Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts woke up Tuesday morning as a placeholder.
For however long it takes Joe Burrow to sign his new deal with the Bengals or Justin Herbert with the Chargers, Hurts stands alone with the biggest contract in NFL history. Hurts signed a five-year extension Monday with the Eagles worth $255 million, including $179.3 million guaranteed. The annual figure is the most ever given to a player.
At least for now.
But what about the other positions? Here’s a rundown of the financial king for each, based on annual average value. All financial information is courtesy Spotrac.
Quarterback
Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports
- Player: Jalen Hurts, Eagles
- AAV: $51 million
- Total value: $255 million
- Guarantees: $179.3 million
The skinny: In 2023, Hurts led the Eagles to an NFC title, totaling 4,461 total yards and 35 touchdowns while finishing second in MVP voting. As a result, Hurts cashed in with the largest deal in NFL history by annual value. Overall, his contract ranks second in guarantees behind the Browns’ Deshaun Watson and third in overall value, trailing only Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs and the Bills’ Josh Allen. The extension will kick in starting in the ’24 season.
Biggest challenger: Burrow
Running back
- Player: Christian McCaffrey, 49ers
- AAV: $16.015 million
- Total value: $64.063 million
- Guarantees: $38.162 million
The skinny: McCaffrey signed this megadeal while with the Panthers, and was traded in October to the 49ers for second-, third- and fourth-round picks. With San Francisco, McCaffrey returned to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career, notching 1,880 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns. With two years left on his deal, McCaffrey’s cap hits are relatively cheap at $12 million per year, giving the Niners flexibility to sign their other stars.
Biggest challenger: Josh Jacobs, Raiders
Wide receiver
- Player: Tyreek Hill, Dolphins
- AAV: $30 million
- Total value: $120 million
- Guarantees: $72.2 million
The skinny: After almost signing an extension with the Chiefs last offseason, Hill was traded away after the receiver market exploded following the new money for Christian Kirk and Davante Adams. Hill cashed in with the Dolphins, landing the league’s richest deal at receiver based on per year while ranking second behind Adams in total value, and trailing only the Rams’ Cooper Kupp in guaranteed money. Hill was worth the money to Miami in 2022, earning first-team All-Pro honors with 119 catches for 1,710 yards.
Biggest challenger: Justin Jefferson, Vikings
Tight end
- Player: Darren Waller, Giants
- AAV: $17 million
- Total value: $51 million
- Guarantees: $22 million
The skinny: Waller is a fascinating name to top the list. One might expect George Kittle or Travis Kelce, but it’s Waller who stands alone at $17 million per year after signing an extension with the Raiders last offseason. However, after injuries limited him to only nine games in 2022, he was traded for a third-round pick to the Giants. The extension doesn’t begin until next year, but if Waller doesn’t produce this year, his minimal dead-cap figures might mean he never sees that portion of his deal.
Biggest challenger: T.J. Hockenson, Vikings
Tackle
- Player: Laremy Tunsil, Texans
- AAV: $25 million
- Total value: $75 million
- Guarantees: $60 million
The skinny: Amid rumors of a potential trade, Tunsil signed in March to stay with the Texans for three years and $75 million. While his contract pales in comparison to Trent Williams’s deal with the Niners—totaling $138 million—Tunsil checks in fourth in guarantees. However, because of the short term, he’s only 10th in overall value. The thought is Tunsil ages well and cashes in big again when his contract expires, as he’ll be 33 years old.
Biggest challenger: Andrew Thomas, Giants
Guard
- Player: Chris Lindstrom, Falcons
- AAV: $20.5 million
- Total value: $102.5 million
- Guarantees: $48.2 million
The skinny: Atlanta didn’t allow Lindstrom to play out the final year of his rookie deal, instead inking him to a five-year extension worth $102.5 million. The figures rank first in overall value and second in guarantees, as well, trailing only Quenton Nelson of the Colts. With a young quarterback in second-year man Desmond Ridder trying to establish himself, the Falcons built up their line this winter with long-term deals for Lindstrom and tackle Kaleb McGary.
Biggest challenger: Landon Dickerson, Eagles
Center
- Player: Jason Kelce, Eagles
- AAV: $14.25 million
- Total value: $14.25 million
- Guarantees: $14.25 million
The skinny: At 35 years old, Kelce is the only one-year deal who makes our rankings. A future Hall of Famer, Kelce has enjoyed a 12-year career that has seen him win a Super Bowl, reach another, earn first-team All-Pro honors five times while going to six Pro Bowls. With Kelce’s age, Philadelphia and its star center are going year to year on his deals until he retires, starting the clock on his Canton enshrinement.
Biggest challenger: Creed Humphrey, Chiefs
Defensive tackle
- Player: Aaron Donald, Rams
- AAV: $31.66 million
- Total value: $95 million
- Guarantees: $95 million
John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated
The skinny: One way to summarize Donald’s all-time greatness without listing his accolades is by comparing his average annual salary to the other defensive tackles after a recent financial boom for the position. Tennessee’s Jeffery Simmons, Washington’s Daron Payne and San Francisco’s Javon Hargrave received lucrative contract extensions in the past month, but none topped $24 million per year. New York’s Quinnen Williams and Kansas City’s Chris Jones will likely get closer to Donald’s AAV with their looming extensions.
Biggest challenger: Jones, Chiefs
Edge rusher
- Player: T.J. Watt, Steelers
- AAV: $28 million
- Total value: $112 million
- Guarantees: $80 million
The skinny: With 77.5 career sacks, Watt has established himself as one of the best edge rushers in the league, and his bank account reflects that. Watt signed his contract extension in 2021 and was once the highest-paid defender before Donald signed his reworked contract extension last year. One technical note, Spotrac had salaries for edge rusher, defensive end and outside linebacker. Every team has a preference for how to categorize its pass rushers, but we’re going with edge rushers. And if you’re curious, Los Angeles’s Joey Bosa and Cleveland’s Myles Garrett ranked after Watt with average annual salaries of $27 million and $25 million, respectively.
Biggest challenger: Nick Bosa, 49ers
Inside linebacker
- Player: Roquan Smith, Ravens
- AAV: $20 million
- Total value: $100 million
- Guarantees: $60 million
The skinny: Smith quickly established himself as one of the Ravens’ top defensive playmakers after being traded by the Bears in October for second- and fifth-round picks in the upcoming draft. After recording 169 total tackles—86 with the Ravens—Smith signed a lucrative contract extension worth $100 million. Ironically, the Bears also paid inside linebackers this offseason after signing T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, who ranked fourth on this list with an AAV of $18 million.
Biggest challenger: Fred Warner, 49ers
Cornerback
- Player: Jaire Alexander, Packers
- AAV: $21 million
- Total value: $84 million
- Guarantees: $30 million
The skinny: Alexander, a two-time Pro Bowler, didn’t reach a total value of $100 million for his contract extension as the Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey and the Browns’ Denzel Ward did, but Alexander leads the cornerbacks when it comes to average annual salary. And it might stay that way for the foreseeable future with the Jets’ Sauce Gardner only in his second season and the Broncos’ Patrick Surtain II entering his third. Alexander, who had a career-high five interceptions last year, has been one of the best cornerbacks since being drafted in the first round of the 2018 draft.
Biggest challenger: Surtain
Safety
- Player: Derwin James, Chargers
- AAV: $19.133 million
- Total value: $76.532 million
- Guarantees: $42 million
The skinny: James, the Chargers’ do-it-all safety, overcame two injury-plagued seasons after a memorable rookie season and reestablished himself as one of the best at the position with back-to-back Pro Bowl selections. James has recorded at least 115 total tackles the past two seasons, and more importantly, he’s a vital leader in the Chargers’ locker room. James’s AAV is slightly higher than Minkah Fitzpatrick’s AAV of $18.4 million.
Biggest challenger: Budda Baker, Cardinals
Kicker
- Player: Justin Tucker, Ravens
- AAV: $6 million
- Total value: $24 million
- Guarantees: $17.5 million
The skinny: It’s no surprise Tucker tops this list with his career field-goal percentage of 90.5% and many memorable game-winning kicks throughout his decorated career with the Ravens. Tucker, who made a league-high 43 field goals last season, is the only kicker making at least $6 million per year. Indianapolis’s Matt Gay, Seattle’s Jason Myers and Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell are next in line with an average annual salary of at least $5 million.
Biggest challenger: Harrison Butker, Chiefs
Punter
- Player: Michael Dickson, Seahawks
- AAV: $3.675 million
- Total value: $14.7 million
- Guarantees: $7.5 million
The skinny: Dickson, a 2018 first-team All-Pro, signed his four-year, $14.5 million contract extension with the Seahawks in ’21. Dickson, a ’18 fifth-round selection, has been a reliable contributor for Seattle’s special teams with a career average of 47.6 yards per punt.
Biggest challenger: Tress Way, Commanders
Long snapper
- Player: Joe Cardona, Patriots
- AAV: $1.575 million
- Total value: $6.3 million
- Guarantees: $2.6 million
