Highest-paid NFL players: Dak Prescott rises to the top after new deal

The race to be the NFL’s highest-paid players welcomed some new entrants this offseason.

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys came to an agreement on a four-year, $240 million deal on the morning of the NFL’s first Sunday of the regular season. The deal makes him the league’s first $60 million per year player and put him at the top of the list of highest-paid players.

Prescott’s deal comes after an offseason that included the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence (five-year, $275 million extension) and Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love (four-year, $220 million extension) matching the broad terms of Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow’s five-year, $275 deal last year.

According to OverTheCap.com, the NFL’s top 18 players in terms of average annual salary are all quarterbacks. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason. That deal vaulted Jefferson past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa as the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.

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Who is the highest-paid NFL player in 2024?

Here is the full list of the top 20 earners in the league by annual average salary, according to Over The Cap:

1. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: $60 million

2. (tie). Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: $55 million

2 (tie). Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: $55 million

2 (tie). Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers: $55 million

5. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins: $53.1 million

6. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: $53 million

7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: $52.5 million

8. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: $52 million

9. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: $51 million

10. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: $46.1 million

11. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns: $46 million

12 (tie). Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons: $45 million

12 (tie). Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs: $45 million

14. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: $43 million

15 (tie). Daniel Jones, New York Giants: $40 million

15 (tie). Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: $40 million

17 (tie). Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints: $37.5 million

17 (tie). Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets: $37.5 million

19. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings: $35 million

20. Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: $34 million

Here’s the highest-paid list for all the positions

Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive tackles
Offensive guards
Centers
Edge rushers
Interior defensive linemen
Linebackers
Cornerbacks
Safeties
Kickers
Punters

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