The calm of the offseason is beginning to morph into a whirlwind as the National Football League (NFL) is witnessing some of its top defensive talent securing lucrative contracts. The procession started when Maxx Crosby, a formidable pass-rusher, became the recipient of the highest non-QB contract in the history of the NFL from the Las Vegas Raiders. The deal sees him bagging a staggering $35.5 million annually.
In merely a matter of days, Myles Garrett’s contract managed to outshine Crosby’s when the Cleveland Browns rewarded him with an extension that boasts of $40 million annually. The game of one-upmanship did not end there. When the market of free agents sprung open, the New England Patriots christened it with the contract of Milton Williams, their stalwart defensive tackle, standing at an impressive $26 million annually.
But the spree of rewarding the NFL’s most respected pass-rushers was not the only ongoing trend. The cornerback for the Carolina Panthers, Jaycee Horn, emerged as the highest-earning cornerback in the entire league through his four-year, $100 million contract extension. This places Horn firmly ahead of Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins, whose salary stands at $24.1 million.
Several other revered figures in the defense have been brought back into the fold through re-signings in recent times. This prestigious list includes names such as Nick Bosa, Chris Jones, and Brian Burns. This phenomenon by no means implies that there aren’t other defensive stars chomping at the bit for their turn to redefine the market – ensuring the names of players like T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, and Aidan Hutchinson stay fresh in one’s mind.
The inquiry naturally arises now – where do these newly inked deals feature among the biggest of their kind in the realm of defense? It’s insightful to analyze the pecking order of highest-earning defensive players in the NFL, surfacing on the benchmark of average annual salaries.
Spurning Garrett’s request for a trade, the Browns inked a deal with him that pitches him as the highest-earning non-QB in the history of the league. This four-year extension of $160 million has a guarantee of $122.8 million and includes a full no-trade clause; alluding to Garrett’s cemented place in Cleveland through the 2030 season.
Crosby, the shining star of the Raiders, finds himself at the number two spot on the highest-paid defenders, a position he briefly owned as the highest. His earnings supersede those of Bosa, the eminent star of the San Francisco 49ers who captured the leading spot with a rewarding extension just before the 2023 season. That stint at the top, however, lasted him two years.
The fourth name on this list of earners is Chris Jones who, at $31.75 million per year, is the highest earner among defensive tackles. He rakes in more than $4 million more than his closest competitor in position, Christian Wilkins, who pockets $27.5 million annually.
In the echelons of NFL secondary, Jaycee Horn clearly steals the limelight as he pulls in a yearly $25 million. The gap between him and the following contender, Ramsey, is less than a million dollars (Ramsey earns $24.1 million). Next on this ladder are the Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II ($24 million), and Jaire Alexander ($21 million).
It’s revealing to look at a comprehensive listing of the top 20 highest-paid defensive players of the NFL, culminating in a ranking based on average annual salaries. These rankings, according to Spotrac, exude a wealth of information about the current financial climate of the league.