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Top 20 Highest Paid Quarterbacks

In the high-stakes world of professional football, I’ve observed that the quarterback reigns supreme. Their leadership, strategic vision, and ability to execute plays play a decisive role in determining the fate of their teams, establishing them as the most valuable players on the field. It comes as no surprise, then, that quarterbacks also command the highest salaries in the sport.

From the perspective of young, rising stars to seasoned veterans, these quarterbacks stand at the pinnacle of their position. I invite you to join me in witnessing the profound impact they have on the game and understanding the various factors that contribute to their remarkable financial rewards. As I navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the NFL, I explore the future of quarterback salaries and consider the potential implications for the game’s financial ecosystem. In this article, we take a deep dive into the world of these elite playmakers, unveiling the top 20 highest-paid quarterbacks in 2023 based on their average annual salary.

1. Joe Burrow – $55 million

Joe Burrow is the highest-paid player in NFL history after signing his contract extension with the Bengals as the 2023 season got going. Burrow averages a salary of $55 million. In terms of total guarantees, he’s now second behind Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns.

Burrow struggled as he dealt with a calf injury through the first four games of the season two touchdowns, and two interceptions. After turning it around, he was lost for the remainder of the season with a wrist injury that has the Bengals under scrutiny from the NFL. It’s his second season-ending injury in four years.

2. Patrick Mahomes – $52.6 million

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Patrick Mahomes signed a restructured contract that once again makes him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. Mahomes’ new deal allows for him to potentially negotiate a new contract with Kansas City after the 2026 season. 

He had previously agreed to a 10-year, $450 million contract back in 2020. With the way the NFL quarterback market continues to reset itself, it made sense for the Chiefs to take care of the reigning NFL and Super Bowl MVP. 

3. Justin Herbert – $52.5 million

Justin Herbert signed his deal with the Chargers back in July of 2023, becoming the highest-paid player in the NFL. That lasted all of six weeks before Joe Burrow one-upped him. 

Either way, we’re talking about two quarterbacks who will be doing battle in the AFC for years to come. Through his first 57 career starts, Herbert has posted 114 touchdowns compared to 41 interceptions.

4. Lamar Jackson – $52 million

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Lamar Jackson’s deal surpassed the five-year, $255 million extension Jalen Hurts signed with the Philadelphia Eagles earlier in the 2023 NFL offseason. His $185 million in total guarantees now ranks fourth among NFL players behind Deshaun Watson, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.

Since Baltimore made Jackson a late first-round pick back in 2018, he has posted a 54-19 record as its starting quarterback. With him sidelined during this span, the Ravens are a mere 8-13. This shows us how valuable Jackson is to his team.

5. Jalen Hurts – $51 million

Just over two months after leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a surprise Super Bowl appearance, Hurts became the highest-paid player in the NFL. His $255 million deal surpassed Aaron Rodgers on a per-year basis by less than one million. His total guarantees are now the fifth-most in league history. 

Even with Burrow, Herbert and Jackson having topped him more recently, Hurts’ contract was very player-friendly. Since the start of the 2022 season, Hurts has posted a 24-2 regular season record. He’s also accounted for 64 total touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

6. Russell Wilson – $48.52 million

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Russell Wilson is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He previously played his first 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson has been regarded as one of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks of all time.

Wilson’s first season with the Denver after a blockbuster trade from the Seattle Seahawks did not go according to plan. The team won just four of his 15 starts. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired after less than a full season. For his part, Wilson put up the worst statistical performance of his career.

7. Kyler Murray – $46.1 million

Murray is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. Following a stint with Texas A&M University, Murray played college football at the University of Oklahoma, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a junior. The contract Murray signed back in the 2022 offseason made him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks. However, the details were not too friendly for the former No. 1 overall pick. His deal called for just $103 million fully guaranteed. That was less than half of what Deshaun Watson received months before.

8. Deshaun Watson – $46 million

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Deshaun Watson is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He played college football at Clemson, where he led the team to a national championship in 2016. Watson was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.

9. Josh Allen – $43 million

Josh Allen is an American football quarterback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He played college football at Wyoming, where he was a bowl game MVP, and was selected seventh overall by the Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Throughout his final 12 starts, postseason included, Allen accounted for an eye-opening 17 giveaways. He has the Bills at a mere 6-6 this season while tallying 33 total touchdowns with 16 giveaways.

10. Daniel Jones – $40 million

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Daniel Jones is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He played college football at Duke and was selected sixth overall by the Giants in the 2019 NFL Draft. 

Jones inked this contract with New York on the eve of the NFL free agency opening this past March. It came after he led the Giants to a surprise playoff appearance despite throwing a mere 15 touchdowns.

11. Matthew Stafford – $40 million

Matthew Stafford is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. He played college football at Georgia and was selected first overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Stafford inked his current deal months after leading the Rams to the Super Bowl title in his first season with the organization. At that point, it seemed to be a win-win for everyone involved. Stafford then missed the end of last season with a spinal cord injury. Los Angeles found itself starting Baker Mayfield to close out the lost season. 

12. Dak Prescott – $40 million

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Dak Prescott is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at Mississippi State, where he twice received first-team All-SEC honors, and was selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Intended to serve as a backup in his rookie season, Prescott became the Cowboys’ starting quarterback after starter Tony Romo was injured in the preseason. He went on to lead the Cowboys to the top seed of the National Football Conference and set several rookie quarterback records, earning him Offensive Rookie of the Year. Prescott has since led the Cowboys to two additional division titles and made two Pro Bowl appearances. In 2022, he won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

13. Derek Carr –  $37.5 million

Derek Carr is an American football quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs, where he twice received first-team All-MW honors, and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

A four-time Pro Bowler, Carr helped the Raiders reach the playoffs during the 2016 season, the franchise’s first appearance since 2002, as well as another postseason berth in 2021. Following a 2022 season that was below expectations, Carr lost his starting job and agreed with Raiders leadership to be released following the conclusion of the season. He left the Raiders as the franchise leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and pass completions.

14. Aaron Rodgers –  $37.5 million

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Aaron Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. Rodgers is second on the NFL’s all-time regular-season career passer rating list, with a regular-season career passer rating of over 100 the first to ever have a career rating over 100 while also having had the highest passer rating, the best touchdown-to-interception ratio and the lowest passing interception percentage in NFL history throughout the entire 2010s decade. Outside of football, Rodgers has a minority ownership stake in the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

15. Kirk Cousins – $35 million

Kirk Cousins is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan State and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft as a backup to fellow rookie Robert Griffin III. 

After two years of signing franchise tags and being unable to agree with the team on a long-term deal, Cousins signed a fully guaranteed three-year US$84 million contract with the Vikings as a free agent in 2018. He ranks fifth all-time in completion percentage with at least 1,500 pass attempts and is seventh in the NFL’s all-time regular season career passer rating.

16. Jared Goff –  $33.5 million

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Jared Goff is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He played college football for the California Golden Bears, setting Pac-12 Conference season records for passing yards and passing touchdowns. Goff was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2016 NFL Draft.

After an unsuccessful rookie season, Goff rebounded in his second year when he helped lead the Rams to their first winning season in 14 years and their first playoff appearance in 13 years. Goff oversaw further improved fortunes for the Rams in 2018, which saw the team reach Super Bowl LIII, the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since 2001. He also received Pro Bowl honours in both seasons. 

17. Ryan Tannehill – $29.5 million

Ryan Tannehill is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M, where he was a wide receiver until his junior year, and was drafted eighth overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Tannehill spent his first seven seasons as the Dolphins’ primary starter before being traded to the Titans in 2019. Initially serving as a backup, Tannehill became the starter midway through the season and led the team to the AFC Championship Game. He was also named NFL Comeback Player of the Year and selected to the Pro Bowl. During his next two seasons, Tannehill helped the Titans clinch consecutive division titles.

18. Geno Smith – $25 million

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Geno Smith is an American football quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He played college football at West Virginia, leading the Mountaineers to multiple bowl games, breaking numerous passing records, and garnering multiple awards before getting drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

19. Jimmy Garoppolo – $24.25 million

Jimmy Garoppolo is an American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League. He played college football at Eastern Illinois University, setting multiple school records for career passing yards and passing touchdowns and winning the Walter Payton Award as a senior.

Garoppolo was selected in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, where he spent his first four seasons as Tom Brady’s backup and was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams.

20. Jordan Love – $13.5 million

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Jordan Love is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He played college football for the Utah State Aggies, where he was named to the second-team All-MWC and was selected as the MVP of the 2018 New Mexico Bowl. 

Love signed a contract extension with Green Bay entering his first season as Aaron Rodgers’ heir-apparent. It gave him a bit of a raise upfront while enabling the Packers to avoid the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

These quarterbacks represent the elite of the position, not just in terms of talent but also in terms of compensation. Their salaries reflect the immense impact they have on their teams and the importance of the quarterback position in the modern NFL.