Current Highest Paid NFL Player
The highest paid NFL player in the latest public contracts is quarterback Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, whose 2024 base salary and cap number rank first in the league. His new deal, signed in the 2023 offseason, made him the top earner on the current NFL payroll, according to salary-cap data from Spotrac and OverTheCap.
Prescott's contract includes a large signing bonus, guaranteed base salary, and roster bonuses that push his cap charge and total compensation above other top earners. The structure is designed to front-load guarantees while keeping his cap impact manageable for the Cowboys in later years.
Contract Structure and Earnings Breakdown
Prescott's deal features a significant signing bonus, guaranteed base salary, and performance incentives tied to playing time and snaps. The base salary for the first season of the extension sets the benchmark for the highest paid NFL player in the current league.
His cap number in the first year of the extension is among the largest in the NFL, driven by the signing bonus proration and base salary. Later seasons include lower base salary and cap hits, but guarantees remain high, protecting his earnings if he is released or injured.
Comparison With Other Top Earners
Other top earners in the NFL include quarterback Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, both of whom signed large extensions in recent years. Hurts' deal includes a massive signing bonus and guarantees that place him among the top earners, while Burrow's contract ranks near the top in total value.
Outside of quarterbacks, wide receivers such as Ja'Marr Chase and Stefon Diggs, along with edge rushers like Myles Garrett, earn salaries that approach the top tier. However, in total cash and cap hits, Prescott's current deal keeps him at the top of the highest paid NFL player list.