The $60 Million Man: Ranking The 10 Highest-Paid NFL Players By Average Salary In 2025

The landscape of NFL contracts is constantly being reshaped by blockbuster deals, and as of December 18, 2025, a new king sits atop the salary mountain. This highly coveted title, measured by Average Annual Value (AAV), currently belongs to a star quarterback whose recent contract extension shattered previous records, setting a staggering new benchmark for player compensation in professional football.

The arms race for elite quarterback talent continues to drive the market, with the top ten list almost exclusively dominated by signal-callers. This article breaks down the financial titans of the league, revealing the exact figures that make them the highest-paid athletes, and explores the contract structures that secure their generational wealth.

Biography: Rayne Dakota "Dak" Prescott—The $60 Million Quarterback

The player who currently holds the title of the NFL's highest-paid athlete by AAV is the Dallas Cowboys' quarterback, Dak Prescott. His contract is a testament to his value to "America's Team" and the soaring price of elite QB play.

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• Full Name: Rayne Dakota Prescott
• Born: July 29, 1993 (Age 32 as of 2025)
• Team: Dallas Cowboys
• Position: Quarterback (QB)
• College: Mississippi State University
• NFL Draft: 2016, Round 4, 135th overall pick
• Career Highlights: 3x Pro Bowl selection (2016, 2018, 2022), 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, 2016 Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) Offensive Rookie of the Year.
• Contract AAV: $60 Million (Highest in NFL history)

Prescott’s journey is one of the NFL's great underdog stories. Drafted in the fourth round, he was initially intended to be a backup but was thrust into the starting role due to an injury to Tony Romo. He immediately excelled, earning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and cementing his place as the Cowboys' franchise quarterback. His latest contract extension reflects his sustained performance and the team's commitment to him as their long-term leader.

The Top 10 Highest-Paid NFL Players by Average Annual Value (AAV)

The Average Annual Value (AAV) is the gold standard for comparing NFL salaries, as it normalizes contracts of different lengths. The list below ranks the league's financial elite for the 2025 season, showcasing the massive investment teams are making in their most valuable assets—primarily quarterbacks. The gap between the top QB and the highest-paid player at any other position is vast, underscoring the positional value in the modern NFL.

The Contract Details That Define Generational Wealth

While the $60 million AAV for Dak Prescott is the headline number, a player's true financial security lies in two other critical metrics: Total Contract Value and Guaranteed Money. These figures reveal the long-term commitment and the immediate, risk-free payout a player receives.

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The Importance of Guaranteed Money

In the NFL, contracts are notoriously non-guaranteed, meaning a team can cut a player and avoid paying the remaining salary. The exception is Guaranteed Money. This is the amount a player is guaranteed to receive, regardless of injury (sometimes with specific exclusions), performance, or being cut. It is the most important figure for a player's financial stability.

• Dak Prescott's Guaranteed Money: While the exact breakdown varies, Prescott's guaranteed money is expected to be among the highest in the league, often exceeding $150 million, ensuring a massive payout even if his career were to end prematurely.
• Signing Bonus: A large portion of the guaranteed money is typically paid out as a signing bonus, a lump sum paid immediately upon signing the contract. A signing bonus is always guaranteed.

The Total Contract Value vs. AAV Discrepancy

The total contract value can be misleading, as it is spread over many years and often includes "dummy years" or voidable years to manipulate the salary cap. For instance, Patrick Mahomes' landmark 10-year, $450 million deal has a massive total value, but his AAV of $45 million is now surpassed by newer contracts like Prescott's and Burrow's, which are shorter and have a higher AAV. This is why AAV is the best measure of a player's market rate.

The Highest-Paid Non-Quarterbacks: A Separate Financial Tier

The top 10 list clearly shows that the quarterback position is in a financial class of its own. However, the market for elite defensive and offensive linemen, as well as star wide receivers, is also surging. The highest-paid player who is *not* a quarterback often sets the bar for every other position.

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For the 2025 season, the highest-paid non-quarterback is typically a premier defensive end or edge rusher. These players are second only to quarterbacks in terms of market value due to their ability to disrupt the passing game—the most valuable action in the NFL. Names like Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns and Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions, along with elite wide receivers like Ja'Marr Chase, consistently push the envelope for non-QB salaries, often landing in the $30 million to $40 million AAV range.

Key Non-QB Entities and Their Impact:

• Myles Garrett (DE, Cleveland Browns): One of the league's most dominant pass rushers, his contract reflects the essential nature of a game-wrecking defensive end.
• Ja'Marr Chase (WR, Cincinnati Bengals): Represents the new wave of elite wide receivers demanding top-tier QB money, justifying their value as primary offensive weapons.
• T.J. Watt (EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers): A perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, his deal is a benchmark for veteran defensive stars.

The constant negotiation and renegotiation of these contracts means the "highest-paid" title is a revolving door, often lasting only months before a new star signs a slightly larger deal. The trend is clear: as the NFL's salary cap continues to rise, player contracts will only get bigger, ensuring that Dak Prescott's $60 million AAV is likely just the next stepping stone to a future, even more massive, record-breaking deal.