The List Of 13 Highest Paid NFL Players For 2025 Surprisingly Does Not Include Patrick Mahomes

The 2025 NFL season is soon to kick off with Week 1 scheduled for early September. A number of stars will be playing for new contracts while others will try and prove they’re worthy of their current salaries.

Entering the year, the most highly paid players in the league can be found at the quarterback position. In fact, there isn’t a skill player listed amongst the Top 16 earners for the upcoming campaign.

Surprisingly, Patrick Mahomes will be the 14th-highest paid player in the 2025 season. The average annual value of his contract sits at $45 million.

That’s certainly not pocket change, but given his MVP status, you’d be hard-pressed to find 13 players with more production.

Below, you can find the players set to land a larger payday than Mahomes. These numbers are based strictly on average annual contract value.

Deshaun Watson ($46 million)

Watson landed a fully guaranteed contract with the Browns worth $230 million over five years. His yearly pay is $46 million.

Unfortunately, he’s played in just 19 games across three seasons with Cleveland, going 9-10 as a starter.

Kyler Murray ($46.1 million)

Murray inked a 5-year extension with the Cardinals in 2022 valued at $230.5 million.

His annual pay comes out to $46.1 million, making him the 12th-highest paid NFL player despite a 36-45-1 career record.

Jalen Hurts ($51 million)

Hurts just won his first Super Bowl in his second appearance as an NFL player. He’s proven to be more than worthy of his $51 million salary.

The signal caller has a 5-year contract with the Eagles worth $255 million, which he signed in 2023.

Lamar Jackson ($52 million)

Jackson is paid an average of $52 million thanks to a 5-year, $260 million deal with the Ravens.

He’s backed it up, too, with a pair of MVPs and five playoff appearances.

Justin Herbert ($52.5 million)

Herbert has a 5-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers valued at $262.5 million. That gives him an average annual salary of $52.5 million.

While he’s put up monster numbers as a pro, he’s just 41-38 as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Jared Goff ($53 million)

Goff signed an extension with the Detroit Lions in 2024. That deal was good for $212 million over four years.

The quarterback, who nearly took his team to the Super Bowl in ’23, makes an average of $53 million per year.

Brock Purdy ($53 million)

Purdy landed his payday ahead of the 2025 campaign. His extension with the 49ers is worth $265 million over five seasons.

The average yearly salary sits at $53 million, which is good for the seventh highest total in the NFL.

Tua Tagovailoa ($53.1 million)

Tagovailoa signed a 4-year contract with the Dolphins worth $212.4 million in 2024. His average pay comes out to $53.1 million per season.

Some are skeptical given his history of injury, though he did lead the NFL in passing in 2023.

Jordan Love ($55 million)

Love agreed to a 4-year deal with the Green Bay Packers in 2024. That contract was worth $220 million.

The passer’s average salary is $55 million, which ties for the second highest in the NFL.

Trevor Lawrence ($55 million)

Lawrence inked a 5-year deal worth $275 million before the start of the 2024 season.

He’s gone 22-38 as an NFL starter with 69 touchdowns and 46 interceptions. He was the top pick in the 2021 draft.

Joe Burrow ($55 million)

Burrow signed a 5-year extension with the Bengals worth $275 million. His average pay comes out to $55 million.

Burrow posted career-highs in passing last year. He’s appeared in one Super Bowl, which he lost to the Rams.

Josh Allen ($55 million)

Allen signed a 6-year extension with the Bills worth $330 million. That comes out to an average yearly salary of $55 million.

Allen has earned the pay as the reigning MVP. He’s now after that elusive first Super Bowl ring.

Dak Prescott ($60 million)

Prescott tops the list with an average annual payout of $60 million. He signed a 4-year, $240 million with the Cowboys.

Of that, $231 million is guaranteed. He is the highest paid player in league history.