The NFL rewards its top players with fame, endorsements, and heaps of money and every year, NFL contracts seem to get bigger. That’s why we have put together a list of the biggest NFL contracts ever signed. Every week, it seems like a new quarterback signs a contract worth nine figures in guaranteed money. And as the league’s revenue grows, these contract numbers will only rise, whether there’s a salary cap or not.
While quarterbacks have snagged most of the highest-paying contracts in history, players in other positions have also scored big. Below, we’ll take a look at the biggest NFL contracts of all time.
However, because some of the biggest contracts in NFL history aren’t necessarily guaranteed, some fans need an explanation of free agency. However, some of the largest NFL contracts in history have also turned out to be the worst.
This prompted us to list the largest NFL contracts ever, as well as to analyse how some of those deals turned out and if they were ultimately worthwhile.
1. Patrick Mahomes: $477 million (10 years)
There’s a chance that no player will ever surpass the 10-year, $477 million contract extension that Patrick Mahomes signed in 2020, which had a potential value of $503 million.
Honestly, it’s difficult to imagine a player having a higher value than Mahomes. He plays a sport without a salary cap, and he even signed a bigger contract than Mike Trout.
Only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have signed contracts worth more money globally than Mahomes did. Put another way, Mahomes set the standard, and it’s doubtful that anyone will ever surpass the largest contract in NFL history.
2. Josh Allen – $258 million (6 years)
Josh Allen was signed by the Bills to one of the largest NFL contracts ever because they have a strong desire to win a Super Bowl. Allen signed a $258 million, six-year contract deal before the 2021 season, of which $150 million was guaranteed.
Allen will have until at least 2028 under that contract to guide the Bills to a Super Bowl victory. He has undoubtedly shown that he is among the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks. To put it mildly, the Bills endured one bad quarterback after another for more than a decade. Keep that in mind as well.
You can’t blame the Bills for giving Allen the money and having faith that he will one day win a Super Bowl after going through so many difficult years.
3. Lamar Jackson – $260 million (5 years)
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens negotiated a long-term contract back and forth. In the end, Baltimore was forced to place the franchise tag on him in 2023 despite reports that the two sides were at odds, which may have resulted in Jackson being traded.
However, an agreement was eventually made in April 2023, giving Jackson a $260 million contract for five years. With an annual compensation of $52 million, Jackson has the biggest salary in NFL history. A significant sum for a player with Jackson’s injury history, $185 million in guaranteed money was included in the former MVP’s contract.
4. Russell Wilson – 5 years, $245 million
However, an agreement was eventually made in April 2023, giving Jackson a $260 million contract for five years. With an annual compensation of $52 million, Jackson has the biggest salary in NFL history. A significant sum for a player with Jackson’s injury history, $185 million in guranteed money was included in the former MVPO’s contract.
Wilson’s first season in Denver didn’t quite go as planned, which may make this contract appear to be among the worst in NFL history. Wilson, in his defence, still has a few years to make up for a disappointing season and add his name to the list of illustrious quarterbacks who have led the Broncos to a Super Bowl, which already includes Peyton Manning and John Elway.
5. Kyler Murray – $230.5 million (5 years)
A quarterback with Kyler Murray’s skill and potential is difficult to let go of, which is why the Cardinals awarded him one of the largest NFL contracts ever in 2022. Murray received $230.5 million in five years from his arrangement, with $160 million in guaranteed funds.
Even though Murray had already made it to two Pro Bowls, he had yet to win a postseason game. In addition, the Cardinals struggled in Murray’s 11 starts during the 2022 season immediately following his extension, raising doubts about the team’s potential regret over the trade.
6. Deshaun Watson –$230 million (5 years)
Deshaun Watson’s $230 million, five-year contract with the Browns can arguably be considered the most dubious in NFL history. In addition to receiving a fully guaranteed deal, Cleveland had to forfeit three first- and three mid-round picks in order to acquire Watson.
Remember that amid a flurry of litigation and some rather heinous charges, Watson missed a whole season of play. Watson only played six games in 2022 because of a suspension, so the Browns will need to wait a long time to see any return on their investment on Watson’s contract.
7. Jalen Hurts – $225 million (5 years)
The Eagles granted Jalen Hurts a five-year contract deal for $255 million, including $180 million in guaranteed money, just after he led the team to the Super Bowl. Hurts became the first player to receive a full no-trade clause from the Eagles with this contract.
More significantly, Hurts was momentarily the highest-paid player in NFL history in terms of yearly income according to the contract’s average salary of $51 million per season. Of course, it remains to be seen if Hurts can live up to that.