The NFL players’ union has announced the redistribution of funds from royalty payments that players received during last season. These payments are what players made for their likeness being distributed, from their inclusion in the Madden video game to jersey and collectable sales.
At the top of this year’s leaderboard is Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who made $17.7 million, according to the NFLPA’s documents. That smashes the all-time single-season record of $9.5 million in royalty
payments set by Tom Brady in his first year with Tampa Bay. For perspective, last year’s leader was then-rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who brought home around $4 million.
While the NFLPA’s document is thorough, some players receive their money through LLCs rather than directly. For the Green Bay Packers, this is the case for running back Josh Jacobs, receiver Christian Watson and pass-rusher Micah Parsons.
Beyond the excluded, though, here are the top-earning Packers in royalty payments for 2025:
Highest paid Packers — NFLPA royalties, 2025
- QB Jordan Love: $1,865,057
- WR Matthew Golden: $863,333
- WR Savion Williams: $258,422
- WR Jayden Reed: $176,695
- TE Tucker Kraft: $139,074
- CB Trevon Diggs: $110,573
- S Xavier McKinney: $107,033
- RB MarShawn Lloyd: $95,090
- WR Romeo Doubs: $62,883
- LB Edgerrin Cooper: $61,713
Most of the Packers make around $37,000 in royalties, mostly made up from the Madden check. Offensive skill players generally do well, especially younger players — as evidenced by Matthew Golden, Savion Williams and MarShawn Lloyd making the team’s top eight earners.
Yes, we included Trevon Diggs on the list, who ended the season as a Packer, despite him spending most of the season with the Dallas Cowboys.
It’ll be interesting to see what these numbers look like in 2026, considering Green Bay didn’t draft a single offensive skill player this offseason. Next year, the list might look more true to the Packers’ list of star performers.
