Who Is The Highest Paid NFL Quarterback?

The highest paid NFL quarterback for the 2019 season is Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, who will earn an estimated $35 million.

Tom Brady- $15 million

As of September 2019, the highest-paid NFL quarterback is Tom Brady, who earns an annual salary of $15 million. Brady is followed by Drew Brees, who earns $13.5 million per year. These figures do not include bonuses or other forms of compensation.

Drew Brees- $13.5 million

In 2012, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension that made him the highest paid player in NFL history at the time.

Brees’ annual salary averages $20 million, with a $37 million signing bonus and $61 million in guaranteed money. He is set to earn $13.5 million in base salary in 2018, with a $500,000 workout bonus.

Eli Manning- $12 million

Eli Manning is currently the highest paid NFL quarterback, earning an annual salary of $12 million. This includes a $5 million signing bonus and a $7 million base salary. In addition to his base salary, Manning also earns bonuses for each game he starts, for each touchdown he throws, and for each passing yards he accrues. In total, Manning can earn up to $18 million per year in salary and bonuses.

Ben Roethlisberger- $11.85 million

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger is the highest-paid NFL quarterback with a salary of $11.85 million in 2020. He is followed by Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers ($10.86 million) and Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson ($10.28 million). All three quarterbacks are among the top five highest-paid NFL players in 2020.

Philip Rivers- $11 million

As of 2019, Philip Rivers is the highest paid NFL quarterback, with an annual salary of $11 million. He is followed by Aaron Rodgers, who makes $10 million per year.

Matthew Stafford- $9.85 million

Matthew Stafford signed a 5-year, $76.5 million contract extension with the Detroit Lions in 2013 that included an NFL record $27 million signing bonus. His base salary for 2017 is $16.5 million with a roster bonus of $6 million and a prorated signing bonus of $10 million for a total cap hit of $22.5 million. In 2018, his base salary will be $17 million with the same roster and signing bonuses for a total cap hit of just over $33 million.

Alex Smith- $9 million

In 2018, Alex Smith is the highest-paid NFL quarterback with an annual salary of $9 million. In 2017, he was traded to the Washington Redskins, where he signed a four-year, $94 million contract extension.

Prior to his time with the Redskins, Smith spent five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he earned a base salary of $7.5 million in 2016. With bonuses and incentives, his total compensation for the year was $20.6 million.

In 2015, Smith was the second-highest paid quarterback in the NFL with a base salary of $16.5 million and total compensation of $22 million.

Since being drafted first overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005, Smith has earned over $135 million in NFL salaries.

Derek Carr- $7.4 million

In 2019, Derek Carr of the Oakland Raiders became the highest paid NFL quarterback with an annual salary of $25 million. He overtook fellow Raider Russel Wilson, who had previously held the title for two years in a row. Derek Carr’s salary is guaranteed, meaning that he will earn his full salary even if he is injured or released from the team.

Colin Kaepernick- $7 million

As of September 2020, the highest paid NFL quarterback is Colin Kaepernick, who earns an annual salary of $7 million. He is followed by Tom Brady, who earns $6 million per year. Kaepernick is also the highest paid player in the history of the NFL, with a total career earnings of $127 million.

Ryan Tannehill- $5.5 million

This year, Ryan Tannehill of the Miami Dolphins will be the highest paid NFL quarterback with an annual salary of $5.5 million. He is followed by Eli Manning of the New York Giants, who will make $5 million. Alex Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs rounds out the top three with an annual salary of $4 million.