NFL wide receiver salaries have continued to skyrocket as the important of NFL passing games has boomed. Now they are enjoying the spillover salary rewards from quarterback, the league’s highest-paid position
As the salary cap space keeps expanding, teams are finding it easier to pay their top wideouts top dollar. Now it’s even possible for the willing teams, such as the Dolphins and Eagles, to lock up two receivers to lucrative long-term contracts.
There’s constant change in the top 10 highest-paid receivers when considering the three major parameters: average annual salary, practical guaranteed money and total contract value. Before more big names get paid in 2024 and as the list is bound to change again a lot in 2025, here’s breaking the latest rankings:
MORE WR DEALS: A.J. Brown | Amon-Ra St. Brown | Jaylen Waddle
This is the basic and best initial way to stack up wide receivers against each other in terms of worth to their teams. The average annual value is a barometer of where the market stands and where it’s going next in relation to the salary cap.
The Eagles and Dolphins have put two receivers each on this list this offseason. St. St. Brown and Collins also got their mega deals before the summer. Adams and Kupp are still reaping the benefits of past huge deals as they play into their 30s.
| Rank | Player | Average annual value |
| 1 | A.J. Brown, Eagles | $32 million |
| 2 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions | $30.002 million |
| 3 | Tyreek Hill, Dolphins | $30 million |
| 4 | Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins | $28.25 million |
| 5 | Davante Adams, Raiders | $28 million |
| 6 | Cooper Kupp, Rams | $26.7 million |
| 7 | DeVonta Smith, Eagles | $25 million |
| 8 | Nico Collins, Texans | $24.25 million |
| 9 | DK Metcalf, Seahawks | $24 million |
| 10 | Deebo Samuel, 49ers | $23.85 million |
The Vikings’ Justin Jefferson, the Cowboys CeeDee Lamb and the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase are taking a close look at these numbers, because in the end, that’s the surefire money earned by the top wide receivers.
Brown and St. Brown are also 1-2 in this category ahead of Jefferson and Lamb passing them soon. Waddle shot up into the third position ahead of his teammate Hill because of recency on his contract, too.
CONTRACT PROJECTIONS: Justin Jefferson | Ja’Marr Chase
| Rank | Player | Guarantees |
| 1 | A.J. Brown, Eagles | $84 million |
| 2 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions | $77 million |
| 3 | Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins | $76 million |
| 4 | Cooper Kupp, Rams | $75 million |
| 5 | Tyreek Hill, Dolphins | $72.2 million |
| 6 | Davante Adams, Raiders | $65.67 million |
| 7 | Amari Cooper, Browns | $60 million |
| 8 | DK Metcalf, Seahawks | $58.2 million |
| 9 | Deebo Samuel, 49ers | $58.1 million |
| 10 | Terry McLaurin, Commanders | $53.154 million |
Adams still holds the top spot here because of his five-year deal worth $28 million a season. Four years at $30 million a season has become the new high floor. Jefferson, Lamb and Chase should push the average to $35 million-plus a season, with a chance to push the top total value over $170 million with a five-year pact.
| Rank | Player | Value |
| 1 | Davante Adams, Raiders | $140 million |
| 2 | Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions | $120.01 million |
| 3 | Tyreek Hill, Dolphins | $120 million |
| 4 | Amari Cooper, Browns | $100 million |
| 5 | A.J. Brown, Eagles | $96 million |
| 6 | Calvin Ridley, Titans | $92 million |
| 7 | Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins | $84.75 million |
| 8 | Keenan Allen, Bears | $80.1 million |
| 8 | Cooper Kupp, Rams | $80.1 million |
| 10 | DeVonta Smith, Eagles | $75 million |
Hopkins, Cooper, Adams, Evans, Allen and Cooks mean that more than half of this list are active players. Fitzgerald and Jones can expect to see the gap closed in a hurry as many of the players in the lists above, barring injury, will be challengers soon.
There are diminishing returns for most wide receivers past 30, but the special ones can provide a few more good late seasons on top of elite consistent production early. Jefferson, Lamb and Chase are on the trajectory to take the best three spots here in time, too.
| Rank | Player | Career earnings |
| 1 | Larry Fitzgerald | $180.757 million |
| 2 | Julio Jones | $149.167 million |
| 3 | DeAndre Hopkins | $125.457 million |
| 4 | A.J. Green | $118.781 million |
| 5 | Amari Cooper | $116.672 million |
| 6 | Davante Adams | $112.218 million |
| 7 | Calvin Johnson | $112.216 million |
| 8 | Mike Evans | $110.362 million |
| 9 | Keenan Allen | $110.012 million |
| 10 | Brandin Cooks | $108.470 million |
