One look at the list of the highest-paid players on each NFL team reveals that quarterbacks are often the highest-paid players.
But not always.
Several NFL teams have quarterbacks still on their rookie deals, while others have chosen to put a premium on some other positions. Some teams have edge rushers, wide receivers, defensive linemen and offensive linemen as their highest-paid player for the 2026 season.
Take a look at each team's highest-paid player for the 2026 season, from a team whose highest-paid player makes $64 million in average annual salary to a team whose highest-paid player makes $19.1 million per year.
Salary information courtesy of overthecap.com (through Aug. 30, 2026).
season
NFL's highest-paid players by team in 2026 (average salary per year):
- Kansas City Chiefs: QB Patrick Mahomes: $64 million
- Dallas Cowboys: QB Dak Prescott: $60 million
- Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow: $55 million
- Buffalo Bills: QB Josh Allen: $55 million
- Green Bay Packers: QB Jordan Love: $55 million
- Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence: $55 million
- Los Angeles Rams: QB Matthew Stafford: $55 million
- Detroit Lions: QB Jared Goff: $53 million
- San Francisco 49ers: QB Brock Purdy: $53 million
- Los Angeles Chargers: QB Justin Herbert: $52.5 million
- Baltimore Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson: $52 million
- Philadelphia Eagles: QB Jalen Hurts: $51 million
- Houston Texans: EDGE Will Anderson Jr.: $50 million
- Cleveland Browns: QB Deshaun Watson: $46 million
- Indianapolis Colts: QB Daniel Jones: $44 million
- Seattle Seahawks: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: $42.2 million
- Pittsburgh Steelers: EDGE T.J. Watt: $41 million
- Las Vegas Raiders: EDGE Maxx Crosby: $35.5 million
- Atlanta Falcons: WR Drake London: $35.3 million
- Tennessee Titans: DL Jeffery Simmons: $35.3 million
- Minnesota Vikings: WR Justin Jefferson: $35 million
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Baker Mayfield: $33.3 million
- New York Jets: WR Garrett Wilson: $32.5 million
- New England Patriots: WR A.J. Brown: $32 million
- New Orleans Saints: WR Chris Olave: $31 million
- Washington Commanders: OL Laremy Tunsil: $30.1 million
- Carolina Panthers: EDGE Jaelan Phillips: $30 million
- Chicago Bears: OL Darnell Wright: $29 million
- Denver Broncos: WR Jaylen Waddle: $28.3 million
- New York Giants: EDGE Brian Burns: $28.2 million
- Miami Dolphins: QB Malik Willis: $22.5 million
- Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Josh Sweat: $19.1 million
- Source: overthecap.com
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL's highest paid players by team for 2026 includes Dak Prescott
