Highest Paid QBs in the NFL 2025: Full Salary Rankings
By Space Coast Daily // October 3, 2025
Prescott? Allen? Jackson? Someone Else? Who of Them Are the Highest Paid QBs in The NFL Today
Where the highest-paid QBs stand in today’s NFL
Quarterback money has officially entered another stratosphere. Each offseason feels like a reset button as teams hand out contracts that make last year’s record deals look small.
The position has always been the most valuable in football, but the gap between the league minimum and the top contracts in 2025 shows just how much weight teams put on their franchise QBs.
For context, while the NFL Players’ Salary floor is under a million dollars for rookies, quarterbacks are now touching sixty times that figure.
So, who are the top-paid QBs heading into the 2025 season? Let’s break it down.
Who Is the Highest Paid QB in the NFL?
Right now, Dak Prescott holds the title of the highest-paid QB in the NFL, pulling in around $60 million per season with the Cowboys. Not far behind him are Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and Trevor Lawrence, each landing massive extensions worth about $55 million per year.
These deals reflect the trend of young stars cashing in as soon as they prove they can carry a franchise.
It’s a rotating crown—last year it was Joe Burrow, before that it was Jalen Hurts, and before that it was Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes still holds the record for the largest NFL contract ever, a 10-year, $503 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, agreed upon in July 2020. The total amount is staggering; however, his yearly salary is no longer even in the top 10.
The pattern is simple: the moment a star quarterback is up for a deal, the market climbs again.
The Current Salary Ladder
Here’s how the money stacks up among the highest-paid QBs in 2025:
- Dak Prescott (Cowboys) — $60 million per year
- Joe Burrow (Bengals) — $55 million per year
- Josh Allen (Bills) — $55 million per year
- Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) — $55 million per year
- Jordan Love (Packers) — $55 million per year
- Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins) — $53.1 million per year
- Jared Goff (Lions) — $53 million per year
- Brock Purdy (49ers) — $53 million per year
- Justin Herbert (Chargers) — Around $52.5 million per year
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens) — About $52 million per year
These aren’t just headline numbers; the real story is in guaranteed money, bonuses, and how much of a team’s salary cap one player consumes. Still, the average annual values tell the story of an escalating arms race.
What’s the NFL League Minimum Salary?
On the other end of the spectrum, the 2025 league minimum for rookies is under $1 million. That’s a solid paycheck in most industries, but it feels tiny compared to quarterbacks pulling in fifty to sixty million.
The massive disparity between the bottom of the roster and the NFL’s top-paid players is a significant reason why quarterback is seen as the golden ticket in sports.
Who Is the Best QB Ever?
Of course, “highest paid” doesn’t always mean “greatest.” The best conversation starts and ends with Tom Brady, who finished his career with seven Super Bowls.
Mahomes is carving out quite a legacy and is already entering the conversation, with a shot at being the greatest if he plays another 10 years.
Then there is Joe Montana’s playoff perfection, Peyton Manning’s brilliance, and Drew Brees’ records, all of which keep them in the conversation, but it’s hard to argue against Brady.
These legends never saw contracts close to today’s numbers, but they built the standard that allowed modern QBs to demand such paydays. Legacy is counted in wins and rings, not just dollars.
Why These Deals Matter
Quarterbacks don’t just lead on Sundays—they shape an entire organization’s direction. When teams invest $55–60 million per year into one player, it dictates roster moves, coaching hires, and cap strategies.
Every contract signed at the top resets the market for the next wave, meaning today’s jaw-dropping figures will look tame when the likes of Jaden Daniels, Bo Nix, and Caleb Williams negotiate their second deals.
Final Word
Dak Prescott sits at the top as the highest-paid QB in 2025, but Burrow, Allen, and Lawrence aren’t far behind. Meanwhile, rookies grinding for the league minimum salary in the NFL highlight the massive pay gap that defines the sport.
At the end of the day, being a quarterback isn’t just about throwing touchdowns—it’s about holding the most valuable job in all of professional football.
