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NFL · 2021 SEASON

NFL salaries in 2021

$3,894,806,215 paid to 1,068 players in the 2021 season, ranked. Dak Prescott took $75,000,000 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 2021 payroll was 20.8% up on 2020, which paid $3,225,339,237.

PAID IN 2021 $3.89bn
BIGGEST PAYDAY $75.0m
PLAYERS PAID 1,068
AVERAGE $3.6m
SHARE OF ALL TIME 8.8%

The twenty biggest paydays of 2021

Money paid in the season, not across a career

Top twenty hold 13.9%

Dak Prescott $75m T.J. Watt $37m Trent Williams $32m Jonathan Allen $31m Leonard Williams $26m Jared Goff $26m Jimmy Garoppolo $25m Trevor Lawrence $25m Ronnie Stanley $24m Zach Wilson $24m Trey Lance $23m Patrick Mahomes $23m Aaron Rodgers $23m Kyle Pitts $22m Myles Garrett $22m Chris Jones $22m Carson Wentz $21m Jamal Adams $21m Kirk Cousins $21m Tyler Lockett $21m

The twenty names above took 13.9% of the 2021 payroll between them, out of 1,068 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 2021

The 200 biggest, ranked

1,068 players paid

# Player Position Franchise Base Signing Paid in 2021
001 Dak Prescott Mississippi State Quarterback Dallas Cowboys $2.8m $66.0m $75,000,000$75.0m
002 T.J. Watt Wisconsin Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers $1000k $35.6m $36,593,470$36.6m
003 Trent Williams Oklahoma Left Tackle San Francisco 49ers $1.6m $30.1m $32,311,755$32.3m
004 Jonathan Allen Alabama Defensive Tackle Washington Commanders $1.1m $30.0m $31,142,235$31.1m
005 Leonard Williams Southern California Defensive End New York Giants $1.1m $22.5m $26,000,000$26.0m
006 Jared Goff California Quarterback Los Angeles Rams $5.7m $25,650,000$25.6m
007 Jimmy Garoppolo Eastern Illinois Quarterback San Francisco 49ers $24.1m $25,405,870$25.4m
008 Trevor Lawrence Clemson Quarterback Jacksonville Jaguars $660k $24.1m $24,778,900$24.8m
009 Ronnie Stanley Notre Dame Left Tackle Baltimore Ravens $990k $23,750,000$23.7m
010 Zach Wilson Brigham Young Quarterback New York Jets $660k $22.9m $23,584,132$23.6m
011 Trey Lance North Dakota State Quarterback San Francisco 49ers $660k $22.2m $22,823,836$22.8m
012 Patrick Mahomes Texas Tech Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs $990k $22,806,905$22.8m
013 Aaron Rodgers California Quarterback Green Bay Packers $1.1m $14.5m $22,664,706$22.7m
014 Kyle Pitts Florida Tight End Atlanta Falcons $660k $21.3m $21,954,904$22.0m
015 Myles Garrett Texas A&M Defensive End Cleveland Browns $1.0m $21,684,000$21.7m
016 Chris Jones Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Kansas City Chiefs $1000k $21,500,000$21.5m
017 Carson Wentz North Dakota State Quarterback Indianapolis Colts $15.4m $21,305,882$21.3m
018 Jamal Adams Louisiana State Safety Seattle Seahawks $1000k $20.0m $21,000,000$21.0m
019 Kirk Cousins Michigan State Quarterback Minnesota Vikings $21.0m $21,000,000$21.0m
020 Tyler Lockett Kansas State Wide Receiver Seattle Seahawks $2.0m $19.0m $21,000,000$21.0m
021 Ryan Ramczyk Wisconsin Right Tackle Two clubs $1.5m $19.0m $20,473,216$20.5m
022 Ja'Marr Chase Louisiana State Wide Receiver Cincinnati Bengals $660k $19.8m $20,434,284$20.4m
023 Josh Allen Wyoming Quarterback Buffalo Bills $920k $16.5m $20,038,596$20.0m
024 Amari Cooper Alabama Wide Receiver Dallas Cowboys $20.0m $20,000,000$20.0m
025 Matt Judon Grand Valley State Outside Linebacker New England Patriots $1000k $18.0m $20,000,000$20.0m
026 Matthew Stafford Georgia Quarterback Los Angeles Rams $9.5m $20,000,000$20.0m
027 Trey Hendrickson Florida Atlantic Defensive End Cincinnati Bengals $3.8m $10.0m $19,976,471$20.0m
028 Derek Carr Fresno State Quarterback Las Vegas Raiders $19.5m $19,625,000$19.6m
029 Russell Wilson Wisconsin Quarterback Seattle Seahawks $19.0m $19,000,000$19.0m
030 Marlon Humphrey Alabama Cornerback Baltimore Ravens $990k $18,244,000$18.2m
031 Tre'Davious White Louisiana State Cornerback Buffalo Bills $990k $18,111,755$18.1m
032 Joe Thuney North Carolina State Guard Kansas City Chiefs $990k $17.0m $18,100,000$18.1m
033 Brandon Scherff Iowa Guard Washington Commanders $18.0m $18,036,000$18.0m
034 Bud Dupree Kentucky Outside Linebacker Tennessee Titans $1.8m $16.0m $17,911,755$17.9m
035 Marshon Lattimore Ohio State Cornerback Two clubs $990k $7.5m $17,744,000$17.7m
036 Jaylen Waddle Alabama Wide Receiver Miami Dolphins $660k $17.1m $17,718,904$17.7m
037 Jalen Ramsey Florida State Cornerback Los Angeles Rams $1.5m $17,500,000$17.5m
038 Braden Smith Auburn Right Tackle Indianapolis Colts $2.4m $15.0m $17,433,000$17.4m
039 Von Miller Texas A&M Defensive End Denver Broncos $16.8m $72k $17,277,777$17.3m
040 Khalil Mack Buffalo Outside Linebacker Chicago Bears $2.0m $17,246,000$17.2m
041 DeForest Buckner Oregon Defensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts $1000k $17,000,000$17.0m
042 DeMarcus Lawrence Boise State Defensive End Dallas Cowboys $17.0m $17,000,000$17.0m
043 Hunter Henry Arkansas Tight End New England Patriots $1000k $15.0m $17,000,000$17.0m
044 Justin Simmons Boston College Safety Denver Broncos $2.0m $15.0m $17,000,000$17.0m
045 Jonnu Smith Florida International Tight End New England Patriots $1000k $15.0m $16,941,168$16.9m
046 Joel Bitonio Nevada Guard Cleveland Browns $5.8m $10.5m $16,558,824$16.6m
047 Za'Darius Smith Kentucky Defensive End Green Bay Packers $990k $16,529,411$16.5m
048 Laremy Tunsil Mississippi Left Tackle Houston Texans $990k $16,150,000$16.1m
049 Dalvin Tomlinson Alabama Defensive Tackle Minnesota Vikings $1000k $12.5m $16,000,000$16.0m
050 Leonard Floyd Georgia Defensive End Los Angeles Rams $2.0m $14.0m $16,000,000$16.0m
051 Taylor Moton Western Michigan Right Tackle Carolina Panthers $1000k $15.0m $16,000,000$16.0m
052 Chris Godwin Penn State Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers $16.0m $15,983,000$16.0m
053 Adoree' Jackson Southern California Cornerback New York Giants $1.5m $13.5m $15,764,699$15.8m
054 Mike Williams Clemson Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $15.7m $15,680,000$15.7m
055 Tyreek Hill West Alabama Wide Receiver Kansas City Chiefs $990k $15,600,500$15.6m
056 Penei Sewell Oregon Right Tackle Detroit Lions $660k $14.9m $15,546,596$15.5m
057 Odell Beckham, Jr. Louisiana State Wide Receiver Cleveland Browns $14.5m $750k $15,500,000$15.5m
058 Dion Dawkins Temple Left Tackle Buffalo Bills $7.3m $15,300,000$15.3m
059 Stefon Diggs Maryland Wide Receiver Buffalo Bills $990k $15,108,333$15.1m
060 Arik Armstead Oregon Defensive End San Francisco 49ers $6.7m $15,000,000$15.0m
061 Tyrann Mathieu Louisiana State Safety Kansas City Chiefs $14.6m $14,800,000$14.8m
062 Ryan Kelly Alabama Center Indianapolis Colts $1000k $14,650,000$14.6m
063 Harrison Smith Notre Dame Safety Minnesota Vikings $1.1m $9.6m $14,544,115$14.5m
064 James Bradberry Samford Cornerback New York Giants $1.8m $14,250,000$14.3m
065 Aaron Jones Texas El-Paso Running Back Green Bay Packers $1000k $13.0m $14,226,460$14.2m
066 Shaquill Griffin Central Florida Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars $1000k $12.0m $13,911,754$13.9m
067 Cameron Jordan California Defensive End Two clubs $1.1m $13,900,000$13.9m
068 Cam Robinson Alabama Left Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars $13.8m $13,754,000$13.8m
069 DeAndre Hopkins Clemson Wide Receiver Arizona Cardinals $4.8m $13,750,000$13.8m
070 Joey Bosa Ohio State Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers $13.8m $13,750,000$13.8m
071 Lane Johnson Oklahoma Right Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $1.1m $13,715,000$13.7m
072 Grady Jarrett Clemson Defensive Tackle Atlanta Falcons $13.5m $13,500,000$13.5m
073 Jerome Baker Ohio State Inside Linebacker Miami Dolphins $920k $12.5m $13,420,000$13.4m
074 Bobby Wagner Utah State Inside Linebacker Seattle Seahawks $13.1m $13,400,000$13.4m
075 Curtis Samuel Ohio State Wide Receiver Washington Commanders $1000k $12.0m $13,375,000$13.4m
076 Jaycee Horn South Carolina Cornerback Carolina Panthers $660k $12.7m $13,374,288$13.4m
077 Patrick Surtain II Alabama Cornerback Denver Broncos $660k $12.6m $13,265,548$13.3m
078 Zack Martin Notre Dame Guard Dallas Cowboys $1.6m $13,260,000$13.3m
079 John Johnson Boston College Safety Cleveland Browns $1.3m $12.0m $13,250,000$13.2m
080 Fred Warner Brigham Young Inside Linebacker San Francisco 49ers $920k $12.3m $13,240,000$13.2m
081 Brandin Cooks Oregon State Wide Receiver Houston Texans $2.5m $13,141,168$13.1m
082 Matt Milano Boston College Outside Linebacker Buffalo Bills $5.5m $7.0m $13,044,118$13.0m
083 Danielle Hunter Louisiana State Defensive End Minnesota Vikings $7.2m $13,044,110$13.0m
084 Brandon Graham Michigan Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles $1.1m $13,000,000$13.0m
085 Cooper Kupp Eastern Washington Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $1.5m $13,000,000$13.0m
086 Jake Matthews Texas A&M Left Tackle Atlanta Falcons $1.1m $13,000,000$13.0m
087 Keenan Allen California Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $13.0m $13,000,000$13.0m
088 Taylor Decker Ohio State Left Tackle Detroit Lions $1000k $13,000,000$13.0m
089 Nick Chubb Georgia Running Back Cleveland Browns $920k $12.0m $12,920,000$12.9m
090 Javon Hargrave South Carolina State Defensive Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $990k $12,750,000$12.7m
091 Davante Adams Fresno State Wide Receiver Green Bay Packers $12.2m $12,687,500$12.7m
092 DeVonta Smith Alabama Wide Receiver Philadelphia Eagles $660k $12.0m $12,668,284$12.7m
093 Darius Slay Mississippi State Cornerback Philadelphia Eagles $1.1m $12,500,000$12.5m
094 Lavonte David Nebraska Inside Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers $1.1m $11.4m $12,500,000$12.5m
095 Robert Woods Southern California Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $2.5m $12,500,000$12.5m
096 Mike Evans Texas A&M Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers $1.1m $12,250,000$12.2m
097 Taysom Hill Brigham Young Tight End New Orleans Saints $1.0m $11.1m $12,159,000$12.2m
098 Nelson Agholor Southern California Wide Receiver New England Patriots $1000k $10.0m $11,882,345$11.9m
099 Travis Kelce Cincinnati Tight End Kansas City Chiefs $5.3m $11,805,872$11.8m
100 Justin Fields Ohio State Quarterback Chicago Bears $660k $11.1m $11,745,060$11.7m
101 Kevin Byard Middle Tennessee State Safety Tennessee Titans $11.2m $11,700,000$11.7m
102 Adam Thielen Minnesota-Mankato Wide Receiver Minnesota Vikings $1.1m $11,582,343$11.6m
103 Austin Hooper Stanford Tight End Cleveland Browns $4.5m $11,500,000$11.5m
104 Kolton Miller California-Los Angeles Left Tackle Las Vegas Raiders $9.5m $11,500,000$11.5m
105 Mark Andrews Oklahoma Tight End Baltimore Ravens $920k $10.2m $11,333,055$11.3m
106 Sam Hubbard Ohio State Defensive End Cincinnati Bengals $1000k $10.0m $11,191,176$11.2m
107 Budda Baker Washington Safety Arizona Cardinals $4.0m $11,100,000$11.1m
108 Jordan Mailata Left Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $850k $10.2m $11,100,000$11.1m
109 Terron Armstead Arkansas-Pine Bluff Left Tackle Miami Dolphins $1.1m $10,967,500$11.0m
110 Dallas Goedert South Dakota State Tight End Philadelphia Eagles $734k $10.2m $10,951,636$11.0m
111 Josh Sweat Florida State Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles $920k $10.0m $10,920,000$10.9m
112 Shaq Thompson Washington Inside Linebacker Carolina Panthers $990k $10,891,754$10.9m
113 Marcus Maye Florida Safety New York Jets $10.6m $10,612,000$10.6m
114 Marcus Williams Utah Safety Baltimore Ravens $10.6m $10,612,000$10.6m
115 Deshaun Watson Clemson Quarterback Houston Texans $10.5m $10,540,000$10.5m
116 Cameron Heyward Ohio State Defensive End Pittsburgh Steelers $1.1m $10,500,000$10.5m
117 Derrick Henry Alabama Running Back Tennessee Titans $10.5m $10,500,000$10.5m
118 Tyron Smith Southern California Left Tackle Dallas Cowboys $1.6m $10,500,000$10.5m
119 Micah Parsons Penn State Defensive End Dallas Cowboys $660k $9.8m $10,441,668$10.4m
120 Michael Davis Brigham Young Cornerback Los Angeles Chargers $4.0m $6.0m $10,352,935$10.4m
121 Rashawn Slater Northwestern Left Tackle Los Angeles Chargers $660k $9.5m $10,115,824$10.1m
122 Derek Barnett Tennessee Defensive End Philadelphia Eagles $990k $10,051,000$10.1m
123 Andy Dalton Texas Christian Quarterback Chicago Bears $2.5m $7.5m $10,000,000$10.0m
124 Calais Campbell Miami (FL) Defensive End Baltimore Ravens $2.0m $10,000,000$10.0m
125 Jack Conklin Michigan State Right Tackle Cleveland Browns $10.0m $10,000,000$10.0m
126 Jordan Phillips Oklahoma Defensive Tackle Arizona Cardinals $3.5m $10,000,000$10.0m
127 Kendall Fuller Virginia Tech Cornerback Washington Commanders $10.0m $10,000,000$10.0m
128 Kevin Zeitler Wisconsin Guard Baltimore Ravens $1.1m $8.9m $10,000,000$10.0m
129 Ronald Darby Florida State Cornerback Denver Broncos $1000k $9.0m $10,000,000$10.0m
130 Shelby Harris Illinois State Defensive Tackle Denver Broncos $1000k $9.0m $10,000,000$10.0m
131 Rayshawn Jenkins Miami (FL) Safety Jacksonville Jaguars $1000k $8.0m $9,911,754$9.9m
132 Ezekiel Elliott Ohio State Running Back Dallas Cowboys $1000k $9,600,000$9.6m
133 Alijah Vera-Tucker Southern California Guard New York Jets $660k $8.9m $9,572,748$9.6m
134 D.J. Reader Clemson Defensive Tackle Cincinnati Bengals $4.3m $9,500,000$9.5m
135 Mac Jones Alabama Quarterback New England Patriots $660k $8.7m $9,355,528$9.4m
136 Preston Smith Mississippi State Defensive End Green Bay Packers $1000k $6.5m $9,232,353$9.2m
137 Eddie Jackson Alabama Safety Chicago Bears $1000k $9,050,000$9.0m
138 Chidobe Awuzie Colorado Cornerback Cincinnati Bengals $1.4m $4.5m $9,038,235$9.0m
139 Andrus Peat Stanford Guard Las Vegas Raiders $1000k $9,010,000$9.0m
140 Jimmie Ward Northern Illinois Safety San Francisco 49ers $1.1m $8,970,576$9.0m
141 George Fant Western Kentucky Right Tackle New York Jets $8.5m $8,852,935$8.9m
142 Roy Robertson-Harris Texas El-Paso Defensive Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars $1000k $7.0m $8,729,406$8.7m
143 Graham Glasgow Michigan Guard Denver Broncos $8.4m $8,705,877$8.7m
144 Zaven Collins Tulsa Defensive End Arizona Cardinals $660k $8.0m $8,703,824$8.7m
145 Zach Ertz Stanford Tight End Arizona Cardinals $2.8m $5.7m $8,500,000$8.5m
146 Eric Kendricks California-Los Angeles Inside Linebacker Minnesota Vikings $8.2m $8,470,575$8.5m
147 Tyler Boyd Pittsburgh Wide Receiver Cincinnati Bengals $8.0m $8,435,294$8.4m
148 Mike Hilton Mississippi Cornerback Cincinnati Bengals $2.0m $4.0m $8,352,941$8.4m
149 Christian McCaffrey Stanford Running Back Carolina Panthers $990k $8,237,500$8.2m
150 Jaelan Phillips Miami (FL) Outside Linebacker Miami Dolphins $660k $7.6m $8,215,056$8.2m
151 Courtland Sutton Southern Methodist Wide Receiver Denver Broncos $2.2m $6.0m $8,183,000$8.2m
152 Jamin Davis Kentucky Outside Linebacker Washington Commanders $660k $7.4m $8,052,128$8.1m
153 JuJu Smith-Schuster Southern California Wide Receiver Pittsburgh Steelers $1000k $7.0m $8,000,000$8.0m
154 Kwity Paye Michigan Defensive End Indianapolis Colts $660k $7.3m $7,943,515$7.9m
155 Linval Joseph East Carolina Defensive Tackle Los Angeles Chargers $5.5m $7,900,000$7.9m
156 Christian Darrisaw Virginia Tech Left Tackle Minnesota Vikings $660k $7.1m $7,726,284$7.7m
157 Trenton Brown Florida Right Tackle New England Patriots $6.5m $7,588,235$7.6m
158 Denico Autry Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Tennessee Titans $1.1m $6.0m $7,511,754$7.5m
159 Najee Harris Alabama Running Back Pittsburgh Steelers $660k $6.8m $7,509,052$7.5m
160 Davon Godchaux Louisiana State Defensive Tackle New England Patriots $1000k $5.5m $7,500,000$7.5m
161 Emmanuel Ogbah Oklahoma State Defensive End Miami Dolphins $7.5m $7,500,000$7.5m
162 Michael Dickson Texas Punter Seattle Seahawks $1000k $6.5m $7,500,000$7.5m
163 Jadeveon Clowney South Carolina Outside Linebacker Cleveland Browns $2.5m $4.5m $7,470,588$7.5m
164 Deatrich Wise Arkansas Defensive End New England Patriots $1000k $5.0m $7,441,168$7.4m
165 Travis Etienne Clemson Running Back Jacksonville Jaguars $660k $6.7m $7,400,440$7.4m
166 Greg Newsome Northwestern Cornerback Cleveland Browns $660k $6.6m $7,291,808$7.3m
167 Frank Ragnow Arkansas Center Detroit Lions $1.2m $6.0m $7,209,111$7.2m
168 Rashod Bateman Minnesota Wide Receiver Baltimore Ravens $660k $6.5m $7,183,208$7.2m
169 Wyatt Teller Virginia Tech Guard Cleveland Browns $1.6m $5.6m $7,183,000$7.2m
170 David Onyemata Manitoba Defensive Tackle Two clubs $660k $7,170,000$7.2m
171 Payton Turner Houston Defensive End Two clubs $660k $6.5m $7,128,900$7.1m
172 Jerry Hughes Texas Christian Defensive End Buffalo Bills $6.1m $7,100,000$7.1m
173 Kyle Van Noy Brigham Young Outside Linebacker New England Patriots $1.1m $4.9m $7,000,000$7.0m
174 Nyheim Hines North Carolina State Running Back Indianapolis Colts $1000k $6.0m $7,000,000$7.0m
175 Grover Stewart Albany State Defensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts $5.7m $6,980,000$7.0m
176 Shaq Mason Georgia Tech Guard New England Patriots $6.0m $6,882,345$6.9m
177 Tyler Higbee Western Kentucky Tight End Los Angeles Rams $1.0m $6,875,000$6.9m
178 Jordan Poyer Oregon State Safety Buffalo Bills $1.1m $6,851,464$6.9m
179 Jabrill Peppers Michigan Safety New York Giants $6.8m $6,770,000$6.8m
180 Kendrick Bourne Eastern Washington Wide Receiver New England Patriots $1000k $4.3m $6,750,000$6.8m
181 Rob Havenstein Wisconsin Right Tackle Los Angeles Rams $2.9m $6,750,000$6.8m
182 Daniel Carlson Auburn Kicker Las Vegas Raiders $2.7m $4.0m $6,699,556$6.7m
183 Eric Stokes Georgia Cornerback Green Bay Packers $660k $6.0m $6,693,108$6.7m
184 Avonte Maddox Pittsburgh Cornerback Philadelphia Eagles $1.6m $5.1m $6,682,997$6.7m
185 Vita Vea Washington Defensive Tackle Tampa Bay Buccaneers $2.5m $4.1m $6,648,632$6.6m
186 Cody Whitehair Kansas State Center Chicago Bears $1000k $6,500,000$6.5m
187 Greg Rousseau Miami (FL) Defensive End Buffalo Bills $660k $5.8m $6,462,328$6.5m
188 Kenny Moore Valdosta State Cornerback Indianapolis Colts $6.2m $6,400,000$6.4m
189 Demario Davis Arkansas State Inside Linebacker New Orleans Saints $1.1m $6,300,000$6.3m
190 Odafe Oweh Penn State Outside Linebacker Baltimore Ravens $660k $5.6m $6,269,012$6.3m
191 Larry Ogunjobi Charlotte Defensive End Cincinnati Bengals $1.4m $4.6m $6,176,471$6.2m
192 Quandre Diggs Texas Safety Seattle Seahawks $1000k $6,150,000$6.2m
193 Joe Tryon Washington Outside Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers $660k $5.5m $6,144,536$6.1m
194 Stephon Gilmore South Carolina Cornerback Carolina Panthers $5.9m $6,091,505$6.1m
195 David Njoku Miami (FL) Tight End Cleveland Browns $6.0m $6,013,000$6.0m
196 Evan Engram Mississippi Tight End New York Giants $6.0m $6,013,000$6.0m
197 C.J. Mosley Alabama Inside Linebacker New York Jets $6.0m $6,000,000$6.0m
198 Case Keenum Houston Quarterback Cleveland Browns $6.0m $6,000,000$6.0m
199 Dante Fowler Jr. Florida Defensive End Atlanta Falcons $6.0m $6,000,000$6.0m
200 Gerald Everett South Alabama Tight End Seattle Seahawks $2.0m $4.0m $6,000,000$6.0m

The table holds the 200 biggest of the 1,068 players paid in 2021. 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 2021 money was made of

The season's payroll, split by kind of promise

Base salary 41.8%

  • Base salary 41.8%
  • Signing bonus 36.9%
  • Restructured money 5.2%
  • Roster bonus 12.9%
  • Option bonus 2.4%
  • Workout bonus 0.4%
  • Incentives 0.3%
What the money was What it means Share Paid in 2021
Base salary the weekly paycheque, and the part that stops the day a player is cut 41.8% $1,636,419,703$1.64bn
Signing bonus paid up front and guaranteed the moment the contract is signed 36.9% $1,444,562,788$1.44bn
Roster bonus paid for being on the roster on a named day of the year 12.9% $505,241,996$505.2m
Restructured money base salary converted to signing money so a deal fits under the cap 5.2% $203,796,267$203.8m
Option bonus paid to take up a season already written into the deal 2.4% $95,552,888$95.6m
Workout bonus paid for turning up to the offseason programme 0.4% $16,701,865$16.7m
Incentives paid for hitting a number 0.3% $10,997,184$11.0m

Base salary was only 41.8% of the 2021 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 2021 sits 11.1 points away from the long-run split. Signing bonus and base salary each have a page of their own.

What every franchise paid in 2021

The season's outlay, club by club

32 franchises

# Franchise Players paid Biggest single payday Per player Paid in 2021
01 Dallas Cowboys 34 Dak Prescott $5.8m $196,736,526$196.7m
02 San Francisco 49ers 53 Trent Williams $3.6m $189,993,539$190.0m
03 Cleveland Browns 35 Myles Garrett $5.0m $176,124,409$176.1m
04 New England Patriots 41 Matt Judon $3.8m $155,723,772$155.7m
05 Los Angeles Rams 36 Jared Goff $4.3m $154,576,092$154.6m
06 Buffalo Bills 40 Josh Allen $3.8m $152,430,178$152.4m
07 Kansas City Chiefs 37 Patrick Mahomes $4.0m $147,029,867$147.0m
08 Philadelphia Eagles 36 Lane Johnson $4.1m $146,653,080$146.7m
09 Baltimore Ravens 40 Ronnie Stanley $3.5m $139,080,057$139.1m
10 Indianapolis Colts 35 Carson Wentz $3.8m $133,089,018$133.1m
11 Cincinnati Bengals 34 Ja'Marr Chase $3.9m $131,543,489$131.5m
12 Minnesota Vikings 37 Kirk Cousins $3.4m $126,475,800$126.5m
13 Denver Broncos 37 Von Miller $3.4m $124,454,532$124.5m
14 Seattle Seahawks 30 Jamal Adams $4.1m $123,392,603$123.4m
15 Jacksonville Jaguars 28 Trevor Lawrence $4.3m $120,807,574$120.8m
16 Green Bay Packers 34 Aaron Rodgers $3.5m $120,608,800$120.6m
17 Washington Commanders 33 Jonathan Allen $3.5m $115,854,356$115.9m
18 New York Jets 38 Zach Wilson $3.0m $114,186,975$114.2m
19 Miami Dolphins 33 Jaylen Waddle $3.2m $106,849,907$106.8m
20 New York Giants 26 Leonard Williams $4.1m $105,728,139$105.7m
21 Los Angeles Chargers 28 Mike Williams $3.7m $103,045,987$103.0m
22 Carolina Panthers 25 Taylor Moton $3.9m $98,433,283$98.4m
23 Pittsburgh Steelers 27 T.J. Watt $3.6m $98,061,702$98.1m
24 Las Vegas Raiders 32 Derek Carr $3.0m $97,306,862$97.3m
25 Houston Texans 36 Laremy Tunsil $2.7m $96,672,174$96.7m
26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29 Chris Godwin $3.3m $95,681,021$95.7m
27 Chicago Bears 28 Khalil Mack $3.3m $92,151,063$92.2m
28 Atlanta Falcons 33 Kyle Pitts $2.7m $90,057,488$90.1m
29 Arizona Cardinals 26 DeAndre Hopkins $3.3m $85,825,287$85.8m
30 Tennessee Titans 31 Bud Dupree $2.5m $78,797,015$78.8m
31 Detroit Lions 32 Penei Sewell $2.2m $70,796,254$70.8m
32 New Orleans Saints 7 Taysom Hill $3.6m $25,322,675$25.3m

Dallas Cowboys paid the most in 2021, $196,736,526 across 34 players. A further $81,316,691 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 2021

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

21 positions

Quarterback $486m Wide Receiver $432m Defensive End $403m Cornerback $364m Defensive Tackle $322m Outside Linebacker $277m Safety $265m Left Tackle $219m Tight End $213m Guard $200m Inside Linebacker $163m Right Tackle $160m Running Back $155m Center $91m Kicker $58m Punter $41m Long Snapper $26m Fullback $16m
Tackle $2.1m
Offensive Line $978k
Linebacker $698k

Quarterbacks took 12.5% of the 2021 payroll across 57 players, which is $8.5m each against $4.0m 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 2021?

Dak Prescott, $75,000,000 at Dallas Cowboys. That was 1.9% of everything the league paid out that season.

How much did the NFL pay its players in 2021?

$3,894,806,215 across 1,068 players, an average of $3,646,822 each. The 2021 payroll was 20.8% up on 2020, which paid $3,225,339,237.

Which team spent the most in 2021?

Dallas Cowboys, $196,736,526 across 34 players.

What was the average NFL salary in 2021?

$3,646,822 across the 1,068 players paid that season, against a middle figure of $1,246,819. The gap between those two is the top of the league: the twenty biggest paydays of 2021 were 13.9% of the whole payroll.

How much of an NFL salary is base pay?

In 2021, 41.8% of it. Signing bonus was 36.9% 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 2022 season · The 2020 season · NFL career earnings · The all-time list · Money under contract · By position · By franchise · By draft round

The biggest earners of 2021

Every season

By franchise

Elsewhere in American football