The National Football League (NFL) is easily one of the most popular sports leagues across the world. With millions of viewers and fans worldwide, it’s no surprise that NFL players earn some of the highest salaries in sports.

When it comes to salaries, the NFL stands out among other sports leagues. According to Forbes, the average salary of an NFL player is approximately $2.7 million, which is lower than the NBA’s $7.7 million and MLB’s $4.4 million. Keep in mind, however, that the averages can be skewed by very high salaries paid to some players as well as the number of players on the league’s teams. For example, NFL teams have more players making lower salaries and bonuses because its teams are larger in number. And many undrafted free agents making an NFL team are paid the league minimum which is currently $750,000 in 2023.

An NFL player’s salary is determined by their experience, position, performance, and stats. For instance, quarterbacks, who are often the most important players on the field, earn the highest salaries. Also, players with the highest performance stats earn more money, especially if they’re playing for a top team. Besides salaries, NFL players also earn bonuses for various achievements such as scoring touchdowns, making the team of the year, or even winning the Super Bowl. These bonuses can add a significant amount to their salaries.

Signing Bonuses Bring Big Money to Players

Professional sports have always been a lucrative industry, with athletes earning millions of dollars for showcasing their skills on the field. In the NFL alone, players earn massive contracts and even more significant signing bonuses. These bonuses are given to players when they sign a new contract with a team, and they can be worth tens of millions of dollars. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the 10 highest signing bonuses ever paid in the NFL at the time of this writing.

1. Patrick Mahomes: $63 million

Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, signed a 10-year contract extension worth $503 million, with a signing bonus of $63 million. The bonus is paid in three installments over three years, with Mahomes receiving $21.7 million upfront.

2. Matt Ryan: $46.5 Million

Matt Ryan, the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback, signed a five-year contract extension in 2018 worth $150 million, with a signing bonus of $46.5 million. The bonus is paid in installments over the course of the contract, with Ryan receiving $15 million upfront.

3. Aaron Rodgers: $33.5 million

Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, signed a four-year contract extension in 2018 worth $134 million, with a signing bonus of $33.5 million. The bonus is paid in installments over the course of the contract, with Rodgers receiving $20 million upfront.

4. Jared Goff: $25 million

Jared Goff, the quarterback for the Detroit Lions, signed a four-year contract extension in 2019 worth $134 million, with a signing bonus of $25 million. The bonus is paid in installments over the course of the contract, with Goff receiving $21 million upfront.

5. Carson Wentz: $24.5 million

Carson Wentz, the quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts, signed a four-year contract extension in 2019 worth $128 million, with a signing bonus of $24.5 million. The bonus is paid in installments over the course of the contract, with Wentz receiving $16.3 million upfront.

6. Kirk Cousins: $22.5 million

Kirk Cousins, the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, signed a three-year contract in 2018 worth $84 million, with a signing bonus of $22.5 million. The bonus is paid in installments over the course of the contract, with Cousins receiving $6 million upfront.

7. Drew Brees: $20 million

Drew Brees, the former quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, signed a two-year contract in 2020 worth $50 million, with a signing bonus of $20 million. The bonus was paid upfront to Brees.

8. DeAndre Hopkins: $21 million

DeAndre Hopkins, a wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, signed a two-year contract extension in 2020 worth $54.5 million, with a signing bonus of $21 million. The bonus is paid in installments over the course of the contract, with Hopkins receiving $5.5 million upfront.

9. Julio Jones: $19.5 million

Julio Jones, a wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans, signed a three-year contract extension worth $66 million, with a signing bonus of $19.5 million. The bonus is paid in installments over the course of the contract, with Jones receiving $11 million upfront.

10. Khalil Mack: $18.3 million

Khalil Mack, a linebacker for the Chicago Bears, signed a six-year contract extension in 2018 worth $141 million, with a signing bonus of $18.3 million. The bonus is paid in installments over the course of the contract, with Mack receiving $7 million upfront.

Summary

From quarterbacks to wide receivers and linebackers, these NFL stars have certainly earned their big paydays. The signing bonuses serve as a testament to the talent and ability of these players, and they are just a fraction of the total contracts these athletes have signed. As the NFL continues to grow and evolve, we can expect to see even more massive contracts and signing bonuses given to the biggest stars in the league.