The 2026 NFL season is about to get started. It will pit 100s of athletes against each other in grueling competition over the next 5-6 months, climaxing with Super Bowl LXI in California in February.
It’s a tough gig, for sure, with players literally putting their bodies on the line for their teams. Nonetheless, it is one that has handsome financial rewards, especially for the elite players.
But who will be earning the most across the new season? We can cite the ten players in line to earn the most through their contracts. Note that these are annual figures and total contract value will depend on length. In addition, you’ll note that the top NFL earners all play the same position – quarterback.
Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, $63.1M
Mahomes has been handsomely rewarded for leading the Kansas City Chiefs through an incredibly rich period of success, which included three Super Bowl wins. He suffered a serious injury last season, but Chiefs fans will be hoping to see him bounce back this season.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys, $60M
Prescott enters his 11th season with Dallas but is still looking to lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl. Unbelievably for such a storied franchise, he has only managed to play seven Playoff games in a Cowboys uniform.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams, $55M
The reigning MVP and veteran QB will be hoping to lead the Rams to another Super Bowl in February. Stafford is one of those players who seems to get better with age, and he’s experiencing a second golden era with the Rams after spending the entire 2010s with the Detroit Lions.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills, $55M
2024’s MVP is tagged as the favorite to win this year’s award again with DraftKings NFL betting. He is the star player on the Bills’ roster, and he has been tasked with finally delivering a Super Bowl to a city with famously rotten luck in championships.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers, $55M
With all due respect to Love, he may be the player on this list with the most to prove as a high earner. That’s not to say he hasn’t been good in a Packers uniform, but it’s more about the 27-year-old building on his potential. This season feels pivotal if he is to stake a claim among the best NFL quarterbacks.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars, $55M
Speaking of potential, 26-year-old Lawrence had his breakout season last term, putting in mature performances as he led the Jaguars to a 13-4 record and a taste of the Playoffs. There might be questions as to whether the Jags management has done enough to build a team around him.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals, $55M
After a stellar 2024 season, injury cut short Burrow’s 2025 campaign, limiting him to eight games. The fact he has won NFL Comeback Player of the Year twice tells you a lot about his topsy-turvy career, but nobody questions his talent when he’s fit and firing.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers, $53M
Purdy has had his ups and downs also, and he has not yet recaptured the magic that saw him deliver a massive 2023 season, leading the league in several metrics and getting a Pro Bowl nod. He’s only 26, so there could be plenty more to come.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions, $53M
Jared Goff has grown into an elite QB, first spending five years with the Rams and now going into his sixth season with the Lions. He holds several individual records, including becoming the first NFL QB in history to complete all his passes in a single game (min 10 passes attempted).
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers, $52.5M
After a brilliant rookie season with the Chargers in 2020, Herbert has grown into his role as franchise star. He’s 22-11 over the past two seasons, showing real signs that he and the underrated Chargers could deliver something special in the coming years. The only blot on his resume is he has yet to win a postseason game (0-3),
