2026 NFL Offseason: Who's Next In Line To Be Highest-Paid At Each Position?

Every year, there are record-setting deals in the NFL. In this free-agency cycle, we saw center Tyler Linderbaum receive a contract from the Raiders that blew the top off of the market at his position. Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, topped the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase as the highest-paid wide receiver by average annual value with his $42.15 million per year extension. So, who’s next in line to become the highest-paid player at their position by average salary? Here is my pick for each position on offense and defense, with players drafted as late as 2023 now extension eligible: Quarterback: Lamar Jackson, Ravens Current highest paid: Dak Prescott, Cowboys ($60 million APY) The Ravens restructured Jackson’s contract last month to create cap space, but a historic extension remains on the table for the 29-year-old QB before the start of the 2026 season. Since signing his last deal in 2023 — a five-year, $260 million extension — Jackson has won a second league MVP award and earned two of his three first-team All-Pro nods. Running back: Bijan Robinson, Falcons Current highest paid: Saquon Barkley, Eagles ($20.6 million APY) Last season, Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 scrimmage yards (1,478 rushing, 820 receiving) en route to first-team All Pro honors, the first of his career. An extension for the 2023 No. 8 overall pick should be a no-brainer priority for the Falcons, especially given their quarterback uncertainty entering 2026. Wide receiver: Puka Nacua, Rams Current highest paid: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks ($42.15 million APY) Despite recent off the field issues, Nacua remains on track to top Smith-Njigba as the NFL’s highest-paid wideout before next season. In 2025, the former fifth-round pick led the league in receptions (129), receiving first downs (80) and receiving yards per game (107.2) and ranked second in receiving yards (1,715) despite missing a game. Tight end: Kyle Pitts, Falcons Current highest paid: George Kittle, 49ers ($19.1 million APY) After getting franchise-tagged in February, the 25-year-old Pitts is well-positioned to surpass Kittle's number. The No. 4 overall pick in 2021, Pitts caught a career-high 88 passes last season for 928 yards and five touchdowns en route to second-team All-Pro honors. The Lions’ Sam LaPorta and Packers’ Tucker Kraft, other contenders to set the market at the tight end position, are coming off season-ending injuries, paving the way for Pitts to become the first of the three to get a second contract. Offensive tackle: Darnell Wright, Bears Current highest paid: Laremy Tunsil, Commanders ($30.1 million APY) Wright isn’t a left tackle, but the former No. 10 overall pick has a chance to surpass Tunsil's deal with the league's rising salary cap. Still just 24, the former Tennessee Vol has started all 49 games of his career at right tackle and earned second-team All-Pro honors last season. Guard: Peter Skoronski, Titans Current highest paid: Tyler Smith, Cowboys ($24 million APY) The 11th overall pick in 2023, Skoronski has gone from a college tackle to one of the best young guards in the NFL. The 24-year-old standout has started 48 career games at left guard. Center: Jared Wilson, Patriots Current highest paid: Tyler Linderbaum, Raiders ($27 million APY) Linderbaum's deal shattered the previous high for centers owned by the Chiefs’ Creed Humphrey ($18 million APY). Since it marked such a substantial market reset, the Linderbaum contract could be viewed as an outlier by the greater NFL community, meaning it could be a while until we see another reset. Wilson is a candidate to do so in two years, when he becomes extension eligible for the first time. The 2025 third-round pick started 13 games for the Patriots last season at left guard, but New England intends to move him to center following the signing of Alijah Vera-Tucker in free agency. Edge rusher: Will Anderson Jr., Texans Current highest paid: Micah Parsons, Packers ($46.5 million APY) Already one of the NFL’s best defensive players, Anderson registered 12 sacks and 85 pressures last season en route to first-team All-Pro honors. The former No. 3 overall pick has 30 sacks in three seasons. Defensive tackle: Jalen Carter, Eagles Current highest paid: Chris Jones, Chiefs ($31.75 million APY) In just three seasons, Carter, the ninth overall pick in 2023, has become one of football’s most disruptive defensive tackles. He was a second-team All-Pro honoree in 2024 and has made the Pro Bowl in back-to-back seasons. The former Georgia star had three sacks, 29 pressures and seven pass breakups in 11 games in 2025. Inside Linebacker: Jack Campbell, Lions Current highest paid: Fred Warner, 49ers ($21 million APY) Campbell, the 18th overall pick in 2023, has seen a significant jump in his production in each of his three seasons. In 2025, the former Iowa star had 176 tackles (second in the NFL), five sacks, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles en route to first-team All-Pro honors. Cornerback: Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks Current highest paid: Trent McDuffie, Rams ($31 million APY) Witherspoon is slated to become the league’s highest-paid player at his position in short order, following in the footsteps of his Seahawks teammate and fellow 2023 first-rounder Smith-Njigba, whom Seattle just made the league's highest-paid receiver. Witherspoon has been named to the Pro Bowl three straight times to begin his career. The ex-Illinois star recorded an interception, seven pass breakups and 72 tackles in 12 games last season. Safety: Xavier McKinney, Packers Current highest paid: Kyle Hamilton, Ravens ($25.1 million APY) The Packers restructured McKinney’s current contract for cap relief, but the star safety is in line for a big deal in 2027, when his cap hit is scheduled to be a hefty $24.8 million. The former Giants second-round pick has 13 interceptions over the past three seasons and has made an All-Pro team in back-to-back years.