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NFL · DEFENCE · 213 CAREERS

Highest paid NFL cornerbacks

$3,561,924,991 paid to 213 cornerbacks, $16,722,653 a career, led by Jalen Ramsey on $164,368,639.

Cornerback is the 13th best paid of the 18 positions the league has enough careers to rank, $16.7m a career against $23.0m for the average NFL career on this site, so it is one of the positions the league pays least. More of a cornerback's money is the weekly paycheque than the league average: 55.2% against 52.9%. That is the mark of a position a club can walk away from in March.

PER CAREER $16.7m
PAID IN ALL $3.56bn
CAREERS 213
STILL PLAYING 86
BASE SALARY 55.2%

The twenty richest cornerbacks

Money paid across a whole career

Jalen Ramsey $164.4m

Jalen Ramsey $164m Darius Slay $126m Denzel Ward $123m Marshon Lattimore $123m Marlon Humphrey $120m Stephon Gilmore $116m Jaire Alexander $109m James Bradberry $78m Patrick Surtain II $76m A.J. Terrell $72m Tre'Davious White $70m Jaylon Johnson $68m Kenny Moore $68m L'Jarius Sneed $66m Trevon Diggs $64m Chidobe Awuzie $62m Kendall Fuller $60m Jamel Dean $57m Tyson Campbell $54m Adoree' Jackson $51m

Jalen Ramsey has been paid $38.6m more than any other cornerback the site holds, and the twenty here account for 48.5% of everything the position has earned.

Every cornerback ranked by career earnings

Money paid, and what is still contracted

213 careers

# Player Franchise Seasons Signing Contracted Career earnings
001 Jalen Ramsey Florida State Miami Dolphins 13 $51.4m $45.7m $164,368,639$164.4m
002 Darius Slay Mississippi State Philadelphia Eagles 13 $40.0m $125,766,809$125.8m
003 Denzel Ward Ohio State Cleveland Browns 10 $39.3m $20.5m $123,452,725$123.5m
004 Marshon Lattimore Ohio State New Orleans Saints 10 $16.8m $123,206,563$123.2m
005 Marlon Humphrey Alabama Baltimore Ravens 10 $26.8m $119,982,999$120.0m
006 Stephon Gilmore South Carolina Minnesota Vikings 14 $38.6m $116,426,433$116.4m
007 Jaire Alexander Louisville Green Bay Packers 9 $36.8m $109,403,874$109.4m
008 James Bradberry Samford Philadelphia Eagles 10 $24.1m $78,112,060$78.1m
009 Patrick Surtain II Alabama Denver Broncos 9 $27.6m $61.0m $75,764,678$75.8m
010 A.J. Terrell Clemson Atlanta Falcons 9 $33.0m $36.0m $71,845,238$71.8m
011 Tre'Davious White Louisiana State Los Angeles Rams 8 $17.7m $69,810,619$69.8m
012 Jaylon Johnson Utah Chicago Bears 8 $22.3m $16.0m $68,298,032$68.3m
013 Kenny Moore Valdosta State Indianapolis Colts 10 $6.8m $67,903,682$67.9m
014 L'Jarius Sneed Louisiana Tech Tennessee Titans 8 $20.6m $16.4m $65,775,865$65.8m
015 Trevon Diggs Alabama Dallas Cowboys 9 $22.2m $40.5m $63,592,448$63.6m
016 Chidobe Awuzie Colorado Tennessee Titans 10 $13.3m $61,975,315$62.0m
017 Kendall Fuller Virginia Tech Miami Dolphins 10 $20.0m $59,841,714$59.8m
018 Jamel Dean Auburn Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8 $12.3m $57,289,195$57.3m
019 Tyson Campbell Georgia Jacksonville Jaguars 8 $19.9m $32.5m $54,241,772$54.2m
020 Adoree' Jackson Southern California New York Giants 8 $19.8m $51,209,235$51.2m
021 Taron Johnson Weber State Buffalo Bills 10 $11.9m $10.0m $50,055,543$50.1m
022 Carlton Davis Auburn Detroit Lions 7 $24.0m $49,982,353$50.0m
023 Darious Williams Alabama-Birmingham Los Angeles Rams 9 $5.1m $49,406,768$49.4m
024 Charvarius Ward Middle Tennessee State San Francisco 49ers 7 $12.0m $46,596,455$46.6m
025 Jonathan Jones Auburn New England Patriots 9 $15.6m $45,012,618$45.0m
026 Ronald Darby Florida State Jacksonville Jaguars 11 $18.6m $43,304,245$43.3m
027 Shaquill Griffin Central Florida Minnesota Vikings 9 $18.2m $38,909,882$38.9m
028 Sean Bunting Central Michigan Arizona Cardinals 8 $11.8m $37,415,179$37.4m
029 Donte Jackson Louisiana State Pittsburgh Steelers 7 $17.3m $36,289,880$36.3m
030 D.J. Reed Kansas State New York Jets 7 $9.8m $35,775,467$35.8m
031 Derek Stingley Jr. Louisiana State Houston Texans 4 $22.4m $34,657,514$34.7m
032 Jeff Okudah Ohio State Houston Texans 5 $27.1m $34,601,335$34.6m
033 Jaycee Horn South Carolina Carolina Panthers 5 $12.7m $33,584,146$33.6m
034 Ahmad Gardner Cincinnati New York Jets 4 $21.5m $33,450,802$33.5m
035 Michael Davis Brigham Young Washington Commanders 8 $7.4m $33,305,679$33.3m
036 Devon Witherspoon Illinois Seattle Seahawks 4 $20.2m $31,861,152$31.9m
037 Cameron Sutton Tennessee Pittsburgh Steelers 8 $15.8m $29,087,440$29.1m
038 Mike Hilton Mississippi Cincinnati Bengals 9 $4.0m $28,695,595$28.7m
039 Byron Murphy Washington Minnesota Vikings 6 $10.8m $27,027,305$27.0m
040 Michael Carter II Duke New York Jets 7 $6.3m $10.2m $26,628,117$26.6m
041 Greg Newsome Northwestern Cleveland Browns 5 $6.6m $26,125,736$26.1m
042 Keisean Nixon South Carolina Green Bay Packers 8 $8.4m $25,251,103$25.3m
043 Troy Hill Oregon Carolina Panthers 15 $3.6m $22,823,802$22.8m
044 Avonte Maddox Pittsburgh Philadelphia Eagles 7 $6.1m $21,226,555$21.2m
045 Rasul Douglas West Virginia Buffalo Bills 10 $7.3m $21,077,338$21.1m
046 Jourdan Lewis Michigan Dallas Cowboys 8 $4.4m $20,964,787$21.0m
047 Anthony Brown Purdue Carolina Panthers 11 $4.6m $20,825,973$20.8m
048 Emmanuel Moseley Tennessee Detroit Lions 7 $6.6m $19,275,106$19.3m
049 Mike Hughes Central Florida Atlanta Falcons 7 $7.3m $19,185,942$19.2m
050 Emmanuel Forbes Mississippi State Washington Commanders 4 $8.2m $15,407,568$15.4m
051 Christian Gonzalez Oregon New England Patriots 4 $8.0m $15,102,868$15.1m
052 Isaiah Oliver Colorado New York Jets 7 $3.3m $14,561,351$14.6m
053 Rock Ya-Sin Temple San Francisco 49ers 6 $5.8m $14,375,943$14.4m
054 Trent McDuffie Washington Kansas City Chiefs 4 $7.4m $13,992,484$14.0m
055 Kaiir Elam Florida Buffalo Bills 4 $7.1m $13,690,810$13.7m
056 Deonte Banks Maryland New York Giants 4 $6.9m $13,579,394$13.6m
057 Levi Wallace Alabama Denver Broncos 7 $3.5m $13,340,679$13.3m
058 Amik Robertson Louisiana Tech Detroit Lions 6 $3.8m $13,077,933$13.1m
059 Dane Jackson Pittsburgh Carolina Panthers 6 $4.1m $12,741,922$12.7m
060 Noah Igbinoghene Auburn Washington Commanders 5 $5.8m $12,686,536$12.7m
061 Quinyon Mitchell Toledo Philadelphia Eagles 4 $7.6m $2.8m $12,002,446$12.0m
062 Eric Stokes Georgia Green Bay Packers 4 $6.0m $11,925,523$11.9m
063 Terrion Arnold Alabama Detroit Lions 4 $7.3m $2.8m $11,592,749$11.6m
064 Fabian Moreau California-Los Angeles Minnesota Vikings 11 $1.5m $10,356,592$10.4m
065 Nate Wiggins Clemson Baltimore Ravens 4 $6.1m $2.5m $10,276,665$10.3m
066 C.J. Goodwin California Dallas Cowboys 11 $1.3m $9,968,033$10.0m
067 Trayvon Mullen Clemson Baltimore Ravens 7 $4.0m $9,924,980$9.9m
068 Tavierre Thomas Ferris State Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7 $1.5m $9,790,417$9.8m
069 Joey Porter Jr. Penn State Pittsburgh Steelers 4 $4.0m $9,618,344$9.6m
070 Tre Flowers Oklahoma State Jacksonville Jaguars 8 $1.6m $9,468,205$9.5m
071 Tremon Smith Central Arkansas Denver Broncos 12 $1.9m $9,245,446$9.2m
072 Antonio Hamilton South Carolina State Atlanta Falcons 9 $963k $9,175,822$9.2m
073 Roger McCreary Auburn Tennessee Titans 4 $3.8m $9,165,608$9.2m
074 Asante Samuel Jr. Florida State Los Angeles Chargers 4 $2.6m $8,943,999$8.9m
075 Lonnie Johnson Kentucky Carolina Panthers 7 $2.3m $8,880,111$8.9m
076 Kyler Gordon Washington Chicago Bears 4 $3.5m $8,682,926$8.7m
077 Kristian Fulton Louisiana State Los Angeles Chargers 5 $2.6m $8,319,312$8.3m
078 Andrew Booth Jr. Clemson Dallas Cowboys 4 $3.2m $8,305,824$8.3m
079 Julius Brents Kansas State Indianapolis Colts 4 $3.0m $8,196,936$8.2m
080 Isaac Yiadom Boston College San Francisco 49ers 7 $1.1m $7,990,353$8.0m
081 Jartavius Martin Illinois Washington Commanders 4 $2.6m $7,637,818$7.6m
082 Arthur Maulet Memphis Baltimore Ravens 8 $1.6m $7,469,411$7.5m
083 Cooper DeJean Iowa Philadelphia Eagles 4 $3.6m $2.1m $7,222,673$7.2m
084 Alontae Taylor Tennessee New Orleans Saints 4 $2.4m $7,143,591$7.1m
085 Kool-Aid McKinstry Alabama New Orleans Saints 4 $3.5m $2.0m $7,113,412$7.1m
086 Paulson Adebo Stanford New Orleans Saints 4 $1.0m $7,059,037$7.1m
087 Cam Smith South Carolina Miami Dolphins 4 $2.1m $7,028,423$7.0m
088 Kamari Lassiter Georgia Houston Texans 4 $3.4m $2.0m $6,990,508$7.0m
089 Max Melton Rutgers Arizona Cardinals 4 $3.3m $2.0m $6,881,266$6.9m
090 Benjamin St-Juste Minnesota Washington Commanders 4 $1.1m $6,861,197$6.9m
091 Michael Ford Southeast Missouri State Cleveland Browns 7 $1.7m $6,766,881$6.8m
092 Brandon Stephens Southern Methodist Baltimore Ravens 4 $841k $6,589,236$6.6m
093 Elijah Molden Washington Los Angeles Chargers 4 $841k $6,589,236$6.6m
094 Kris Boyd Texas Houston Texans 7 $587k $6,514,613$6.5m
095 Myles Bryant Washington Houston Texans 5 $428k $6,480,807$6.5m
096 Michael Jackson Miami (FL) Carolina Panthers 8 $784k $6,470,419$6.5m
097 Tyrique Stevenson Miami (FL) Chicago Bears 4 $1.7m $6,449,498$6.4m
098 Cam Lewis Buffalo Buffalo Bills 7 $781k $6,106,384$6.1m
099 Nate Hobbs Illinois Las Vegas Raiders 4 $303k $5,970,718$6.0m
100 Cam Taylor-Britt Nebraska Cincinnati Bengals 4 $1.5m $5,952,726$6.0m
101 Marco Wilson Florida New England Patriots 4 $1.1m $5,938,846$5.9m
102 Nick McCloud Notre Dame New York Giants 5 $40k $5,893,128$5.9m
103 Mike Sainristil Michigan Washington Commanders 4 $2.4m $1.8m $5,857,018$5.9m
104 Deommodore Lenoir Oregon San Francisco 49ers 4 $285k $5,825,872$5.8m
105 Garrett Williams Syracuse Arizona Cardinals 4 $1.1m $5,740,724$5.7m
106 Jason Pinnock Pittsburgh New York Giants 4 $270k $5,688,950$5.7m
107 Martin Emerson Mississippi State Cleveland Browns 4 $1.2m $5,471,560$5.5m
108 Riley Moss Iowa Denver Broncos 4 $962k $5,447,486$5.4m
109 Mekhi Blackmon Southern California Minnesota Vikings 4 $858k $5,304,084$5.3m
110 Cordale Flott Louisiana State New York Giants 4 $992k $5,291,843$5.3m
111 Darnay Holmes California-Los Angeles Las Vegas Raiders 5 $842k $5,261,888$5.3m
112 Marcus Jones Houston New England Patriots 4 $945k $5,176,952$5.2m
113 Josh Blackwell Duke Chicago Bears 6 $250k $5,120,000$5.1m
114 Clark Phillips III Utah Atlanta Falcons 4 $774k $4,938,313$4.9m
115 Kindle Vildor Georgia Southern Detroit Lions 7 $478k $4,886,461$4.9m
116 Corey Ballentine Washburn Green Bay Packers 6 $1.4m $4,817,902$4.8m
117 Ennis Rakestraw Missouri Detroit Lions 4 $1.5m $1.7m $4,805,463$4.8m
118 Tariq Woolen Texas-San Antonio Seattle Seahawks 4 $332k $4,734,594$4.7m
119 Renardo Green Florida State San Francisco 49ers 4 $1.5m $1.7m $4,723,527$4.7m
120 Ambry Thomas Michigan San Francisco 49ers 4 $841k $4,688,237$4.7m
121 Jakorian Bennett Maryland Las Vegas Raiders 4 $824k $4,663,596$4.7m
122 Kelee Ringo Georgia Philadelphia Eagles 4 $821k $4,660,924$4.7m
123 Bryce Hall Virginia Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5 $316k $4,636,977$4.6m
124 Chamarri Conner Virginia State Kansas City Chiefs 4 $751k $4,591,368$4.6m
125 Jay Ward Louisiana State Minnesota Vikings 4 $654k $4,493,544$4.5m
126 Ifeatu Melifonwu Syracuse Detroit Lions 4 $841k $4,472,457$4.5m
127 Damarri Mathis Pittsburgh Denver Broncos 4 $779k $4,438,964$4.4m
128 Kei'Trel Clark Louisville Arizona Cardinals 4 $209k $4,418,429$4.4m
129 Andru Phillips Kentucky New York Giants 4 $1.2m $1.6m $4,383,313$4.4m
130 Chris Lammons South Carolina Indianapolis Colts 8 $373k $4,361,307$4.4m
131 Akayleb Evans Missouri Minnesota Vikings 4 $761k $4,344,687$4.3m
132 Coby Bryant Cincinnati Seattle Seahawks 4 $808k $4,336,137$4.3m
133 Joshua Williams Fayetteville State Kansas City Chiefs 4 $666k $4,326,260$4.3m
134 Jalyn Armour-Davis Alabama Baltimore Ravens 4 $760k $4,313,383$4.3m
135 Jack Jones Arizona State Las Vegas Raiders 5 $1.1m $4,275,315$4.3m
136 Decobie Durant South Carolina State Los Angeles Rams 4 $504k $4,164,340$4.2m
137 Terell Smith Minnesota Chicago Bears 4 $276k $4,115,884$4.1m
138 Cameron Mitchell Northwestern Cleveland Browns 4 $337k $4,110,570$4.1m
139 Jarrian Jones Florida State Jacksonville Jaguars 4 $890k $1.6m $4,038,178$4.0m
140 Tre Hawkins III Old Dominion New York Giants 4 $150k $3,989,520$4.0m
141 Darrell Luter Jr. South Alabama San Francisco 49ers 4 $314k $3,986,848$4.0m
142 Zyon McCollum Sam Houston State Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4 $322k $3,981,732$4.0m
143 DaRon Bland Fresno State Dallas Cowboys 4 $305k $3,964,788$4.0m
144 Carrington Valentine Kentucky Green Bay Packers 4 $101k $3,940,704$3.9m
145 Anthony Johnson Jr. Iowa State New York Giants 4 $84k $3,923,764$3.9m
146 D.J. Ivey Miami Cincinnati Bengals 4 $81k $3,920,652$3.9m
147 Jarrick Bernard-Converse Louisiana State New York Jets 4 $165k $3,888,445$3.9m
148 Tre Brown Oklahoma Seattle Seahawks 4 $641k $3,847,054$3.8m
149 Elijah Jones Boston College Arizona Cardinals 4 $955k $1.6m $3,793,922$3.8m
150 Derion Kendrick Georgia Los Angeles Rams 4 $132k $3,792,016$3.8m
151 Ja'Sir Taylor Wake Forest Los Angeles Chargers 4 $132k $3,792,012$3.8m
152 Montaric Brown Arkansas Jacksonville Jaguars 4 $116k $3,775,980$3.8m
153 Deane Leonard Mississippi Los Angeles Chargers 4 $100k $3,759,664$3.8m
154 Christian Benford Villanova Buffalo Bills 4 $194k $3,756,784$3.8m
155 Jaylen Watson Washington State Kansas City Chiefs 4 $85k $3,745,372$3.7m
156 Elijah Hicks California Chicago Bears 4 $77k $3,737,008$3.7m
157 Samuel Womack Toledo Indianapolis Colts 4 $283k $3,723,879$3.7m
158 Decamerion Richardson Mississippi State Las Vegas Raiders 4 $801k $1.2m $3,631,016$3.6m
159 Tre Tomlinson Texas Christian Los Angeles Rams 4 $200k $3,619,852$3.6m
160 Israel Mukuamu South Carolina Dallas Cowboys 4 $131k $3,610,708$3.6m
161 Isaiah Rodgers Massachusetts Philadelphia Eagles 4 $145k $3,597,620$3.6m
162 T.J. Tampa Iowa State Baltimore Ravens 4 $698k $1.2m $3,528,456$3.5m
163 Cory Trice Jr. Purdue Pittsburgh Steelers 4 $84k $3,504,436$3.5m
164 Brandin Echols Kentucky New York Jets 4 $174k $3,493,063$3.5m
165 Darren Hall San Diego State Arizona Cardinals 4 $841k $3,442,748$3.4m
166 Kader Kohou Texas A&M–Commerce Miami Dolphins 3 $30k $3,295,584$3.3m
167 Nehemiah Pritchett Auburn Seattle Seahawks 4 $379k $1.2m $3,209,072$3.2m
168 Tarheeb Still Maryland Los Angeles Chargers 4 $376k $1.2m $3,205,720$3.2m
169 Cam Hart Notre Dame Los Angeles Chargers 4 $364k $1.2m $3,193,928$3.2m
170 Kris Abrams-Draine Missouri Denver Broncos 4 $348k $1.2m $3,178,272$3.2m
171 Jarvis Brownlee Jr. Louisville Tennessee Titans 4 $342k $1.2m $3,172,036$3.2m
172 Josh Newton Texas Christian Cincinnati Bengals 4 $337k $1.2m $3,167,276$3.2m
173 Deantre Prince Mississippi Jacksonville Jaguars 4 $332k $1.2m $3,162,228$3.2m
174 Chau Smith-Wade Washington State Carolina Panthers 4 $324k $1.2m $3,153,984$3.2m
175 Dee Alford Tusculum Atlanta Falcons 3 $11k $3,144,631$3.1m
176 Khalil Dorsey Northern Arizona Detroit Lions 5 $5k $3,086,833$3.1m
177 Caelen Carson Wake Forest Dallas Cowboys 4 $254k $1.2m $3,084,276$3.1m
178 Qwan'tez Stiggers New York Jets 4 $254k $1.2m $3,084,276$3.1m
179 Starling Thomas V Alabama-Birmingham Arizona Cardinals 4 $40k $3,074,543$3.1m
180 Marcellas Dial South Carolina New England Patriots 4 $212k $1.2m $3,042,128$3.0m
181 Myles Harden South Dakota Cleveland Browns 4 $110k $1.2m $2,922,276$2.9m
182 Josh Wallace Michigan Los Angeles Rams 3 $60k $2,890,000$2.9m
183 Beanie Bishop West Virginia Pittsburgh Steelers 3 $25k $2,855,000$2.9m
184 Storm Duck Louisville Miami Dolphins 3 $20k $2,850,000$2.8m
185 Tyrek Funderburk Appalachian State Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3 $20k $2,850,000$2.8m
186 Rico Payton Pittsburg State New Orleans Saints 3 $15k $2,845,000$2.8m
187 Dwight McGlothern Arkansas Minnesota Vikings 3 $10k $2,840,000$2.8m
188 Shemar Bartholomew Georgia Southern Carolina Panthers 4 $20k $2,840,000$2.8m
189 Christian Roland-Wallace Southern California Kansas City Chiefs 3 $5k $2,835,000$2.8m
190 Charles Woods Southern Methodist Los Angeles Rams 3 $2k $2,832,000$2.8m
191 Brandon Codrington North Carolina Central Buffalo Bills 3 $0 $2,830,000$2.8m
192 Harrison Hand Temple Atlanta Falcons 4 $448k $2,790,860$2.8m
193 Grayland Arnold Baylor Pittsburgh Steelers 5 $25k $2,789,637$2.8m
194 Eli Ricks Alabama Philadelphia Eagles 3 $10k $2,705,000$2.7m
195 Ryan Watts Texas Pittsburgh Steelers 4 $183k $1.2m $2,687,684$2.7m
196 Theo Jackson Tennessee Minnesota Vikings 4 $78k $2,566,809$2.6m
197 Lance Robinson Tulane Cincinnati Bengals 3 $7k $2,512,000$2.5m
198 Tristin McCollum Sam Houston State Philadelphia Eagles 4 $50k $2,368,000$2.4m
199 Ja'Marcus Ingram Buffalo Buffalo Bills 4 $10k $2,318,000$2.3m
200 NaJee Thompson Georgia Southern Minnesota Vikings 3 $0 $2,275,000$2.3m

The table holds the 200 biggest of 213 careers at the position. The contracted column is money written into a deal for a season that has not been played, so it is not in the career figure beside it. The whole league's contracted money is ranked here.

How a cornerback's money is paid

The seven parts of a contract, for this position and for the league

55.2% base salary

  • Base salary 55.2%
  • Signing bonus 27.6%
  • Restructured money 4.9%
  • Roster bonus 7.1%
  • Option bonus 4.2%
  • Workout bonus 0.6%
  • Incentives 0.4%
Part of the contract What it is This position The league Paid
Base salary the weekly paycheque, and the part that stops the day a player is cut 55.2% 52.9% $2,130,145,777$2.13bn
Signing bonus paid up front and guaranteed the moment the contract is signed 27.6% 27.6% $1,064,938,986$1.06bn
Restructured money base salary converted to signing money so a deal fits under the cap 4.9% 6.3% $188,253,300$188.3m
Roster bonus paid for being on the roster on a named day of the year 7.1% 6.6% $273,439,927$273.4m
Option bonus paid to take up a season already written into the deal 4.2% 5.3% $163,062,088$163.1m
Workout bonus paid for turning up to the offseason programme 0.6% 0.7% $22,052,765$22.1m
Incentives paid for hitting a number 0.4% 0.5% $16,148,026$16.1m

More of a cornerback's money is the weekly paycheque than the league average: 55.2% against 52.9%. That is the mark of a position a club can walk away from in March. Base salary and signing bonus money are each ranked across the whole league on their own pages.

What the league pays cornerbacks each season

Every cornerback on a payroll that year, added together

Peak in 2024

2024 is the biggest year for cornerback pay on record at $712,190,706 across 217 players, which is $3.3m each. The whole 2024 payroll is here.

Cornerback money by franchise

What the cornerbacks on each roster have earned in their careers

32 franchises

# Franchise Players Per player Career earnings
01 Philadelphia Eagles 9 $28.6m $257,662,087$257.7m
02 Miami Dolphins 6 $39.9m $239,545,360$239.5m
03 Minnesota Vikings 10 $21.5m $214,544,336$214.5m
04 Cleveland Browns 6 $28.1m $168,849,748$168.8m
05 Baltimore Ravens 8 $20.5m $164,057,784$164.1m
06 Green Bay Packers 5 $31.1m $155,339,106$155.3m
07 New Orleans Saints 6 $24.8m $148,887,603$148.9m
08 Tennessee Titans 5 $28.4m $142,116,324$142.1m
09 Los Angeles Rams 8 $17.2m $137,283,928$137.3m
10 New York Jets 7 $17.3m $120,881,521$120.9m
11 Jacksonville Jaguars 6 $19.7m $117,990,608$118.0m
12 Dallas Cowboys 7 $16.2m $113,490,864$113.5m
13 Carolina Panthers 9 $12.6m $113,310,358$113.3m
14 Denver Broncos 7 $16.2m $113,276,025$113.3m
15 Detroit Lions 8 $13.9m $111,179,355$111.2m
16 Atlanta Falcons 6 $18.5m $111,080,806$111.1m
17 Buffalo Bills 7 $14.3m $99,834,859$99.8m
18 Chicago Bears 6 $16.1m $96,403,348$96.4m
19 New York Giants 9 $10.7m $96,202,030$96.2m
20 Houston Texans 5 $17.8m $89,244,777$89.2m
21 Pittsburgh Steelers 8 $11.1m $88,820,401$88.8m
22 San Francisco 49ers 7 $12.6m $88,187,235$88.2m
23 Indianapolis Colts 5 $17.3m $86,443,580$86.4m
24 Washington Commanders 6 $13.6m $81,755,816$81.8m
25 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 $13.3m $79,544,482$79.5m
26 New England Patriots 6 $12.7m $75,915,193$75.9m
27 Arizona Cardinals 7 $9.3m $64,766,811$64.8m
28 Seattle Seahawks 5 $9.6m $47,988,009$48.0m
29 Cincinnati Bengals 5 $8.8m $44,248,249$44.2m
30 Los Angeles Chargers 7 $5.4m $37,803,871$37.8m
31 Kansas City Chiefs 6 $5.2m $31,467,984$31.5m
32 Las Vegas Raiders 5 $4.8m $23,802,533$23.8m

A career total lands on the franchise a player is at now, so this is a ranking of which rosters hold the expensive cornerbacks rather than of which clubs wrote the cheques. Every franchise is ranked here.

Where a cornerback is drafted

Career earnings by the round a player was taken in

143 with a round on record

Round 1 $51m Round 2 $23m Round 3 $13m Round 4 $12m Round 5 $4.3m Round 6 $5.0m Round 7 $4.1m

A first-round cornerback has earned $51.5m a career against $4.1m for one taken in round 7. The whole draft is ranked here.

Which colleges produce the richest cornerbacks

Schools with three or more in the position

23 colleges

Alabama $298m
Ohio State $281m
Florida State $225m
South Carolina $195m
Auburn $177m
Louisiana State $163m
Mississippi State $150m
Louisville $120m
Clemson $100m
Georgia $82m
Washington $63m
Southern California $59m
Tennessee $58m
Illinois $45m
Pittsburgh $44m

Alabama has put 8 cornerbacks into the league, worth $298,405,348 between them. Every college is ranked across all positions here.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the highest paid NFL cornerback of all time?

Jalen Ramsey, $164,368,639, a first-round pick in 2016, 5th overall. Darius Slay is second on $125,766,809.

How much does an NFL cornerback earn over a career?

$16,722,653 on average across the 213 careers here, and 13th of 18 positions on money per career. The figure is money actually paid rather than the headline value of a contract.

Is a cornerback's money guaranteed?

27.6% of it arrives as a signing bonus, which is the part that cannot be taken back, against 27.6% across the league. The other 55.2% is base salary and it stops the day a player is released.

Which franchise has paid the most at cornerback?

Philadelphia Eagles, $257,662,087 across the 9 players on its books, counted as everything those careers have earned anywhere.

How many NFL cornerbacks are still playing?

86 of the 213 here were on a roster in 2026, with $332,920,090 written into contracts for seasons not yet played.

Where to next

The positions either side of this one, and the rest of the money

Quarterback · Wide Receiver · Defensive End · Defensive Tackle · Outside Linebacker · Safety · Guard · Left Tackle · Every position · NFL career earnings

The fifty richest cornerbacks

Every position

By season

Elsewhere in American football