Ranking the highestpaid NFL players: Where does Jaxon SmithNjigba&x27;s contract rank? Jacob Camenker, USA TODAYMon, March 23, 2026 at 3:15 PM UTC 0 After winning the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year award for 2025, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon SmithNjigba is set to become the NFL's highestpaid wide receiver. SmithNjigba and the Seahawks have agreed to a fouryear extension worth $168.6 million, according to multiple reports. The 24yearold will make $120 million in guarantees as part of the deal.
Ranking the highest-paid NFL players: Where does Jaxon Smith-Njigba's contract rank?
Jacob Camenker, USA TODAYMon, March 23, 2026 at 3:15 PM UTC
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After winning the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year award for 2025, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is set to become the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver.
Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks have agreed to a four-year extension worth $168.6 million, according to multiple reports. The 24-year-old will make $120 million in guarantees as part of the deal.
Smith-Njigba's contract is the latest reset for the league's burgeoning wide receiver market. Cincinnati Bengals star Ja'Marr Chase previously had the most lucrative receiver contract, valued at $40.25 million annually, but Smith-Njigba's average annual value (AAV) of $42.15 million has now surpassed that.
But where does Smith-Njigba's deal rank among all players in the league? While the pact will make him one of the 20 highest-paid players in the league, its value is still, unsurprisingly, lagging behind the ever-growing deals NFL teams are doling out to star quarterbacks.
Here's a look at the NFL's highest-paid players for 2026 in the wake of Smith-Njigba's extension.
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Who is the highest-paid NFL player?
In terms of AAV, Dak Prescott is the NFL's highest-paid quarterback. He is making $60 million per year on the four-year extension he signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.
The largest overall contract belongs to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. He inked a 10-year, $450 million contract in 2020 that has yet to be surpassed.
Highest-paid NFL players: Full list
Most of the NFL's highest-paid players are quarterbacks. However, a handful of edge rushers and a couple of wide receivers also crack the top 20.
Here's a look at the full list of the NFL's highest-paid players in terms of both AAV and total contract value.
AAV -
1. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys: $60 million
T-2. Josh Allen, QB, Bills: $55 million
T-2. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals: $55 million
T-2. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars: $55 million
T-2. Jordan Love, QB, Packers: $55 million
T-6. Jared Goff, QB, Lions: $53 million
T-6. Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers: $53 million
8. Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers: $52.5 million
9. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens: $52 million
10. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles: $51 million
11. Micah Parsons, edge, Packers: $46.5 million
12. Deshaun Watson, QB, Browns: $46 million
T-13. Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Lions: $45 million
T-13. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs: $45 million
15. Daniel Jones, QB, Colts: $44 million
16. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks: $42.15 million
17. T.J. Watt, edge, Steelers: $41 million
18. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals: $40.25 million
19. Danielle Hunter, edge, Texans: $40.1 million
T-20. Myles Garrett, edge, Browns: $40 million
T-20. Matt Stafford, QB, Rams: $40 million
Total contract value -
1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs: $450 million
2. Josh Allen, QB, Bills: $330 million
T-3. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals: $275 million
T-3. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars: $275 million
5. Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers: $265 million
6. Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers: $262.5 million
7. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens: $260 million
8. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles: $255 million
9. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys: $240 million
10. Deshaun Watson, QB, Browns: $230 million
11. Jordan Love, QB, Packers: $220 million
12. Jared Goff, QB, Lions: $212 million
13. Micah Parsons, edge, Packers: $186 million
14. Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Lions: $180 million
15. Nick Bosa, edge, 49ers: $170 million
16. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks: $168.6 million
17. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Bengals: $161 million
18. Myles Garrett, edge, Browns: $160 million
19. Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs: $158.75 million
20. Josh Hines-Allen, edge, Jaguars: $141.25 million
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL's highest-paid players: Biggest NFL contracts in 2026
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Source: Sports
Published: March 23, 2026 at 05:27PM on Source: MORNING MAG
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