The ever-increasing emphasis on the passing game has made the NFL’s top cornerbacks even more valuable.

Shutdown cornerbacks are very difficult to find, with the league’s best capable of locking down — or at least limiting, given how the rules are significantly slanted toward offense — the top wide receivers. The skill level required to master the position also is considerable, with wide receiver-cornerback duels among the most intense one-on-one matchups in the game. This is why the highest-paid cornerbacks annually make around $20 million a season. A total of 19 cornerbacks average eight-figure annual salaries.

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Who is the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL?

In May 2022, Jaire Alexander agreed to a four-year, $84 million contract extension with the Green Bay Packers. The $21 million-per-season average on that deal makes Alexander the league’s highest-paid cornerback.

2024 NFL cornerback salary rankings

Here are the cornerback salary rankings based on average annual value, according to Over The Cap:

1. Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers: $21 million (4 years, $84 million)

2. A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons: $20.25 million (4 years, $81 million)

3. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns: $20.1 million (5 years, $100.5 million)

4. Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins: $20 million (5 years, $100 million)

5. Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens: $19.5 million (5 years, $97.5 million)

6 (tie). Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys: $19.4 million (5 years, $97 million)

6 (tie). Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints: $19.4 million (5 years, $97 million)

8. Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars: $19.125 million (4 years, $76.5 million)

9. L’Jarius Sneed, Tennessee Titans: $19.1 million (4 years, $76.5 million)

10. Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears: $19 million (4 years, $76 million)

11. Carlton Davis, Detroit Lions: $14.8 million (3 years, $44.5 million)

12. Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers: $13.5 million (3 years, $40.5 million)

13 (tie). Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $13 million (4 years, $52 million)

13 (tie). Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles: $13 million (3 years, $39 million)

15. James Bradberry, Philadelphia Eagles: $12.7 million (3 years, $38 million)

16. Chidobe Awuzie, Tennessee Titans: $12 million (3 years, $36 million)

17. D.J. Reed, New York Jets: $11 million (3 years, $33 million)

18. Taron Johnson, Buffalo Bills: $10.3 million (3 years, $30.8 million)

19. Kenny Moore, Indianapolis Colts: $10 million (3 years, $30 million)

20. Jonathan Jones, New England Patriots: $9.5 million (2 years, $19 million)

21. Byron Murphy, Minnesota Vikings: $8.8 million (2 years, $17.5 million)

22. Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans: $8.7 million (4 years, $34.7 million)

23. Sean Murphy-Bunting, Arizona Cardinals: $8.5 million (3 years, $25.5 million)

24. Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, New York Jets: $8.4 million (4 years, $33.5 million)

25. Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks: $7.9 million (4 years, $31.9 million)

26 (tie). Darious Williams, Los Angeles Rams: $7.5 million (3 years, $22.5 million)

26 (tie). Kendall Fuller, Miami Dolphins: $7.5 million (2 years, $15 million)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Highest paid cornerbacks: Top salaries for CBs in 2024 NFL season