Tom Brady might be one of the best bargains in the NFL.
Strangely enough, the New England Patriots quarterback is also among the highest earners.
The reason for the dichotomy: Brady is a high-value player when you compare his compensation to the success he brings to his team.
The same, however, cannot be said of all the players in the top 10 list of highest-paid NFL players.
A list of the highest-earning NFL players in 2016 based on salaries and endorsements combined before the 2016-2017 season is dominated by experienced quarterbacks such as Brady.
The average annual NFL salary is $2.1 million, but salaries are a small portion of what NFL players earn, as their contracts also include annual signing, roster and workout bonuses, as well as other incentives. On top of that, many star players also receive multimillion-dollar endorsement deals.
The largest NFL contract in history was signed by Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts after this list was compiled—Luck will earn a $12 million salary in 2016 as part of a five-year, $140 million deal that guarantees him a record $89 million.
A list of top salaries alone in the NFL would include even more quarterbacks like Green Bay’s Aaron Rogers, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisburger or Atlanta’s Matt Ryan, all of whom have recently signed high-salary contracts..
Nevertheless, eight of this top 10 are quarterbacks, and just one is a defensive player.
10. Drew Brees – Total Earnings, $31 million
The superstar New Orleans Saints quarterback is slated to earn $19 million in salary and bonuses, $12 million in endorsements total in 2016. The Saints are paying Brees a base salary of $17.3 million.
So far this season, the Saints have four wins and four losses, enough for second place in the NFC South Division. Brees has completed 70 percent of his passes this season, gaining a total of 2,689 yards through the air and scoring 21 touchdowns.
In 2016, New Orleans has paid Brees $4.3 million per win and $824,000 per touchdown.
9. A.J. Green – Total Earnings, $33.3 million
The wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals will earn $32.8 million in salary and bonuses plus $500,000 in endorsements total this year. The five-time pro-bowler receives a base salary of $3.8 million.
This season, Cincinnati has posted a 3-4 record, placing the team in second in the AFC North Division Standings. Green has 896 receiving yards and three touchdowns. In his six-year career, Green has scored 48 touchdowns and totaled 7,067 receiving yards.
In 2016, the Bengals have paid Green $1.2 million per win and per touchdown.
8. Peyton Manning – Total Earnings, $34.2 million
The retired former Denver Broncos quarterback led his franchise to a Super Bowl in 2016. Nevertheless, Manning will still earn $19.2 million in salary and bonuses plus $15 million in endorsements this year as his media star continues to shine. Manning will not earn a base salary in 2016, due to his retirement, he will continue to earn his contract bonuses.
The Broncos have followed their Super Bowl performance by posting a record of six wins, three losses thus far this season, only enough for third place in the competitive AFC West Division.
7. Marcell Dareus – Total Earnings, $35.2 million
Defensive tackle Marcell Dareus earns $35.1 million in salary and bonuses and $100,000 in endorsements, making the Buffalo Bills lineman the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. Dareus will make a $6 million base salary in 2016.
Sidelined by a suspension, then injuries, Dareus has only played in one game for Buffalo this season, registering four tackles and one sack. In his five-and-one-half-year NFL career, Dareus has posted 182 tackles and 75 sacks total.
Buffalo has posted a 4-5 record thus far in 2016, enough for third place in the AFC East Division, meaning that so far this year, the Bills have paid Dareus $1.5 million per win.
6. Philip Rivers – Total Earnings, $38 million
The San Diego Chargers star quarterback will earn $37.5 million in salary and bonuses and $500,000 in endorsements in 2016. Rivers will earn a $10.5 million salary in 2016, and still has $45 million left on a $84.4 million contract
After leading the Chargers into the playoffs five times, this season Rivers has completed 63 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,560 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Thus far, San Diego sits at four wins and five losses, putting them in fourth place at the bottom of the AFC West Division. The Chargers have paid Rivers $2.6 million per win and $618,000 per touchdown.
5. Russell Wilson – Total Earnings, $41.8 million
The efficient Seattle Seahawks quarterback earns $31.8 million in salary and bonuses plus another $10 million in endorsements—not bad for the 75th pick in the 2012 draft. Wilson will make $12.3 million in salary in 2016.
Seattle currently leads the NFC West Division with a 5-2 record. Wilson has completed 67 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,094 yards and scoring eight touchdowns.
In 2016, the Seahawks have paid Wilson $2.5 million per win and $1.5 million per touchdown.
4. Tom Brady – Total Earnings, $44.1 million
The venerable New England Patriots quarterback earns a total of $36.1 million in salary and bonuses, plus $8 million in bonuses in 2016. Among the oldest active football players, Brady says he will continue at least until he turns 45, in the 2022 season.
It may come as a surprise, then, that Brady will actually earn just $764,705 in salary in 2016.
Brady has missed four games so far this year due to suspension, but in the action he has seen, the quarterback has completed 73 percent of his passes, thrown for more than 1,300 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
The Patriots now stand atop the AFC East Division with a record of seven wins and one loss. So far this year, Brady has earned $109,000 per win and $63,725 per touchdown.
3. Joe Flacco – Total Earnings, $44.5 million
After years playing on a tema with one of the NFL’s great defenses, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback may have been overlooked by many football fans—nevertheless, Flacco is paid like a star. He will earn $500,000 in endorsements and $44 million in salary and bonuses. For the current season, Flacco will earn $4 million in base salary.
So far this season, Flacco has completed 61.1 percent of his passes, gaining a total of 2,078 yards in the air and scoring a total of 8 touchdowns. The Ravens are now 4-4, good enough to tie them for first place in the AFC North Division with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Thus far in 2016, Flacco has earned $1 million per win and $500,000 per touchdown.
2. Eli Manning – Total Earnings, $45 million
After his brother’s retirement, Eli Manning is now the NFL leader in career earnings with $205.8 million made so far, The New York Giants quarterback will earn a total of $37 million in salary and bonuses and $8 million in endorsements for the year, pulling down a $17.5 million salary in the current season.
So far this year, Manning has completed 64 percent of his passes, gaining a total of 2,232 yards, and has thrown for 12 touchdowns. The Giants are currently 5-3, good enough for second place in the NFC East Division.
New York has paid Manning $3.5 million per win and $1.5 million per touchdown in 2016.
1. Cam Newton – Total Earnings, $53.1 million
The multi-faceted Carolina Panthers quarterback will earn salary and bonuses of $41.1 million plus $12 million in endorsements for the year. Newton, who is also the reigning NFL MVP, will be paid a $13 million salary for the current season.
So far this year, Newton has completed 58 percent of his passes and has rushed for 207 yards, scoring a total of 12 touchdowns. Nine weeks into the season, the Panthers are 3-5, taking fourth place in the NFC South Division.
Newton has earned $4.3 million per Panthers win and $1.1 million per touchdown in 2016.
