The Chiefs handed Patrick Mahomes essentially the most lucrative extension in NFL history earlier this offseason, signing their star QB to an eight-year, $504.75MM extension. When Mahomes finally ends up calling it a profession, the Chiefs will likely have paid him greater than any franchise has ever paid a single player.
Nonetheless, as of this moment, Mahomes doesn’t even rank among the many top five players in profession earnings with a single franchise. With help from OverTheCap.com, we identified the best earner within the history of every NFL organization:
- Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers, $306.6MM
- Cowboys: QB Dak Prescott, $295.4MM
- Falcons: QB Matt Ryan, $269.5MM
- Steelers: QB Ben Roethlisberger, $266.7MM
- Saints: QB Drew Brees, $259.2MM
- Giants: QB Eli Manning, $232.4MM
- Chiefs: QB Patrick Mahomes, $231.9MM
- Patriots: QB Tom Brady, $230.3MM
- Lions: QB Matthew Stafford, $219MM
- Chargers: QB Philip Rivers, $217.1MM
- Bills: QB Josh Allen, $207.4MM
- Cardinals: QB Kyler Murray, $206.7MM
- Rams: QB Matthew Stafford, $189MM
- Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson, $186.9MM
- Vikings: QB Kirk Cousins, $185MM
- Browns: QB Deshaun Watson, $183.3MM
- Seahawks: QB Russell Wilson, $181.3MM
- Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa, $178.3MM
- Bengals: QB Joe Burrow, $177.1MM
- Colts: QB Peyton Manning, $170.7MM
- Eagles: OT Lane Johnson, $166.2MM
- Buccaneers: WR Mike Evans, $154.9MM
- 49ers: OT Trent Williams, $144.3MM
- Broncos: LB Von Miller, $143.7MM
- Raiders: QB Derek Carr, $135.5MM
- Panthers: QB Cam Newton, $127.3MM
- Titans: QB Ryan Tannehill, $122.5MM
- Texans: OT Laremy Tunsil, $110.7MM
- Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence, $107.6MM
- Bears: QB Jay Cutler, $103.9MM
- Commanders: OT Trent Williams, $98.5MM
- Jets: CB Darrelle Revis, $96.6MM
As quarterback contracts proceed to blow up, it’s no surprise that the list is dominated by the position. Aaron Rodgers continues to pace the list despite not having played for the Packers since 2022, mostly by virtue of getting inked multiple $100MM-plus extensions with the franchise.
Notably, a pair of players appear twice on this list. It’s not an enormous surprise that Matthew Stafford makes a couple of appearance. He inked his rookie contract before the NFL implemented their rookie wage scale, and he signed two extensions with Detroit, including one that after made him the highest-paid player in NFL history. He later got an $160MM extension with the Rams, helping him top Aaron Donald among the many franchise’s highest profession earners.
The opposite player who appeared twice on the list is surprisingly not a QB. Offensive lineman Trent Williams also avoided the rookie wage scale and signed a second contract with Washington, putting him atop the franchise’s list (although he’ll likely be passed by Terry McLaurin and Daron Payne this upcoming season). Then, following his move to the 49ers, Williams became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history when he signed a six-year, $138.06MM extension. While Nick Bosa will eventually catch him, the veteran OT will retain his position atop San Francisco’s list for not less than the following yr.
The list clearly isn’t entirely composed of lively players. But which player has gone the longest without playing for the franchise they represent? That may be Peyton Manning, who last played for the Colts in 2011. Darrelle Revis can be a novel inclusion; his tenure with the Jets could have resulted in 2012, but he returned for a two-year stint with the organization following stops in Tampa Bay and Latest England. That second stint saw him add $30MM to his profession earnings, and it helped him retain his spot over the likes of Quinnen Williams, C.J. Mosley, and (yes) Aaron Rodgers.