The NFL salary gap has an upward trend. Currently it sits at $279.2 million, and it $255.4 million in 2024. In other words, there is an increase of $23.8 million, which isn’t a low number, given how the highest-paid players go up to 60 million per year. Because each team needs to manage its budget carefully and secure funds for 53 active players, viewers are always interested in who top paid NFL players are. They don’t only evaluate the roster but the management itself, and how efficiently they manage funds. If you are also interested in this topic, make sure to stick around.
Who Is the Current Highest-Paid NFL Player
In the NFL, salaries are determined based on years of experience, performance stats, and current market value. So, new players don’t get nearly as much as tried and tested superstars. Currently, NFL highest paid player is Dak Prescott, who got a 4-year contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys. The full value of the contract is $240 million, which is 60 million per year on average.
Stakes are pretty high for the team management as they are assuming the player will consistently perform in the next 4 years, which isn’t a short time period. That said, this isn’t too surprising given how sports and high-stakes games have become inseparable. NFL fans bet all the time and frequently play online casino games with high rewards. The stakes don’t even have to be high in this instance, as 5 euro deposit casino operators allow you to play on a budget. Evan, a small deposit qualifies you for a promo, so your gambling budget will be higher.
| Name of player | Salary |
| 1. Dak Prescott | $61.6 million |
| 2. Joe Burrow | $61.3 million |
| 3. Dallas Cowboys | $60 million |
| 4. Jordan Love | $58.3 million |
| 5. Trevor Lawrence | $56.9 million |
| 6. Jared Goff | $55.4 million |
| 7. Josh Allen | $55.3 million |
How NFL Player Salaries Are Calculated
There are several factors that influence NFL players’ salaries:
- Player’s estimated market value
- Performance-based incentives and compensation
- Signing bonus
- Position on the team, and what is the current market demand for that position
- Mandatory minimum salaries based on years of experience (current is $840,000 and goes up to $885,000 in 2026)
These salaries are paid out on a weekly basis throughout the season, and the weekly compensation is calculated based on the value of the contract. Also, there is guaranteed money, and as mentioned, performance bonuses. Additionally, players can get bigger sums upon signing the agreement in the form of an onboarding bonus.
NFL Salaries vs Other Sports
Highest paid players in NFL have salaries comparable to superstars in other sports like the NBA and Soccer. However, we are looking at athletes who aren’t in the top brackets; the situation is vastly different. First off, the NFL roster or season lineup consists of 53 players, and as mentioned, each team has a cap on how much they can spend per season. So, the highest paid NFL players take a sizable chunk of that budget. In the NBA and soccer, the lineup includes significantly fewer athletes. So teams are more flexible with their spending and can offer more generous agreements.
For the NFL, the average salary is between 3 and 5 million dollars. In contrast average salary of NBA players is almost 12 million, which is significantly higher. In the Champions League, this varies depending on the club, but the average salary for someone playing for Real Madrid is around 11 million euros. Median salaries are even more disproportionate. In the NFL, it’s around $860K, for the NBA, it’s $6M, and for soccer, it vastly varies on the club.
Additional Revenue Streams
The disparity in salaries is further increased when you take into account other revenue streams. Top paid NFL players have more star power and are more valuable to other businesses that want to hire brand ambassadors. These athletes become a personal brand, and will likely have a bright career even when they stop competing.
Companies that sell sports equipment, fashion, and grooming products for men, and of course, gambling brands, all want top athletes to endorse them. So, multi-million dollar deals open up for the elite. Luckily, a big portion of those earnings goes back to the community in some way, through investment, philanthropy, charity, and other things athletes do to give back.
