid for turning up to the offseason programme 0.9% $19,723,108$19.7m
Incentives paid for hitting a number 0.8% $16,170,079$16.2m

Base salary was only 46.9% of the 2019 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 2019 sits 6.0 points away from the long-run split. Signing bonus and base salary each have a page of their own.

What every franchise paid in 2019

The season's outlay, club by club

32 franchises

# Franchise Players paid Biggest single payday Per player Paid in 2019
01 Los Angeles Rams 28 Brandin Cooks $3.9m $108,049,756$108.0m
02 Seattle Seahawks 23 Russell Wilson $4.5m $103,976,276$104.0m
03 Green Bay Packers 22 Za'Darius Smith $4.7m $102,414,804$102.4m
04 Minnesota Vikings 23 Kirk Cousins $4.4m $101,827,093$101.8m
05 Philadelphia Eagles 28 Carson Wentz $3.5m $96,733,409$96.7m
06 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25 Jameis Winston $3.8m $94,309,906$94.3m
07 Dallas Cowboys 22 DeMarcus Lawrence $4.2m $92,957,435$93.0m
08 Las Vegas Raiders 26 Clelin Ferrell $3.5m $91,797,610$91.8m
09 San Francisco 49ers 29 Nick Bosa $3.0m $86,061,229$86.1m
10 Buffalo Bills 27 Mitch Morse $2.9m $79,152,020$79.2m
11 Detroit Lions 20 Matthew Stafford $3.9m $78,930,421$78.9m
12 Denver Broncos 23 Joe Flacco $3.2m $73,293,483$73.3m
13 Atlanta Falcons 19 Grady Jarrett $3.7m $70,638,754$70.6m
14 New York Jets 20 C.J. Mosley $3.4m $67,471,915$67.5m
15 Tennessee Titans 20 Marcus Mariota $3.2m $64,172,477$64.2m
16 New York Giants 19 Daniel Jones $3.2m $60,867,153$60.9m
17 Kansas City Chiefs 23 Tyrann Mathieu $2.4m $54,572,370$54.6m
18 Arizona Cardinals 12 Kyler Murray $4.5m $53,594,032$53.6m
19 Indianapolis Colts 24 Jacoby Brissett $2.2m $52,735,065$52.7m
20 Jacksonville Jaguars 18 Joshua Hines-Allen $2.8m $50,829,565$50.8m
21 Cincinnati Bengals 15 Andy Dalton $3.3m $49,147,870$49.1m
22 Chicago Bears 17 Khalil Mack $2.9m $48,953,604$49.0m
23 Baltimore Ravens 24 Justin Tucker $1.9m $46,582,736$46.6m
24 Los Angeles Chargers 20 Keenan Allen $2.3m $46,339,907$46.3m
25 New England Patriots 25 Stephon Gilmore $1.9m $46,331,893$46.3m
26 Cleveland Browns 21 Odell Beckham, Jr. $2.2m $46,013,962$46.0m
27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Devin Bush $2.6m $44,951,344$45.0m
28 Houston Texans 17 DeAndre Hopkins $2.6m $44,424,947$44.4m
29 Miami Dolphins 20 Terron Armstead $2.2m $43,956,893$44.0m
30 Washington Commanders 18 Brandon Scherff $2.3m $41,879,605$41.9m
31 Carolina Panthers 19 Shaq Thompson $2.1m $40,827,555$40.8m
32 New Orleans Saints 5 Demario Davis $2.1m $10,529,632$10.5m

Los Angeles Rams paid the most in 2019, $108,049,756 across 28 players. A further $32,844,333 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 2019

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

20 positions

Quarterback $362m Defensive End $301m Wide Receiver $234m Defensive Tackle $176m Inside Linebacker $140m Outside Linebacker $129m Safety $119m Cornerback $109m Guard $106m Right Tackle $102m Tight End $74m Left Tackle $64m Center $61m Running Back $53m Kicker $48m Punter $23m Long Snapper $17m Fullback $9.3m
Linebacker $583k
Tackle $493k

Quarterbacks took 17.0% of the 2019 payroll across 39 players, which is $9.3m each against $5.3m 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 2019?

Russell Wilson, $35,000,000 at Seattle Seahawks. That was 1.6% of everything the league paid out that season.

How much did the NFL pay its players in 2019?

$2,127,169,054 across 683 players, an average of $3,114,450 each. The 2019 payroll was 37.1% up on 2018, which paid $1,551,972,484.

Which team spent the most in 2019?

Los Angeles Rams, $108,049,756 across 28 players.

What was the average NFL salary in 2019?

$3,114,450 across the 683 players paid that season, against a middle figure of $928,522. The gap between those two is the top of the league: the twenty biggest paydays of 2019 were 22.2% of the whole payroll.

How much of an NFL salary is base pay?

In 2019, 46.9% of it. Signing bonus was 38.4% 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 2020 season · The 2018 season · NFL career earnings · The all-time list · Money under contract · By position · By franchise · By draft round

The biggest earners of 2019

Every season

By franchise

Elsewhere in American football