The NFL’s highest-paid players on defense in 2025 salary, guaranteed money and total contract value

While quarterbacks may be the highest-paid position in the NFL, the guys who chase after them are typically not too far behind.

As the salary cap has continued to skyrocket, quarterback contracts are regularly exceeding $50 million. Many teams are eager to ink their franchise quarterback to a long-term contract, no matter the cost. While quarterback is the most important position on offense, pass rushers are the most critical players on defense. In a pass-heavy league, it is essential to be able to rush the quarterback. Just look at the Eagles, who dominated Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, in large part due to their relentless defensive line.

In the NFL Draft, quarterbacks are usually the top picks, but lately, right behind them are defensive ends. In just the past few years, Travon Walker, Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Chase Young, Nick Bosa and Bradley Chubb have all gone in the top five. Defensive linemen rank third in first overall selections by position, behind quarterback and running back, though a RB has not been selected with the top pick since Ki-Jana Carter in 1995.

It is not just defensive linemen that are highly valued, however. Several cornerbacks have nearly eclipsed $100 million in contracts and having a shutdown corner can take a defense to another level as the league becomes more and more oriented around the passing game.

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Here is a look at the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL.

All salary information is courtesy of Spotrac.com, unless otherwise noted.

Which NFL defensive player has the highest salary?

Raiders DE Maxx Crosby became the highest-paid non-quarterback annually with his contract extension last week. He signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension with an average annual salary of $35.5 million. A fourth-round pick in 2019, Crosby has quickly become one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. He has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last four years and has 59.5 sacks, 366 tackles and 105 tackles for loss through six seasons.

Crosby’s deal topped Nick Bosa’s, who was previously the highest-paid defensive player after he signed a five-year $170 million contract, making $34 million annually, in 2023. 

This was tied with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb for the 19th highest salary in the NFL. Bosa has 62.5 career sacks in six seasons. He has been a Pro Bowler in every season he has been healthy in the NFL, and he was named the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year.

Bosa only played two games in 2020 after tearing his ACL. The following season, he had 15.5 sacks and a league-leading 21 tackles for loss. In his DPOY season, he had 18.5 sacks, a career-high 41 solo tackles and two forced fumbles.

The second-highest-paid defensive player is Chris Jones, who is making $32 million annually after signing a $158.75 million contract in 2024. This ranks 23rd in the NFL. Jones will be entering his 10th season in 2025 and has been a Pro Bowler in each of the last six seasons. He is a three-time first-team All-Pro selection and has been a critical part in the Chiefs’ three Super Bowls. 

Jones had five sacks in 2024, the fewest since his rookie season. He will be 31 once the 2025 season starts and is signed through 2028. The Chiefs could not let the core of their defense walk, but Jones’ contract may pose problems for them down the road.

Here is a look at the top-10 defensive players by highest annual salary.

Which NFL defensive player makes the most guaranteed money?

It is no surprise Bosa leads the pack in guaranteed money at $122.5 million, the most for any defensive player ever. His deal beat out his brother Joey’s, which was previously first.

Myles Garrett, the 2023 DPOY and four-time first-team All-Pro, is next. Guaranteed a flat $100 million, the Browns DE, who recently requested a trade, certainly earned his contract, which expires in 2026. He has had double-digit sacks every year since his rookie season. Garrett has 102.5 career sacks and has had 12+ sacks in each of the last five seasons. He has the second-most sacks since 2017 and the sixth-most sacks ever for a player in his first eight seasons.

Jones is after Garrett, with $95 million guaranteed. After the three-time Super Bowl champion is Josh Hines-Allen, the Jaguars’ stud who has been an overwhelming force since being drafted seventh overall by the Jaguars in 2019. He has had some up-and-down seasons, but there is no question that when he’s right, Hines-Allen is one of the best pass rushers in the league. He had 17.5 sacks in 2023, along with 66 tackles, 43 of which were solo.

Only $500,000 less than Hines-Allen is Brian Burns, the Giants’ star outside linebacker. Burns has had an interesting career since being drafted by the Panthers in 2019. He was a two-time Pro Bowler with Carolina before he was suddenly traded to New York last offseason. The Giants immediately handed Burns the extension Carolina was unwilling to ink, making him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL.

The 2024 DPOY Patrick Surtain II is the only cornerback to crack the top 10. Surtain inked his deal in 2024, immediately proving he was worth it with his award-worthy season.

Here is a look at the top-10 defensive players by most guaranteed money.

Which NFL defensive player has the largest overall contract?

Bosa, Jones, Hines-Allen, Burns and Garrett make up the top five in terms of the largest overall contract value. This all makes sense based on the salary and guaranteed money outlined above. A surprising name comes in sixth, however: Von Miller.

The Super Bowl 50 MVP and three-time first-team All-Pro will enter his 14th season as the sixth-highest-paid defensive player in overall contract value. Miller, when healthy, was one of the most dominant defensive players in football, making eight Pro Bowls in his first nine seasons. He turns 36 in March and has become more and more injury-prone as he has aged. Yet, Buffalo still handed him a six-year, $120 million contract in 2022, including $18.5 million signing bonus and $51.4 guaranteed. With the rate Miller’s body has declined, it would be surprising if he made it to 2028. 

Right behind him is 2021 DPOY, four-time first-team All-Pro T.J. Watt. The Steelers’ OLB has finished in the top four in DPOY voting in five of the last six years. He has been a Pro Bowler every year since his rookie year and is certifiably one of the toughest players to block in all of football. Watt enters unrestricted free agency next offseason, so expect Pittsburgh to back up the Brink’s truck for its star pass rusher.

Here is a look at the top ten defensive players in overall contract value.

Which NFL defensive player has the highest career earnings?

According to Over The Cap, the top-13 players in career earnings are all quarterbacks. Then at 14 is left tackles Trent Williams, then three more quarterbacks — Alex Smith, Derek Carr and Ryan Tannehill — before finally reaching the first defensive player on the list. Unsurprisingly, this is Miller, whose $120 million contract with the Bills made him the highest defensive career earner in NFL history.

After a few more quarterbacks and Larry Fitzgerald is Khalil Mack, Ndamukong Suh, Aaron Donald and Julius Peppers. Cornerbacks have only recently begun to receive large contracts, so the top 10 is full of defensive linemen and linebackers. Darrelle Revis is the highest cornerback, 17th among defenders and 59th of every position.

Here is a look at the top-10 career earners among defensive players. Active players are bolded.

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