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Patrick Mahomes is the NFL’s highest-paid player in Forbes’ 2026 estimated earnings ranking, at $86.8 million. The list combines estimated on-field earnings with off-field income, so it is not a ranking of base salaries, contract values, or salary-cap charges. Forbes’ figures reflect contracts signed by September 12, 2026.
Forbes’ 10 highest-paid NFL players in 2026
All ten players in the ranking are quarterbacks. Figures below are Forbes’ estimates in U.S. dollars; the on-field and off-field amounts add to each player’s estimated total.
| Rank | Player | Team and position | Estimated total earnings | On-field | Off-field |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs, QB | $86.8 million | $56.8 million | $30 million |
| 2 | Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills, QB | $73 million | $55 million | $18 million |
| 3 | Jared Goff | Detroit Lions, QB | $60 million | $55 million | $5 million |
| 4 | Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles, QB | $56.5 million | $51.5 million | $5 million |
| 5 | Tua Tagovailoa | Atlanta Falcons, QB | $56 million | $54 million | $2 million |
| 6 | Jordan Love | Green Bay Packers, QB | $54.4 million | $50.4 million | $4 million |
| T-7 | Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens, QB | $54 million | $52 million | $2 million |
| T-7 | Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers, QB | $54 million | $50 million | $4 million |
| 9 | Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys, QB | $52 million | $40 million | $12 million |
| 10 | Daniel Jones | Indianapolis Colts, QB | $51.5 million | $49.5 million | $2 million |
Forbes’ 2026 ranking estimates the ten players’ combined earnings at $598 million. That is 5% above the $571 million reported for 2025, but below the $693 million record total Forbes cited for 2024.
What the earnings figures include
Forbes’ on-field estimates include base salary and bonuses paid in 2026 or tied to the 2026 season, for contracts signed by September 12, 2026. The estimate excludes bonuses dependent on individual or team performance during 2026. Forbes rounds on-field figures to the nearest $100,000.
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Off-field estimates cover annual cash from endorsements, licensing, appearances, memorabilia, and cash returns from businesses in which a player has a significant interest. Forbes bases those estimates on conversations with industry sources and rounds them to the nearest $1 million. It excludes investment income such as interest and dividends, but counts payouts from sold equity stakes. The totals do not subtract taxes or agents’ fees.
How earnings differ from contract value and salary-cap charge
A total-earnings estimate is not the same as a contract’s average annual value (AAV), a player’s base salary for one season, or the amount charged against a team’s salary cap. Each measure answers a different question: Forbes estimates earnings across on-field and off-field sources, while contract rankings may sort deals by AAV. For example, NFL.com’s 2026 contract ranking uses average annual contract value.
The distinction matters when comparing players. Mahomes’ $86.8 million is an estimated total that includes $30 million off the field; it should not be read as his salary or cap hit. Likewise, the $301.2 million 2026 league salary cap is a team-level limit, not money earned by an individual player. The NFL Football Operations salary-cap figures put the cap at $301.2 million in 2026, up from $279.2 million in 2025.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Notable details behind the ranking
Mahomes leads with on-field and off-field earnings
Mahomes’ $86.8 million estimate comprises $56.8 million on the field and $30 million off it—the largest off-field estimate among the ten players.
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Tagovailoa’s total is not simply his Falcons salary
Forbes reports that Miami still owed Tagovailoa $54 million guaranteed after his release, while his one-year deal with Atlanta would pay $1.2 million. Its $54 million on-field estimate reflects the report’s accounting of his 2026 earnings; it should not be described as a $54 million Falcons salary.
Love’s listed amount is the ranking figure
Forbes lists Love at $50.4 million on the field. The report notes that an active-game provision could bring the figure to about $51 million if he remains healthy, but the ranking uses $50.4 million.
What the ranking says about NFL earnings
Forbes’ 2026 top-ten threshold is $51.5 million, nearly twice the $26.2 million threshold it cited five years earlier and 9% above the $47.2 million threshold in 2024. Meanwhile, the league salary cap rose above $300 million for the first time in 2026. The cap provides useful financial context, but it does not determine how much any individual player earns.
The ranking is an estimate, not an audited final tally of cash received. Its team labels and earnings reflect Forbes’ September 2026 reporting snapshot, and the contract cutoff means later agreements are outside its scope.
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