Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Aidan Hutchinson’s Massive New Contract Catapults Him As Second-Highest-Paid Pass Rusher – But Who Tops the List?

Top pass rushers have all signed massive new extensions this season!

Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

The salaries of players in the NFL are getting bigger day by day. But in a market dominated by quarterbacks, top players at other positions are also taking home a handsome paycheck. The latest one to cash in is the Detroit Lions’ pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

Drafted in 2022, the Lions picked up the fifth-year option of the former number two overall pick. However, on October 29th, the two sides mutually agreed to a new contract that has made Hutchinson one of the top-earning non-quarterbacks in the league.

Top 6 Highest-Earning Edge Rushers

The market for edge rushers has increased significantly this year, with as many as 6 players signing top contract extensions. But who holds the top spot? Let’s find out.

Micah Parsons – Green Bay Packers – $46.5M APY

The Micah Parsons ongoing contract saga throughout the offseason became quite ugly towards the end. Both sides had their own account of things, and eventually, the Dallas Cowboys decided to part ways with their former star pass rusher, shipping him off to Green Bay.

In Green Bay, Parsons signed a 4-year, $186 million contract with a $136 million guarantee. The new deal sees Parsons take home $46.5 million as an average per year (APY) salary, making him the highest-earning pass rusher in the league.

Aidan Hutchinson – Detroit Lions – $45M APY

The fact that the Detroit Lions extended Aidan Hutchinson is no surprise. The fact that they made him the second-highest earning pass rusher is also no surprise. With age on his side, he is yet to hit his peak, and Hutchinson has already shown what he is capable of.

Hutchinson’s new deal is a 4-year extension worth $180 million. However, his $141 million guarantee is now the highest among all non-quarterbacks. Hutchinson comes in at number two with a salary of $45 million per year.

Highest paid pass-rushers in the NFL:

🏈Micah Parsons: $46.5M
🏈Aidan Hutchinson: $45M
🏈TJ Watt: $41M
🏈Myles Garrett: $40M
🏈Danielle Hunter: $35.6M
🏈Maxx Crosby: $35.5M
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 29, 2025

T.J. Watt – Pittsburgh Steelers – $41M APY

Pittsburgh Steelers’ pass rusher T.J. Watt is their most important player on the defensive side of the ball. The 2021 NFL Defensive Player of the Year signed a new extension this offseason, which will keep him through the 2028 season.

Watt signed a 3-year deal worth $123 million that came with a guarantee of $108 million. Watt’s three-year deal will pay him $41 million annually.

Myles Garrett – Cleveland Browns – $40M APY

Myles Garrett had requested a trade early this offseason. The Browns, unwilling to let him go, signed him to a new extension, and now Garrett is under a 4-year contract that is paying him $160 million with a guarantee of $123,596,125. That comes out to $40 million per year in average annual salary.

Myles Garrett signed a 4-year, $160M extension this year to stay with the BROWNS.

Aidan Hutchinson just got 4-years, $180 to play on a top 3 team in football 😭

Myles Garrett is going to crash out. pic.twitter.com/qukjfspxry
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) October 29, 2025

Danielle Hunter – Houston Texans – $35.6M APY

Danielle Hunter signed a one-year extension with the Houston Texans that will pay him $35.6 million, which basically means his average annual salary is also $35.6 million. He is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2026 season.

Maxx Crosby – Las Vegas Raiders – $35.5M APY

Maxx Crosby also signed a new contract extension this offseason. The Raiders’ star pass rusher signed a 3-year deal worth $106.5 million, including a guarantee of $91.5 million. Crosby’s annual salary of $35.5 million means he is now the sixth-highest earning pass rusher in the league.

Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images

Aidan Hutchinson

Danielle Hunter

Maxx Crosby

Micah Parsons

Myles Garrett

NFL

T.J. Watt

Devavrat Kulkarni

nfl

I am a content writer for the NFL team, and joined The Playoffs after working with Sportskeeda and NFL Analysis as an NFL writer. After starting my professional career as a French-to-English translator, working as a content writer is a new adventure for me. I started out in the sports media field for two main reasons: my love for sports in general, especially the NFL, NBA, and Tennis, as well as my passion for writing. The best part of this job is that I get to write a variety of pieces with the freedom to explore content from various angles. It also enables me to stay up to date with the sporting world, which otherwise can be difficult to do in the day-to-day grind. In a world full of chaos, sports unite and entertain like nothing else!