Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made history by signing the largest contract for an NFL player by accepting a five-year extension in exchange for $275 million.
This makes the 2021 Comeback Player of the Year the highest-paid player in the entire NFL in terms of annual average, as Burrow will earn an average of $55 million by the end of his new contract in 2029.
Like everything in life, there are always contrasts and it’s obvious that there is a player who doesn’t make nearly the same as the LSU graduate.
Who is the lowest paid player in the NFL?
There are many ways to measure salaries in the NFL, so this time we will focus on base salary, without taking into account bonuses for signing or being on the roster on certain dates or for achieving certain statistics.
According to Spotrac, the lowest base salary for the 2023 NFL season is $1.01 million and the difference is four players from the Raiders and two from the Giants. Las Vegas defensive back Amik Robertson, tight end Jesper Horsted, Curtis Bolton and offensive tackle Justin Herron, as well as New York cornerback Darnay Holmes and guard Shane Lemieux will receive the minimum salary.
Is there a minimum salary in American football?
The NFL minimum salary is based on years of experience as a professional player. In the case of Holmes, Lemieux, Herron and Robertson, all were drafted in the 2020 draft and signed to the progressive minimum. In their rookie year they earned $610,000, adding $780,000 in their second year and $895,000 in their third year. For their part, Horsted and Bolton both entered the league as undrafted rookies in 2019, but only have three years of NFL experience and therefore earn the same as three-year veterans.
