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NFL · 2023 SEASON

NFL salaries in 2023

$6,672,518,980 paid to 1,695 players in the 2023 season, ranked. Lamar Jackson took $80,000,000 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 2023 payroll was 23.3% up on 2022, which paid $5,412,484,754.

PAID IN 2023 $6.67bn
BIGGEST PAYDAY $80.0m
PLAYERS PAID 1,695
AVERAGE $3.9m
SHARE OF ALL TIME 15.1%

The twenty biggest paydays of 2023

Money paid in the season, not across a career

Top twenty hold 11.7%

Lamar Jackson $80m Patrick Mahomes $59m Nick Bosa $51m Daniel Jones $46m Deshaun Watson $46m Joe Burrow $46m Rashan Gary $40m Kyler Murray $39m Aaron Rodgers $37m Chris Lindstrom $36m Orlando Brown Jr. $34m Laremy Tunsil $32m Daron Payne $31m Dak Prescott $31m Derek Carr $30m Kirk Cousins $30m Josh Allen $28m Russell Wilson $28m Geno Smith $27m Matthew Stafford $27m

The twenty names above took 11.7% of the 2023 payroll between them, out of 1,695 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 2023

The 200 biggest, ranked

1,695 players paid

# Player Position Franchise Base Signing Paid in 2023
001 Lamar Jackson Louisville Quarterback Baltimore Ravens $7.5m $72.5m $80,000,000$80.0m
002 Patrick Mahomes Texas Tech Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs $1.3m $20.6m $59,350,000$59.3m
003 Nick Bosa Ohio State Defensive End San Francisco 49ers $1.0m $50.0m $51,010,000$51.0m
004 Daniel Jones Duke Quarterback New York Giants $1.1m $36.0m $46,000,000$46.0m
005 Deshaun Watson Clemson Quarterback Cleveland Browns $1.1m $46,000,000$46.0m
006 Joe Burrow Louisiana State Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals $1.0m $40.0m $45,545,018$45.5m
007 Rashan Gary Michigan Defensive End Green Bay Packers $4.9m $34.6m $39,532,718$39.5m
008 Kyler Murray Oklahoma Quarterback Arizona Cardinals $2.0m $39,026,552$39.0m
009 Aaron Rodgers California Quarterback New York Jets $1.8m $35.0m $36,888,888$36.9m
010 Chris Lindstrom Boston College Guard Atlanta Falcons $4.2m $27.5m $35,779,024$35.8m
011 Orlando Brown Jr. Oklahoma Left Tackle Cincinnati Bengals $1.5m $31.1m $33,679,000$33.7m
012 Laremy Tunsil Mississippi Left Tackle Houston Texans $2.0m $30.0m $32,355,870$32.4m
013 Daron Payne Alabama Defensive Tackle Washington Commanders $2.5m $28.0m $31,010,000$31.0m
014 Dak Prescott Mississippi State Quarterback Dallas Cowboys $1.7m $31,000,000$31.0m
015 Derek Carr Fresno State Quarterback Two clubs $1.5m $28.5m $30,000,000$30.0m
016 Kirk Cousins Michigan State Quarterback Minnesota Vikings $10.0m $30,000,000$30.0m
017 Josh Allen Wyoming Quarterback Buffalo Bills $1.1m $28,000,000$28.0m
018 Russell Wilson Wisconsin Quarterback Denver Broncos $8.0m $28,000,000$28.0m
019 Geno Smith West Virginia Quarterback Seattle Seahawks $1.2m $26.1m $27,500,000$27.5m
020 Matthew Stafford Georgia Quarterback Los Angeles Rams $1.5m $27,500,000$27.5m
021 Roquan Smith Georgia Inside Linebacker Baltimore Ravens $4.5m $22.5m $27,000,000$27.0m
022 Davante Adams Fresno State Wide Receiver Las Vegas Raiders $6.0m $26,640,000$26.6m
023 Tyreek Hill West Alabama Wide Receiver Miami Dolphins $1.2m $26,350,000$26.4m
024 Quinnen Williams Alabama Defensive Tackle New York Jets $1.1m $24.5m $26,094,000$26.1m
025 Jared Goff California Quarterback Detroit Lions $21.0m $25,975,000$26.0m
026 Jeffery Simmons Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Tennessee Titans $1.3m $24.0m $25,506,460$25.5m
027 Bryce Young Alabama Quarterback Carolina Panthers $750k $24.6m $25,353,688$25.4m
028 Javon Hargrave South Carolina State Defensive Tackle San Francisco 49ers $1.2m $23.0m $24,926,755$24.9m
029 Stefon Diggs Maryland Wide Receiver Buffalo Bills $1.2m $24,415,000$24.4m
030 Jalen Hurts Oklahoma Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles $1.0m $23.3m $24,304,000$24.3m
031 Dexter Lawrence Clemson Defensive Tackle New York Giants $1.1m $22.0m $24,253,000$24.3m
032 C.J. Stroud Ohio State Quarterback Houston Texans $750k $23.4m $24,134,904$24.1m
033 Joey Bosa Ohio State Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers $1.2m $24,000,000$24.0m
034 Dre'Mont Jones Ohio State Defensive End Seattle Seahawks $3.0m $20.0m $23,510,000$23.5m
035 Will Anderson Alabama Defensive End Houston Texans $750k $22.6m $23,359,328$23.4m
036 Jimmy Garoppolo Eastern Illinois Quarterback Las Vegas Raiders $1.2m $23,350,000$23.4m
037 Jessie Bates III Wake Forest Safety Atlanta Falcons $1.1m $18.0m $23,112,346$23.1m
038 Khalil Mack Buffalo Outside Linebacker Los Angeles Chargers $1.2m $22,900,000$22.9m
039 Denzel Ward Ohio State Cornerback Cleveland Browns $4.0m $22,899,822$22.9m
040 Chris Jones Mississippi State Defensive Tackle Kansas City Chiefs $18.4m $4.3m $22,666,667$22.7m
041 Anthony Richardson Florida Quarterback Indianapolis Colts $750k $21.7m $22,472,932$22.5m
042 Tremaine Edmunds Virginia Tech Inside Linebacker Chicago Bears $2.4m $9.7m $22,000,000$22.0m
043 Montez Sweat Mississippi State Defensive End Chicago Bears $639k $5.1m $21,506,489$21.5m
044 Trevon Diggs Alabama Cornerback Dallas Cowboys $1.1m $20.0m $21,054,000$21.1m
045 Devon Witherspoon Illinois Cornerback Seattle Seahawks $750k $20.2m $20,921,748$20.9m
046 Tytus Howard Alabama State Right Tackle Houston Texans $2.2m $18.0m $20,407,877$20.4m
047 D.J. Moore Maryland Wide Receiver Chicago Bears $20.0m $20,165,000$20.2m
048 Trent Williams Oklahoma Left Tackle San Francisco 49ers $1.2m $20,117,638$20.1m
049 Amari Cooper Alabama Wide Receiver Cleveland Browns $20.0m $20,000,000$20.0m
050 Chris Godwin Penn State Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers $1.1m $20,000,000$20.0m
051 Cooper Kupp Eastern Washington Wide Receiver Los Angeles Rams $1.1m $20,000,000$20.0m
052 Danielle Hunter Louisiana State Defensive End Minnesota Vikings $10.0m $5.5m $20,000,000$20.0m
053 Jawaan Taylor Florida Right Tackle Kansas City Chiefs $1.1m $18.9m $20,000,000$20.0m
054 Lane Johnson Oklahoma Right Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $1.2m $18.8m $20,000,000$20.0m
055 Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame Right Tackle Denver Broncos $2.5m $17.5m $20,000,000$20.0m
056 T.J. Watt Wisconsin Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers $20.0m $20,000,000$20.0m
057 DeForest Buckner Oregon Defensive Tackle Indianapolis Colts $13.8m $19,750,000$19.8m
058 Bradley Chubb North Carolina State Outside Linebacker Miami Dolphins $1.1m $19,500,000$19.5m
059 T.J. Hockenson Iowa Tight End Minnesota Vikings $1.4m $18.0m $19,392,000$19.4m
060 Keenan Allen California Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $1.2m $19,000,000$19.0m
061 Brian O'Neill Pittsburgh Right Tackle Minnesota Vikings $1.1m $4.0m $18,911,754$18.9m
062 Zack Martin Notre Dame Guard Dallas Cowboys $1.3m $5.8m $18,850,000$18.8m
063 Paris Johnson Ohio State Left Tackle Arizona Cardinals $750k $17.4m $18,322,113$18.3m
064 Terron Armstead Arkansas-Pine Bluff Left Tackle Miami Dolphins $1.2m $18,179,407$18.2m
065 Trey Hendrickson Florida Atlantic Defensive End Cincinnati Bengals $6.8m $8.0m $18,000,000$18.0m
066 Maxx Crosby Eastern Michigan Defensive End Las Vegas Raiders $7.5m $17,882,000$17.9m
067 Taylor Moton Western Michigan Right Tackle Carolina Panthers $1.1m $17,800,000$17.8m
068 Maliek Collins Nebraska Defensive Tackle Houston Texans $2.0m $15.0m $17,470,576$17.5m
069 Leonard Williams Southern California Defensive End New York Giants $8.0m $647k $17,352,778$17.4m
070 Ed Oliver Houston Defensive Tackle Buffalo Bills $2.0m $14.8m $17,278,000$17.3m
071 Myles Garrett Texas A&M Defensive End Cleveland Browns $1.1m $17,250,000$17.3m
072 Zach Allen Boston College Defensive End Denver Broncos $2.3m $15.0m $17,250,000$17.3m
073 Justin Herbert Oregon Quarterback Los Angeles Chargers $1.0m $16.1m $17,138,376$17.1m
074 Alex Highsmith Charlotte Outside Linebacker Pittsburgh Steelers $1.0m $16.0m $17,010,000$17.0m
075 C.J. Mosley Alabama Inside Linebacker New York Jets $17.0m $17,000,000$17.0m
076 Cameron Jordan California Defensive End Two clubs $1.2m $16,817,647$16.8m
077 Uchenna Nwosu Southern California Outside Linebacker Seattle Seahawks $1.6m $15.0m $16,600,000$16.6m
078 Grady Jarrett Clemson Defensive Tackle Atlanta Falcons $16.5m $16,515,472$16.5m
079 Dalvin Tomlinson Alabama Defensive Tackle Cleveland Browns $1.1m $15.1m $16,400,280$16.4m
080 Christian Kirk Texas A&M Wide Receiver Jacksonville Jaguars $1.1m $16,352,932$16.4m
081 Terence Steele Texas Tech Right Tackle Dallas Cowboys $1.3m $15.0m $16,304,000$16.3m
082 Haason Reddick Temple Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles $1.1m $16,250,000$16.3m
083 Kenny Clark California-Los Angeles Defensive Tackle Green Bay Packers $1.2m $16,250,000$16.3m
084 Jake Matthews Texas A&M Left Tackle Atlanta Falcons $3.1m $16,108,796$16.1m
085 David Onyemata Manitoba Defensive Tackle Atlanta Falcons $1.2m $12.0m $16,033,263$16.0m
086 Andrew Thomas Georgia Left Tackle New York Giants $1.0m $15.0m $16,020,762$16.0m
087 Brian Burns Florida State Outside Linebacker Carolina Panthers $16.0m $16,012,000$16.0m
088 Braden Smith Auburn Right Tackle Indianapolis Colts $16.0m $16,000,000$16.0m
089 Marcus Williams Utah Safety Baltimore Ravens $1.1m $16,000,000$16.0m
090 Odell Beckham, Jr. Louisiana State Wide Receiver Baltimore Ravens $1.2m $13.8m $16,000,000$16.0m
091 Tyree Wilson Texas Tech Defensive End Las Vegas Raiders $750k $15.2m $15,935,816$15.9m
092 Cameron Heyward Ohio State Defensive End Pittsburgh Steelers $15.8m $15,850,000$15.8m
093 Joe Thuney North Carolina State Guard Kansas City Chiefs $1.9m $15,500,000$15.5m
094 Jonathan Allen Alabama Defensive Tackle Washington Commanders $14.0m $15,441,168$15.4m
095 Emmanuel Ogbah Oklahoma State Defensive End Miami Dolphins $15.0m $15,308,820$15.3m
096 Ben Powers Oklahoma Guard Denver Broncos $2.0m $13.0m $15,000,000$15.0m
097 DeMarcus Lawrence Boise State Defensive End Dallas Cowboys $1.7m $15,000,000$15.0m
098 Evan Engram Mississippi Tight End Jacksonville Jaguars $2.0m $12.5m $15,000,000$15.0m
099 Foyesade Oluokun Yale Inside Linebacker Jacksonville Jaguars $1.1m $15,000,000$15.0m
100 Harold Landry Boston College Outside Linebacker Tennessee Titans $4.0m $15,000,000$15.0m
101 Brandon Scherff Iowa Guard Jacksonville Jaguars $1.2m $14,941,184$14.9m
102 Von Miller Texas A&M Defensive End Buffalo Bills $1.3m $14,910,000$14.9m
103 Carlton Davis Auburn Cornerback Tampa Bay Buccaneers $1.1m $14,852,944$14.9m
104 Jordan Mailata Left Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $1.1m $14,750,000$14.8m
105 Marshon Lattimore Ohio State Cornerback Two clubs $1.1m $14,500,000$14.5m
106 Mike Evans Texas A&M Wide Receiver Tampa Bay Buccaneers $13.0m $14,500,000$14.5m
107 Minkah Fitzpatrick Alabama Safety Pittsburgh Steelers $1.1m $14,500,000$14.5m
108 Courtland Sutton Southern Methodist Wide Receiver Denver Broncos $14.0m $14,470,576$14.5m
109 Justin Simmons Boston College Safety Denver Broncos $14.4m $14,400,000$14.4m
110 Budda Baker Washington Safety Arizona Cardinals $13.1m $14,276,048$14.3m
111 Kolton Miller California-Los Angeles Left Tackle Las Vegas Raiders $14.2m $14,275,000$14.3m
112 Matt Judon Grand Valley State Outside Linebacker New England Patriots $7.0m $7.0m $14,235,292$14.2m
113 D.K. Metcalf Mississippi Wide Receiver Seattle Seahawks $2.2m $14,220,000$14.2m
114 Bobby Okereke Stanford Inside Linebacker New York Giants $1.1m $12.0m $14,000,000$14.0m
115 Charvarius Ward Middle Tennessee State Cornerback San Francisco 49ers $1.1m $14,000,000$14.0m
116 Derwin James Florida State Safety Los Angeles Chargers $2.0m $14,000,000$14.0m
117 Garett Bolles Utah Left Tackle Denver Broncos $13.8m $14,000,000$14.0m
118 Quandre Diggs Texas Safety Seattle Seahawks $1.2m $14,000,000$14.0m
119 Ryan Ramczyk Wisconsin Right Tackle Two clubs $1.1m $14,000,000$14.0m
120 Taylor Decker Ohio State Left Tackle Detroit Lions $13.7m $13,950,000$13.9m
121 DeAndre Hopkins Clemson Wide Receiver Tennessee Titans $1.2m $9.8m $13,880,000$13.9m
122 Jaire Alexander Louisville Cornerback Green Bay Packers $1.0m $13,807,645$13.8m
123 Bijan Robinson Texas Running Back Atlanta Falcons $750k $13.0m $13,719,844$13.7m
124 Jalen Carter Georgia Defensive Tackle Philadelphia Eagles $750k $12.9m $13,608,920$13.6m
125 Dallas Goedert South Dakota State Tight End Philadelphia Eagles $1.1m $13,554,255$13.6m
126 Joseph Noteboom Texas Christian Left Tackle Los Angeles Rams $1.5m $13,500,000$13.5m
127 Fred Warner Brigham Young Inside Linebacker San Francisco 49ers $1.1m $13,495,576$13.5m
128 Marquise Brown Oklahoma Wide Receiver Arizona Cardinals $13.4m $13,458,979$13.5m
129 Matt Milano Boston College Outside Linebacker Buffalo Bills $1.1m $11.9m $13,380,000$13.4m
130 Cam Robinson Alabama Left Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars $12.4m $13,297,382$13.3m
131 Eddie Jackson Alabama Safety Chicago Bears $13.0m $13,100,000$13.1m
132 Laken Tomlinson Duke Guard New York Jets $4.6m $13,076,464$13.1m
133 Darnell Wright Tennessee Right Tackle Chicago Bears $750k $12.2m $12,999,648$13.0m
134 Cole Kmet Notre Dame Tight End Chicago Bears $5.0m $8.0m $12,993,000$13.0m
135 Vita Vea Washington Defensive Tackle Tampa Bay Buccaneers $1.1m $12,941,165$12.9m
136 Jamel Dean Auburn Cornerback Tampa Bay Buccaneers $1.1m $11.4m $12,882,343$12.9m
137 Carl Granderson Wyoming Defensive End Two clubs $1.4m $11.0m $12,660,000$12.7m
138 Arik Armstead Oregon Defensive End San Francisco 49ers $1.2m $12,625,700$12.6m
139 Jonah Williams Alabama Right Tackle Cincinnati Bengals $12.6m $12,604,000$12.6m
140 David Njoku Miami (FL) Tight End Cleveland Browns $1.1m $12,500,000$12.5m
141 Ronnie Stanley Notre Dame Left Tackle Baltimore Ravens $12.5m $12,500,000$12.5m
142 Wyatt Teller Virginia Tech Guard Cleveland Browns $1.1m $12,500,000$12.5m
143 Dawson Knox Mississippi Tight End Buffalo Bills $2.0m $12,445,000$12.4m
144 George Kittle Iowa Tight End San Francisco 49ers $1.1m $12,220,576$12.2m
145 Jack Conklin Michigan State Right Tackle Cleveland Browns $1.2m $12,208,823$12.2m
146 Shaq Mason Georgia Tech Guard Houston Texans $1.7m $10.0m $12,200,000$12.2m
147 Travis Kelce Cincinnati Tight End Kansas City Chiefs $11.2m $12,161,755$12.2m
148 Peter Skoronski Northwestern Guard Tennessee Titans $750k $11.3m $12,057,868$12.1m
149 Allen Lazard Iowa State Wide Receiver New York Jets $1.1m $10.9m $12,000,000$12.0m
150 Brandin Cooks Oregon State Wide Receiver Two clubs $4.0m $6.0m $12,000,000$12.0m
151 Cameron Sutton Tennessee Cornerback Detroit Lions $1.1m $10.9m $12,000,000$12.0m
152 Christian McCaffrey Stanford Running Back San Francisco 49ers $1.1m $12,000,000$12.0m
153 Darious Williams Alabama-Birmingham Cornerback Jacksonville Jaguars $11.0m $12,000,000$12.0m
154 John Franklin-Myers Stephen F. Austin Defensive End New York Jets $1.1m $12,000,000$12.0m
155 Josh Sweat Florida State Outside Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles $1.1m $12,000,000$12.0m
156 Larry Ogunjobi Charlotte Defensive End Pittsburgh Steelers $1.4m $10.6m $12,000,000$12.0m
157 Mike Williams Clemson Wide Receiver Los Angeles Chargers $1.1m $12,000,000$12.0m
158 Jonathan Taylor Wisconsin Running Back Indianapolis Colts $1.7m $10.2m $11,990,000$12.0m
159 Adoree' Jackson Southern California Cornerback New York Giants $11.0m $11,823,522$11.8m
160 Josh Jacobs Alabama Running Back Las Vegas Raiders $7.6m $2.5m $11,791,000$11.8m
161 A.J. Brown Mississippi Wide Receiver Philadelphia Eagles $1.1m $11,760,000$11.8m
162 Devin White Louisiana State Inside Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers $11.7m $11,706,000$11.7m
163 Frank Ragnow Arkansas Center Detroit Lions $11.6m $11,650,000$11.7m
164 D.J. Reader Clemson Defensive Tackle Cincinnati Bengals $11.0m $11,529,406$11.5m
165 Rob Havenstein Wisconsin Right Tackle Los Angeles Rams $1.5m $11,500,000$11.5m
166 Marcus Davenport Texas-San Antonio Defensive End Minnesota Vikings $1.5m $8.5m $11,470,588$11.5m
167 Darius Slay Mississippi State Cornerback Philadelphia Eagles $1.2m $10.3m $11,427,415$11.4m
168 DaVon Hamilton Ohio State Defensive Tackle Jacksonville Jaguars $1.1m $10.0m $11,315,288$11.3m
169 Samson Ebukam Eastern Washington Defensive End Indianapolis Colts $1.8m $9.0m $11,265,000$11.3m
170 Deebo Samuel South Carolina Wide Receiver San Francisco 49ers $1.1m $11,128,521$11.1m
171 Calvin Ridley Alabama Wide Receiver Jacksonville Jaguars $11.1m $11,116,000$11.1m
172 Erik McCoy Texas A&M Center Tennessee Titans $1.1m $11,080,000$11.1m
173 Logan Wilson Wyoming Outside Linebacker Cincinnati Bengals $1.0m $10.0m $11,010,000$11.0m
174 Jamal Adams Louisiana State Safety Seattle Seahawks $1.1m $11,000,000$11.0m
175 Joel Bitonio Nevada Guard Cleveland Browns $1.2m $11,000,000$11.0m
176 Jakobi Meyers North Carolina State Wide Receiver Las Vegas Raiders $1.1m $5.5m $10,985,280$11.0m
177 Stephon Gilmore South Carolina Cornerback Dallas Cowboys $8.0m $10,980,000$11.0m
178 D.J. Reed Kansas State Cornerback New York Jets $2.8m $10,941,165$10.9m
179 Nate Davis North Carolina Charlotte Guard Chicago Bears $2.5m $6.0m $10,897,050$10.9m
180 Joshua Hines-Allen Kentucky Outside Linebacker Jacksonville Jaguars $10.9m $10,892,000$10.9m
181 Nick Chubb Georgia Running Back Cleveland Browns $10.9m $10,850,000$10.9m
182 Alvin Kamara Tennessee Running Back Two clubs $900k $10,820,000$10.8m
183 Christian Wilkins Clemson Defensive Tackle Miami Dolphins $10.8m $10,753,000$10.8m
184 Jahmyr Gibbs Alabama Running Back Detroit Lions $750k $10.0m $10,728,276$10.7m
185 Aaron Jones Texas El-Paso Running Back Green Bay Packers $1.1m $10,647,352$10.6m
186 Preston Smith Mississippi State Defensive End Green Bay Packers $1.2m $10,600,000$10.6m
187 Curtis Samuel Ohio State Wide Receiver Washington Commanders $10.1m $10,576,464$10.6m
188 Donte Jackson Louisiana State Cornerback Carolina Panthers $1.1m $10,522,500$10.5m
189 Derrick Henry Alabama Running Back Tennessee Titans $10.5m $10,500,000$10.5m
190 Diontae Johnson Toledo Wide Receiver Pittsburgh Steelers $8.0m $10,500,000$10.5m
191 Marlon Humphrey Alabama Cornerback Baltimore Ravens $1.1m $10,500,000$10.5m
192 Za'Darius Smith Kentucky Defensive End Cleveland Browns $1.2m $9.3m $10,500,000$10.5m
193 Lukas Van Ness Iowa Defensive End Green Bay Packers $750k $9.6m $10,395,884$10.4m
194 Hunter Henry Arkansas Tight End New England Patriots $9.5m $10,323,522$10.3m
195 Ryan Kelly Alabama Center Indianapolis Colts $9.1m $10,125,000$10.1m
196 Germaine Pratt North Carolina State Inside Linebacker Cincinnati Bengals $2.8m $7.0m $10,100,000$10.1m
197 Saquon Barkley Penn State Running Back New York Giants $8.1m $2.0m $10,091,000$10.1m
198 Tony Pollard Memphis Running Back Dallas Cowboys $10.1m $10,091,000$10.1m
199 Adam Thielen Minnesota-Mankato Wide Receiver Carolina Panthers $1.2m $8.3m $10,000,000$10.0m
200 Chukwuma Okorafor Western Michigan Left Tackle Pittsburgh Steelers $6.0m $10,000,000$10.0m

The table holds the 200 biggest of the 1,695 players paid in 2023. 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 2023 money was made of

The season's payroll, split by kind of promise

Base salary 40.0%

  • Base salary 40.0%
  • Signing bonus 36.2%
  • Restructured money 3.6%
  • Roster bonus 15.3%
  • Option bonus 3.5%
  • Workout bonus 0.7%
  • Incentives 0.8%
What the money was What it means Share Paid in 2023
Base salary the weekly paycheque, and the part that stops the day a player is cut 40.0% $2,635,811,367$2.64bn
Signing bonus paid up front and guaranteed the moment the contract is signed 36.2% $2,385,480,358$2.39bn
Roster bonus paid for being on the roster on a named day of the year 15.3% $1,008,500,273$1.01bn
Restructured money base salary converted to signing money so a deal fits under the cap 3.6% $234,204,854$234.2m
Option bonus paid to take up a season already written into the deal 3.5% $228,019,255$228.0m
Incentives paid for hitting a number 0.8% $54,370,545$54.4m
Workout bonus paid for turning up to the offseason programme 0.7% $48,038,248$48.0m

Base salary was only 40.0% of the 2023 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 2023 sits 13.0 points away from the long-run split. Signing bonus and base salary each have a page of their own.

What every franchise paid in 2023

The season's outlay, club by club

32 franchises

# Franchise Players paid Biggest single payday Per player Paid in 2023
01 Baltimore Ravens 64 Lamar Jackson $4.4m $281,171,151$281.2m
02 Cleveland Browns 60 Deshaun Watson $4.6m $274,334,485$274.3m
03 San Francisco 49ers 66 Nick Bosa $3.9m $257,940,485$257.9m
04 Buffalo Bills 60 Josh Allen $4.3m $257,785,336$257.8m
05 Cincinnati Bengals 46 Joe Burrow $5.2m $239,564,843$239.6m
06 Atlanta Falcons 53 Chris Lindstrom $4.5m $239,331,676$239.3m
07 Houston Texans 64 Laremy Tunsil $3.7m $239,200,892$239.2m
08 Seattle Seahawks 56 Geno Smith $4.1m $232,020,803$232.0m
09 New York Jets 56 Aaron Rodgers $4.1m $227,439,997$227.4m
10 Dallas Cowboys 61 Dak Prescott $3.6m $221,538,127$221.5m
11 Kansas City Chiefs 48 Patrick Mahomes $4.6m $220,588,625$220.6m
12 Miami Dolphins 56 Tyreek Hill $3.9m $216,465,310$216.5m
13 New York Giants 48 Daniel Jones $4.5m $213,658,070$213.7m
14 Jacksonville Jaguars 48 Christian Kirk $4.4m $211,029,583$211.0m
15 Philadelphia Eagles 51 Jalen Hurts $4.1m $209,738,449$209.7m
16 Minnesota Vikings 54 Kirk Cousins $3.9m $207,901,869$207.9m
17 Chicago Bears 54 Tremaine Edmunds $3.8m $205,686,546$205.7m
18 Las Vegas Raiders 52 Davante Adams $3.9m $203,742,192$203.7m
19 Los Angeles Chargers 44 Joey Bosa $4.6m $203,292,904$203.3m
20 Pittsburgh Steelers 52 T.J. Watt $3.9m $202,732,649$202.7m
21 Denver Broncos 54 Russell Wilson $3.7m $202,133,378$202.1m
22 Indianapolis Colts 56 Anthony Richardson $3.5m $196,259,087$196.3m
23 Carolina Panthers 50 Bryce Young $3.9m $195,977,434$196.0m
24 Arizona Cardinals 50 Kyler Murray $3.7m $182,971,200$183.0m
25 Green Bay Packers 52 Rashan Gary $3.4m $177,039,815$177.0m
26 Tennessee Titans 61 Jeffery Simmons $2.9m $176,006,906$176.0m
27 Detroit Lions 52 Jared Goff $3.3m $173,312,453$173.3m
28 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 49 Chris Godwin $3.3m $162,019,156$162.0m
29 New England Patriots 49 Matt Judon $3.2m $154,983,080$155.0m
30 Washington Commanders 41 Daron Payne $3.6m $149,242,254$149.2m
31 Los Angeles Rams 45 Matthew Stafford $2.8m $125,112,687$125.1m
32 New Orleans Saints 16 Taysom Hill $3.2m $50,673,838$50.7m

Baltimore Ravens paid the most in 2023, $281,171,151 across 64 players. A further $161,623,700 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 2023

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

21 positions

Quarterback $861m Defensive End $706m Wide Receiver $695m Defensive Tackle $614m Cornerback $547m Outside Linebacker $449m Safety $442m Guard $355m Tight End $336m Right Tackle $330m Inside Linebacker $323m Left Tackle $323m Running Back $280m Center $198m Kicker $93m Punter $51m Long Snapper $39m Fullback $29m
Linebacker $1.4m
Tackle $1.4m
Offensive Line $940k

Quarterbacks took 12.9% of the 2023 payroll across 81 players, which is $10.6m each against $5.2m 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 2023?

Lamar Jackson, $80,000,000 at Baltimore Ravens. That was 1.2% of everything the league paid out that season.

How much did the NFL pay its players in 2023?

$6,672,518,980 across 1,695 players, an average of $3,936,589 each. The 2023 payroll was 23.3% up on 2022, which paid $5,412,484,754.

Which team spent the most in 2023?

Baltimore Ravens, $281,171,151 across 64 players.

What was the average NFL salary in 2023?

$3,936,589 across the 1,695 players paid that season, against a middle figure of $1,317,500. The gap between those two is the top of the league: the twenty biggest paydays of 2023 were 11.7% of the whole payroll.

How much of an NFL salary is base pay?

In 2023, 40.0% of it. Signing bonus was 36.2% 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 2024 season · The 2022 season · NFL career earnings · The all-time list · Money under contract · By position · By franchise · By draft round

The biggest earners of 2023

Every season

By franchise

Elsewhere in American football