Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →In a CBS Sports roundup heading into the 2026 NFL season, Patrick Mahomes is reported as the league’s highest-paid quarterback by average annual value (AAV). The reported leaders at other positions include edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. at $50 million a year, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at $42.15 million, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs at $22.5 million. These are contract leaders—not the average pay of everyone who plays those positions—and the rankings can change when deals are revised or signed.
Highest-paid NFL players by position in the 2026 roundup
The figures below are the position leaders identified in CBS Sports’ roundup heading into the 2026 season. CBS attributes contract values to Spotrac. Its complete table covers additional positions, but the available figures here establish only the leaders shown below; they should not be treated as a complete list of every position. Read the CBS Sports position-by-position roundup.
| Position | Reported leader | Reported AAV | Reported deal detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | Patrick Mahomes | Not stated in the available CBS summary | CBS reports a revised deal that adds two years to his existing agreement and makes him the first player with a contract worth more than $500 million. |
| Running back | Jahmyr Gibbs | $22.5 million per year | Three years, $67.5 million; reported upside to $75.75 million and $51.5 million guaranteed. |
| Wide receiver | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | $42.15 million per year | Four years, $168.8 million. |
| Edge | Will Anderson Jr. | $50 million per year | Three years, $150 million. CBS describes him as the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history at the time of its report. |
The CBS roundup gives the quarterback ranking but the summary available here does not state Mahomes’ AAV. His reported contract value of more than $500 million is a total-deal figure, not an annual figure, so it cannot be substituted for AAV in the table.
Why the answer changes with the date
Contract rankings are snapshots. In NFL.com’s 2025 All-Paid Team, Dak Prescott led the league at $60 million average per year (APY), ahead of a group at $55 million. NFL.com reported Ja’Marr Chase at $40.3 million APY among wide receivers and George Kittle at $19.1 million APY at tight end. Those are 2025 figures, not the current 2026 position rankings. NFL.com’s 2025 All-Paid Team methodology and figures.
#1 Best Overall
- Wilson The Duke NFL Replica Football - Official Size, Brown
- OFFICIAL SIZE: Official regulation size for High School and College Football, ideal for ages 14 and up
- REPLICA STYLE: Built to get as close as we can to the real Duke delivering a similar look and performance, and updated with the red, silver, and blue NFL Shield
- PRECISION LACES: Raised pebbled laces give your fingers stronger grip points allowing for more control, as well as, easier accurate throwing
- COMFORT CONSTRUCTION: A thicker 1.2mm layer of EVA foam underneath outer cover giving the ball a softer grip and feel
NFL.com Senior Researcher Anthony Holzman-Escareno explains the comparison method: “Average per year (APY) is the most accepted measure of comparison for player contracts, so it’s what will be used for our purposes.” APY and AAV are labels commonly used for the average annual contract value in these roundups. A revised deal or a new contract can move the leader without changing what a player receives in any particular season by the same amount.
What “highest-paid” means—and what it does not
AAV or APY divides the contract’s stated value by its term to provide a useful comparison across deals. It is not the same as the cash a player receives in a given season, the salary-cap charge in that season, or the amount that is guaranteed. NFL.com’s reporting separates APY, cash, cap hit and fully guaranteed money rather than treating them as interchangeable measures.
Rank #2
- Wilson NFL Super Grip Composite Football - Official Size, Brown
- SUPERIOR FEEL: Designed for the optimal balance between softness and toughness, the soft composite material enhances the natural feel of the ball, allowing for better handling and precision
- NFL LACING: The classic style laces you know for a trusted game feel
- AIR RETENTION: A Pressure Lock Bladder helps keep your ball fully inflated for longer with less time spent pumping and more time playing
- NFL AUTHENTICITY: Wilson is the Official Football of the NFL and trusted by the world’s best athletes for over 100 years
- AAV/APY: The annualized contract value used to compare the reported deals here.
- Total contract value: The stated value over the contract term; it may include amounts contingent on incentives or other conditions.
- Guaranteed money: The portion protected under the contract’s guarantee terms. It does not by itself describe the timing of payments.
- Cash in a year: The money paid to the player during a particular season or calendar year.
- Salary-cap hit: The amount counted against a team’s salary cap in a given league year.
For example, Gibbs’ reported $22.5 million annual value is not a statement that he will necessarily receive exactly $22.5 million in cash in each season. CBS reports a $51.5 million guarantee and possible upside to $75.75 million on the three-year agreement; those figures describe different contract dimensions.
These are contract leaders, not typical player salaries
A top-of-position contract answers who has the largest reported annual contract average in a snapshot. It does not tell you what an NFL player at that position typically earns. The cited roundups do not establish league-wide mean or median pay by position, so the values above should not be described as average salaries for all quarterbacks, running backs, receivers or edge players.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesRank #3
- Wilson The Duke NFL Game Football - Official Size, Brown
- NFL OFFICIAL: "The Duke" NFL Football is the official ball of the NFL, featuring the world famous Blue, Red, and Silver shield
- SINCE 1941: Wilson and the NFL have the longest official ball partnership in sports, on-field together since 1941
- HANDCRAFTED IN THE US: Made from 100% exclusive Horween leather by Wilson's skilled craftsmen and women in Ada, Ohio
- AUTHENTIC WILSON: The Wilson trademark "W" is pressed into every panel of Wilson NFL leather used to make official NFL game balls
When comparing any two players, use the same measure and snapshot date. AAV is suitable for comparing annualized contract values; compare guarantees with guarantees, cash with cash, and cap hits for the same league year. Mixing those measures can make a deal appear larger or smaller for reasons unrelated to the question being asked.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How reliable are the reported figures?
The 2026 CBS roundup relies on Spotrac for contract values and attributes some deal details to its journalists’ reporting. NFL.com says its 2025 contract information comes from Spotrac. These are published contract summaries, not audited statements of cash received, and not every 2026 term has a separate primary confirmation here. For a consequential comparison of guarantees or deal structure, look for the team announcement or contract record as well as a contract database.
Rank #4
- Wilson NFL MVP Football - Official Size, Brown
- SIGNATURE LOOK: Classic design inspired by NFL legends—built for players of all ages chasing their own MVP moments
- SOFTNESS & DURABILITY: Soft composite leather cover offers soft grip making for easier catches for all abilities
- AIR RETENTION: A Pressure Lock Bladder helps keep your ball fully inflated for longer with less time spent pumping and more time playing
- NFL AUTHENTICITY: Wilson is the Official Football of the NFL and trusted by the world’s best athletes for over 100 years
Franchise-tag figures are a special case: NFL.com excludes franchise-tag players from its 2025 All-Paid Team because tag salaries are fixed rather than negotiated as a long-term contract AAV. That methodology matters when interpreting the scope of that particular ranking.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Wilson NFL Super Grip Composite Football - Junior Size, Brown
- SUPERIOR FEEL: Designed for the optimal balance between softness and toughness, the soft composite material enhances the natural feel of the ball, allowing for better handling and precision
- NFL LACING: The classic style laces you know for a trusted game feel
- AIR RETENTION: A Pressure Lock Bladder helps keep your ball fully inflated for longer with less time spent pumping and more time playing
- NFL AUTHENTICITY: Wilson is the Official Football of the NFL and trusted by the world’s best athletes for over 100 years
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
