NFL
On this page, we will examine the largest contracts in NFL history, and the biggest winners and losers in NFL free-agency history.
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​Top 10 LARGEST CONTRACTS IN NFL HISTORY (As of 2025)
*Including contract extensions*
10. Dak Prescott
Team: Dallas Cowboys (QB)
Contract: 4 years, $240 million (2024-2028) Extension
Entered age 31 season in 2024
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After leading the Dallas Cowboys to three consecutive 12–5 seasons, Dak Prescott earned a four-year, $240 million deal from Jerry Jones ahead of the 2024 season, making him the highest-paid player by average annual value. The 2016 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and four-time Pro Bowler Dak Prescott became the Dallas Cowboys all-time leading passer with 43,378 yards, surpassing Tony Romo’s previous franchise record of 34,183 passing yards following their Week 12 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025. In 2023, the year before signing his contract, Dak Prescott ranked third in the NFL in passing yards with 4,516 and led the league in passing touchdowns with 36. In the 2025 season, Dak Prescott played 17 games, achieving a 7–9–1 record, completing 67.3% of his passes for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, with an average of 7.6 yards per attempt.
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9. Russel Wilson
Team: Denver Broncos (QB)
Contract: 5 years, $242.5 million (2022-2027)
Released after 2023 season
Entered age 34 season in 2022
​After ten star-studded seasons in Seattle, the Denver Broncos signed the former 2014 Super Bowl champion and ten-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson to a massive five-year, $242.5 million deal. During his two-season tenure with the Broncos, Russell Wilson appeared in 30 games, posting an 11–19–0 record, completing 63.3% of his passes for 6,594 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. Wilson’s struggles led to his release after the 2023 season, with the Broncos facing an $85 million salary cap hit. Wilson joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 and signed with the New York Giants in 2025, but he lost his starting quarterback role after just three starts with the team.
8. Jalen Hurts
Team: Philadelphia Eagles (QB)
Contract: 5 years, $255 million (2023-2028) Extension
Entered age 25 season in 2023
​After guiding the Philadelphia Eagles to a Super Bowl in the 2022 season, Hurts secured a five-year contract worth $255 million in total. The three-time Pro Bowler set the single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in 2023 and then led the Eagles back to the Super Bowl in 2024, exacting revenge on the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2025, Jalen Hurts played 16 games, led the Eagles to an 11–5 record, completed 64.8% of his passes, threw for 3,224 yards with 25 touchdowns, and recorded 6 interceptions.
7. Lamar Jackson
Team: Baltimore Ravens (QB)
Contract: 5 years, $260 million (2023-2028)
Entered age 26 season in 2023
Despite being an elite quarterback, Lamar Jackson is still striving to win a Super Bowl. With his dual-threat ability to run and pass effectively, Jackson stands out as one of the NFL’s most dynamic players. In 2023, Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million deal, three seasons after becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards in multiple seasons. The former Heisman Trophy winner has won two MVP awards, making him the 10th quarterback to win multiple MVPs, and is a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro. Lamar Jackson shined despite dealing with injuries in the 2025 season, throwing for 2,549 yards and 21 touchdowns, while completing 63.6% over 13 games, keeping turnovers low with just 7 interceptions.
6. Justin Herbert
Team: Los Angeles Chargers (QB)
Contract: 5 years, $262.5 (2023-2029) Extension
Entered age 25 season in 2023
The Los Angeles Chargers have greatly benefited from drafting Justin Herbert, whose pure talent has earned him respect despite the lack of a deep playoff run or MVP contention. In 2023, Herbert agreed to a five-year, $262.5 million extension and has thrown for over 4,000 yards in three of his first four seasons. Between 2020 and 2023, Herbert trails only Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen in passing yards, while his 114 touchdown passes rank fourth in the league over that stretch. The two-time Pro Bowler and 2020 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Justin Herbert played 16 games in the 2025 season, completing 66.4% of his passes for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns while throwing 13 interceptions and leading the Chargers to an 11–5 record.
5. Brock Purdy
Team: San Francisco 49ers (QB)
Contract: 5 years, $265 million (2026-2030) Extension
Entered age 25 season in 2025
The San Francisco 49ers discovered a hidden gem in Brock Purdy with the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. Known as “Mr. Irrelevant,” Brock Purdy delivered outstanding production and played a pivotal role in the San Francisco 49ers reaching the Super Bowl in 2024. His ability to extend plays with his legs, make accurate throws, and read the game at a high level has earned him recognition as the franchise quarterback, leading the San Francisco 49ers to sign him to a massive five-year, $265 million extension in 2025. In 2025, Brock Purdy played 9 games, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 7–2 record while completing 69.4% of his passes for 2,167 yards, with 20 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, despite dealing with injuries.
4. (Tie) Joe Burrow
Team: Cincinnati Bengals (QB)
Contract: 5 years, $275 million (2025-2029) Extension
Entered age 28 season in 2025
Despite tearing his ACL in his rookie season in 2020, Joe Burrow came back and guided the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2021 and, currently holds the NFL record for career completion percentage at 68%. In 2023, the Cincinnati Bengals have fully committed to Joe Burrow’s Super Bowl–caliber offense, signing him to a five-year, $275 million extension, as he continues to throw more than any other quarterback, connecting with elite receivers. However, injuries and a poor offensive line have held him back from reaching his full potential. In the 2025 season, Joe Burrow played 8 games, leading the Cincinnati Bengals to a 5–3 record, completing 66.8% of his passes for 1,809 yards with 17 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, despite battling injuries.
3. (Tie) Trevor Lawrence
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars (QB)
Contract: 5 years, $275 million (2025-2030)
Entered age 26 season in 2025
​The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled for relevance over the past few decades, but drafting Trevor Lawrence as their franchise quarterback gives hope that he can lead them to become a top-tier team. In the 2022 season, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection and led the third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history, overcoming a 27-point deficit in the Wild Card round against the Chargers. Recognizing the value of a young quarterback, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed former first-overall pick Trevor Lawrence to a five-year, $275 million deal in 2024. With a contract tied for the third-largest in NFL history, Lawrence faces immense pressure to lead the Jaguars to numerous victories. In the 2025 season, he truly delivered, playing 17 games and leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13–4 record while completing 60.9% of his passes for 4,007 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
2. Josh Allen
Team: Buffalo Bills (QB)
Contract: 6 years, $330 million (2025-2030) Extension
Entered age 29 season in 2025
Like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen is striving to win a Super Bowl. The six-foot-five generational talent has excelled both as a passer and as a dynamic runner. From 2018 to 2023, he is one of only three active quarterbacks with five or more playoff victories, ranking in the top four among quarterbacks in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, passing touchdowns, and total wins during that span. Recognizing the value of Allen’s leadership and talent, the Buffalo Bills signed him to a six-year, $330 million extension in 2025. In that season, the four-time Pro Bowler and 2024 AP MVP became the first player in NFL history to throw at least 25 touchdown passes and rush for 10 touchdowns in a single season while committing fewer than 10 interceptions. Josh Allen has totaled 260 career touchdowns through passing and rushing, the most ever by a player in their first seven NFL seasons, and 29 more than Patrick Mahomes.
1. Patrick Mahomes
Team: Kansas City Chiefs (QB)
Contract: 10 years, $450 million (2022-2031) Extension
Entered age 27 season in 2022
Superstar Patrick Mahomes agreed to a 10-year, $450 million deal, the largest total value in NFL history. In 2023, he and the Kansas City Chiefs restructured the contract to allocate $210.6 million (an average of $52.4 million per year) to the 2023–2026 seasons, with an opportunity to renegotiate afterward. Mahomes has led the Kansas City Chiefs to three Super Bowl victories, earning Super Bowl MVP honors each time, won two AP MVP awards, been named a two-time All-Pro, and received the 2018 Offensive Player of the Year award, cementing the Chiefs as a legacy franchise. In the 2025 season, Patrick Mahomes played 14 games, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a 6–8 record while completing 62.7% of his passes for 3,587 yards with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Biggest winners and losers in NFL free agency history
Winners
Team: Tampa Buccaneers (2020)
Key Signings:
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Tom Brady (QB) (2 years, $50 million)
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Rob Gronkowski (TE) (1 year, $10 million)
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Leonard Fournette (RB) (1 year, $3.5 million)
Results:
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Widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31–9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV
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Rob Gronkowski came out of retirement to play with Brady and became a key weapon, scoring two touchdowns in Super Bowl LV
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Leonard Fournette dominated the playoffs, rushing for over 300 yards and four touchdowns.
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These key signings transformed the Buccaneers into a Super Bowl-caliber team instantly
New Orleans Saints (2006)
Key Signing:
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Drew Brees (QB) (6 years, $60 million)
Results:
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Drew Brees guided the New Orleans Saints to a 31–17 win against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV, capping the 2009 season with the franchise’s first Super Bowl title
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During his 15 seasons with the Saints, Drew Brees made 13 Pro Bowls, was a First-Team All-Pro, won Super Bowl XLIV MVP, earned two AP Offensive Player of the Year awards, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2026
Green Bay Packers (1993)
Key Signing:
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Reggie White (DE, DT) (4 years, $17 million)
Results:
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Reggie White transformed the Green Bay Packers’ defense, providing a dominant pass rush
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He helped lead the Packers to a 35–21 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, concluding the 1996 season
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In his six seasons with Green Bay, Reggie White was selected to 13 Pro Bowls, named First-Team All-Pro eight times, won two AP Defensive Player of the Year awards, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006
Losers
Houston Texans (2016)
Worst Signing:
Brock Osweiler (QB) (4 years, $72 million)
Results:
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When Peyton Manning went down in 2015 due to injury, Brock Osweiler stepped up and led the team to a 5–2 record as a starter
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Although Manning returned and led the team to a Super Bowl, Brock Osweiler’s flashes as a starting quarterback drew the attention of many teams in free agency
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When the Houston Texans signed Brock Osweiler in 2016, they believed they had found their franchise quarterback. However, that quickly proved not to be the case
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Osweiler struggled with accuracy and decision-making, had difficulty handling defensive pressure, and lost the confidence he had shown during his time with the Denver Broncos
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Osweiler finished with 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions and was benched late in the season
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After just one season in Houston, Osweiler was traded to the Cleveland Browns to dump his contract
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He returned to Denver in 2017 as a backup and played his final season in the league with Miami in 2018
New York Jets (2019)
Worst Signing:
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Le'Veon Bell (RB) (4 years, $52.5 million)
Results:
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Le'Veon Bell, one of the league’s elite running backs at his peak, sat out all of 2018 due to a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers
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However, missing a full season led to a decline in Bell’s game speed and timing
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While the Jets expected Bell to revitalize their offense, their offensive line and system was not constructed to suit Bell’s strengths
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Bell struggled to stay healthy and finished the 2019 season with 789 rushing yards and three touchdowns before being released during the 2020 season
Jacksonville Jaguars (2019)
Worst Signing:
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Nick Foles (QB) (four years, $88 million)
Results:
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After Carson Wentz went down with an injury for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018, backup quarterback Nick Foles led the team on a miraculous playoff run to win the Super Bowl
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The Jacksonville Jaguars saw Nick Foles as a starting quarterback and paid him starter-level money following his Super Bowl victory
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In 2019, Foles struggled to stay on the field, playing in only four games due to injury. In those four starts, the team lost every game and Foles would get benched
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After just one season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team realized Foles was not their long-term answer and decided to release him
