The NFL’s top-paid quarterbacks in history, led by Dak Prescott and Joe Burrow’s monumental deals.
The quarterback position stands as the NFL’s most prized role.
Just hours before the 2024 season’s first Sunday matchups, Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys sealed a record-breaking four-year, $240 million contract, according to multiple reports. This agreement crowns Prescott as both the highest-paid quarterback and player in NFL history.
Prescott’s new contract guarantees $231 million, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Unsurprisingly, quarterbacks dominate the list of the league’s 18 highest-paid players. But who ranks at the very top?
Here’s a breakdown of the five highest-paid quarterbacks for the 2024 NFL season, based on their most recent contracts’ average annual value (AAV).
Here are the NFL’s top-paid quarterbacks by average annual value, according to data from Spotrac.
Dak Prescott broke new ground as the first QB to reach the $60 million per season mark. In a push to finalize the deal before their 2024 season opener, the Cowboys announced a four-year, $240 million extension for Prescott on September 8, just before Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.
This contract edged Browns QB Deshaun Watson, with his $46 million per season, out of the top 10 list. Prescott’s deal includes a guaranteed $231 million with a massive $80 million signing bonus, securing him as the Cowboys’ quarterback through the 2028 season.
This is Prescott’s second major contract with Dallas, following a four-year, $160 million contract in 2021.
Joe Burrow’s contract held the top spot briefly, with a five-year, $275 million extension and $219 million in guarantees signed in September 2023. This deal covers him through the 2029 season, with free agency expected in 2030.
The Bengals have potential exit clauses, including one after the 2027 season, but it would require significant changes for that option to become relevant.
After just three seasons, Trevor Lawrence’s stats—11,770 passing yards and 58 touchdowns—secured him the Jaguars’ trust. Jacksonville awarded him a five-year, $275 million extension, identical to Burrow’s, with $200 million in guarantees, including $142 million fully guaranteed at signing.
This extension keeps Lawrence in Jacksonville through 2030.
A solid 2023 season landed Jordan Love a four-year, $220 million deal with Green Bay. After backing up Aaron Rodgers, Love took charge in 2023, guiding the Packers to a playoff berth and logging 4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and his first postseason win.
His new deal includes a record $75 million signing bonus, surpassed only by Prescott’s $80 million bonus, and will keep him in Green Bay until 2028.
Tagovailoa’s extension positioned him among the top earners, though he later dropped after Love’s deal with Green Bay. Despite concerns over injuries, Tagovailoa played all 17 games in 2023, recording 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Tua’s four-year, $212.4 million contract includes $167.1 million in guarantees, keeping him with Miami through 2028.
As NFL teams continue investing in top quarterback talent, the bar for quarterback earnings keeps rising, making the role more vital and competitive than ever. These lucrative deals ensure that the highest-paid quarterbacks remain the backbone of their franchises, shaping the league’s future.
Read More: Haason Reddick’s Revised Contract: Bonuses and Details Revealed After Jets Holdout
Image Credit: © Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
NFL 
