This offseason has brought changes to the wide receiver market, but a host of wideouts chosen early in the 2020 draft have taken center stage. Additional raises to the WR market’s ceiling are likely on tap, with the Vikings (Justin Jefferson) and Cowboys (CeeDee Lamb) employing a pass catcher due a monster raise.
Most NFL teams have authorized a big-ticket (by today’s standards) deal for a wide receiver. Ranked by guaranteed money and excluding rookie contracts and accords acquired via trade, here is the most lucrative WR deal in each franchise’s history.
Arizona Cardinals
- DeAndre Hopkins; September 8, 2020: Two years, $54.5MM ($42.75MM guaranteed)
Larry Fitzgerald‘s seven-year, $113MM extension (August 2011) holds the Cardinals standard for total value, but Hopkins’ pact checks in higher in terms of guarantees and AAV.
Atlanta Falcons
- Julio Jones; September 7, 2019. Three years, $66MM ($64MM guaranteed at signing)
Baltimore Ravens
- Odell Beckham Jr.; April 9, 2023: One year, $15MM ($15MM guaranteed at signing)
In total, Michael Crabtree‘s 2018 deal (worth $21MM) and Derrick Mason‘s 2005 agreement ($20MM) surpass Beckham’s. But the 2023 Baltimore rental’s guarantee came in higher.
Buffalo Bills
- Stefon Diggs; April 6, 2022: Four years, $96MM ($70MM guaranteed; $47.99MM guaranteed at signing)
Carolina Panthers
- D.J. Moore; March 18, 2022: Three years, $61.88MM ($41.61MM guaranteed at signing)
Chicago Bears
- Allen Robinson; March 13, 2018: Three years, $42MM ($25.2MM guaranteed; $18MM guaranteed at signing)
Cincinnati Bengals
- A.J. Green; September 11, 2015: Four years, $60MM ($32.75MM guaranteed; $26.75MM guaranteed at signing)
Cleveland Browns
- Jarvis Landry; April 12, 2018: Five years, $75.5MM ($47MM guaranteed; $34MM guaranteed at signing)
The Browns have featured three higher-paid receivers on their roster since Landry’s contract, but both Odell Beckham Jr. and Amari Cooper arrived via trade and played on contracts designed by other teams. Jerry Jeudy‘s AAV ($17.5MM) on his 2024 extension also outpaces Landry’s, though the recent trade pickup’s total guarantee falls short here.
Dallas Cowboys
- Amari Cooper; March 16, 2020: Five years, $100MM ($60MM guaranteed; $40MM guaranteed at signing)
Denver Broncos
- Demaryius Thomas; July 15, 2015: Five years, $70MM ($43.5MM guaranteed; $35MM guaranteed at signing)
Courtland Sutton‘s 2021 extension carries a higher AAV ($15MM) but included $18.85MM guaranteed.
Detroit Lions
- Amon-Ra St. Brown; April 24, 2024: Four years, $120.1MM ($77MM guaranteed; $35.28MM guaranteed at signing)
Green Bay Packers
- Davante Adams; December 29, 2017: Four years, $58MM ($30MM guaranteed; $24MM guaranteed at signing)
Houston Texans
- Nico Collins; May 28, 2024: Three years, $72.75MM ($52MM guaranteed)
DeAndre Hopkins‘ 2017 re-up included more in total value but a lower AAV and guarantee
Indianapolis Colts
- Michael Pittman Jr.; March 11, 2024: Three years, $70MM ($46MM guaranteed; $41MM guaranteed at signing)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Christian Kirk; March 14, 2022: Four years, $72MM ($37MM guaranteed at signing)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Tyreek Hill; September 6, 2019: Three years, $54MM ($35MM guaranteed; $22.54MM guaranteed at signing)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Davante Adams; March 17, 2022: Five years, $140MM ($65.71MM guaranteed; $22.75MM guaranteed at signing)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Keenan Allen; September 5, 2020: Four years, $80.1MM ($50MM guaranteed; $32MM guaranteed at signing)
Los Angeles Rams
- Cooper Kupp; June 8, 2022: Three years, $80.1MM ($75MM guaranteed; $35MM guaranteed at signing)
Miami Dolphins
- Jaylen Waddle; May 30, 2024: Three years, $84.75MM ($76MM guaranteed)
Tyreek Hill‘s 2022 extension tops his teammate for AAV ($30MM) but came in just south for guarantees ($72.2MM)
Minnesota Vikings
- Justin Jefferson; June 3, 2024: Four years, $140MM ($110MM guaranteed; $89MM guaranteed at signing)
New England Patriots
- Nelson Agholor; March 15, 2021: Two years, $22MM ($16MM guaranteed at signing)
JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s 2023 deal trails Agholor’s in AAV but carried the same full guarantee. Danny Amendola‘s full payout ($28.5MM) in 2013 tops both deals.
New Orleans Saints
- Michael Thomas; July 31, 2019: Five years, $96.25MM ($60.6MM guaranteed; $35.65MM guaranteed at signing)
New York Giants
- Odell Beckham Jr.; August 27, 2018: Five years, $90MM ($65MM guaranteed, $40.9MM guaranteed at signing)
New York Jets
- Corey Davis; March 15, 2021: Three years, $37.5MM ($27MM guaranteed)
Allen Lazard‘s 2023 deal and Santonio Holmes‘ contract back in 2011 brought more in total value ($44MM and $45MM, respectively) but did not match Davis’ for guarantees.
Philadelphia Eagles
- A.J. Brown; April 25, 2024: Three years, $96MM ($84MM guaranteed; $51MM guaranteed at signing)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Diontae Johnson; August 4, 2022: Two years, $36.71MM ($27MM guaranteed; $19MM guaranteed at signing)
Antonio Brown‘s four-year, $68MM extension in 2017 also included a $19MM guarantee at signing but trailed Johnson’s in terms of total guarantees.
San Francisco 49ers
- Deebo Samuel; July 31, 2022: Three years, $71.55MM ($58.17MM guaranteed; $41MM guaranteed at signing)
Seattle Seahawks
- D.K. Metcalf; July 28, 2022: Three years, $72MM ($58.22MM guaranteed; $31MM guaranteed at signing)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Mike Evans; March 9, 2018: Five years, $82.5MM ($55MM guaranteed; $38.26MM guaranteed at signing)
Chris Godwin‘s 2022 deal beats Evans’ for at-signing guarantees ($40MM), while the all-time Bucs receiving leader’s 2024 agreement leads the way in AAV ($20.5MM).
Tennessee Titans
- Calvin Ridley; March 13, 2024: Four years, $92MM ($50MM guaranteed; $46.98MM guaranteed at signing)
Washington Commanders
- Terry McLaurin; June 28, 2022: Three years, $69.6MM ($53.15MM guaranteed; $34.65MM guaranteed at signing)
WRs certainly weren’t going to sit idle while watching QBs haul in massive $40MM per year deals and eventually every position is going to want to close the salary gap to some extent. I don’t see how the current passer centric model is sustainable if these across the board salary increases continue. The league will soon be expanding to an 18 game schedule which will put more of these luxury price players at injury risk. Is flag football the future for the NFL?
Look at how much the salary cap has increased. It’s only natural that salaries will increase. The cap has nearly doubled in a decade, because the league is practically printing money.
We could debate whether the cap is driving the salaries or the salaries are driving the cap but I question whether you have a good working model if you reach a point where the injured reserve lists are populated with an abundance of these luxury priced players. It becomes almost impossible for a GM to afford replacements that are even adequate.
That first part is beyond debate. The salary cap is based on a percentage of league revenue. Player salaries go up because league revenues go up. To the latter point, as long as there’s been a cap, there have been teams running afoul of it with bad decisions or bad luck.
In a capped league, do the owners care about how the pie is divided or just it’s size?
Generally speaking, they are quite content with the very few get almost all of it formula.
If your an owner interested in hiring a well respected GM you’re probably not going to get the guy if the cap situation he’ll have to work with offers no wiggle room in the foreseeable future.
Some of these didn’t turn out well at all.
Davante is going to be very expensive for his next team
After the raiders contract? He has years left.
Lowest guaranteed contract once again Bob Krafts Patriots. It’s not even really close and for a putrid player.
You would think maybe he might be able to open up the coffers for a playmaker but as we saw with Ridley this year he just isn’t willing to pay.
How do you have that much cap space left and that current roster?
Patriots will be worst team in the league this year.