Top-tier NFL contracts often seem to involve staggering amounts of money. But how much are players really taking home?
Unlike many other professional sport leagues, the full amount of an NFL contract usually isn't guaranteed up front. Players tend to receive a portion of the overall value of their contract at signing, and then are paid an amount each year for the duration of their contract. That annual amount, however, is contingent upon performance and injuries, and can vary year to year.
Personal finance site GOBankingRates examined NFL contracts to see which athletes on each of the league's 32 teams earn the most guaranteed money from their deals.
The only player on this list who has a fully-guaranteed contract is Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed a three-year, $84 million guaranteed deal.
Take a look at the list below to see which athletes are earning the most, guaranteed:
1. Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Matt Ryan
Total contract amount: $150 million
Total guaranteed at signing: $94,500,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $18,900,00
2. Chicago Bears Outside Linebacker Khalil Mack
Total contract amount: $141 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $60,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $10,000,000
3. San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo
Total contract amount: $137 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $48,700,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $9,740,000
4. Detroit Lions Quarterback Matt Stafford
Total contract amount: $135 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $60,500,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $12,100,000
5. Los Angeles Rams Defensive End Aaron Donald
Total contract amount: $135 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $50,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $8,333,333
6. Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Total contract amount: $134 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $78,700,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $19,675,000
7. Oakland Raiders Quarterback Derek Carr
Total contract amount: $125,025,000
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $40,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $8,000,000
8. Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Andrew Luck
Total contract amount: $122,970,000
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $47,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $9,400,000
9. Denver Broncos Outside Linebacker Von Miller
Total contract amount $114.5 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $42,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $7,000,000
10. Carolina Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton
Total contract amount: $103.8 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $41,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $8,200,000
11. Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle Fletcher Cox
Total contract amount: $102.6 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $36,299,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $6,049,833
12. Kansas City Chiefs Outside Linebacker Justin Houston
Total contract amount: $101 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $32,500,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $5,416,667
13. Houston Texans Defensive End J.J. Watts
Total contract amount: $100 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $20,876, 385
Average amount guaranteed per year: $3,479,398
14. Dallas Cowboys Left Tackle Tyron Smith
Total contract amount: $97.6 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $22,118,013
Average amount guaranteed per year: $2,764,752
15. Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Andy Dalton
Total contract amount: $96 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $17,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $2,833,333
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Tackle Gerald McCoy
Total contract amount: $95.2 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $14,757,308
Average amount guaranteed per year: $2,108,187
17. Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive Tackle Marcell Dareus
Total contract amount: $95.1 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $42,900,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $7,150,000
18. Washington Redskins Quarterback Alex Smith
Total contract amount: $94 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $55,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $13,750,000
19. New York Giants Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Total contract amount: $90 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $40,959,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $8,191,800
20. Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson
Total contract amount: $87.6 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $31,700,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $7,925,000
21. Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
Total contract amount: $87.4 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $34,250,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $8,562,500
22. Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Kirk Cousins
Total contract amount: $84 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $84,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $28,000,000
23. Los Angeles Chargers Quarterback Philip Rivers
Total contract amount: $83,250,000
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $37,500,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $9,375,000
24. Arizona Cardinals Defensive End Chandler Jones
Total contract amount: $82.5 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $31,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $6,200,000
25. Tennessee Titans Left Tackle Taylor Lewan
Total contract amount: $80 million
Total amount guaranteed: $34,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $6,800,000
26. Miami Dolphins Quarterback Ryan Tannehill
Total contract amount: $77 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $21,500,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $5,375,000
27. Cleveland Browns Wide Receiver Jarvis Landry
Total contract amount: $75.5 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $34,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $6,800,000
28. New York Jets Cornerback Trumaine Johnson
Total contract amount: $72.5 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $34,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $6,800,00
29. Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Joe Flacco
Total contract amount: $66.4 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $44,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $14,666,667
30. New England Patriots Cornerback Stephon Gilmore
Total contract amount: $65 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $31,000,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $6,200,000
31. New Orleans Saints Left Tackle Terron Armstead
Total contract amount:$65 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $20,880,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $4,176,000
32. Buffalo Bills Defensive Tackle Star Lotulelei
Total contract amount: $50 million
Total amount guaranteed at signing: $18,500,000
Average amount guaranteed per year: $3,700,000
Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated Jarvis Landry's average amount guaranteed per year. It's $6.8 million, according to GOBankingRates.
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