In the fiercely competitive world of American football, the National Football League (NFL) continues to witness jaw-dropping contracts as teams vie for the services of the most talented wide receivers in the game. As the 2023 season unfolds, the spotlight shines on three remarkable athletes who have emerged as the highest paid wide receivers in the league. These players have not only demonstrated exceptional skills on the field but also negotiated groundbreaking deals that have redefined the market for their positions.
The Highest-Paid Wide Receivers in the NFL
Now that we have explored the top three highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL for 2023, let’s take a closer look at the other players who round out the top 10 at the position.
Davante Adams |
DeAndre Hopkins |
Cooper Kupp |
A.J. Brown |
DK Metcalf |
Stefon Diggs |
Deebo Samuel |
Terry McLaurin |
DJ Moore |
1) Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders | AAV: $28.25 million
After being traded, Davante Adams signed a five-year contract worth $140 million. Just $22.75 million was guaranteed at signing, with another $42.92 million becoming guaranteed in 2023. The value of Adams’ contract really becomes known in the final three years. His cap number will jump to $25.35 million in 2024 and then all the way up to $44.1 million in 2025.
2) DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals | AAV: $27.25 million
DeAndre Hopkins’ may not be on the Cardinals anymore, but his contract still sits third on the list of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. Hopkins’ cap number was set to blow through $30.5 million, thanks in large part to a $19.45 million base salary. Nothing left on the deal is guaranteed, but due to the $27.5 million signing bonus, a $9 million option bonus, and a contract restructure in 2022, releasing Hopkins left behind $22.6 million in dead money.
3) Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams | AAV: $26.67 million
Yes, we have another Cooper Kupp entry on the list, and rightfully so! Coming off winning the Super Bowl MVP, Cooper Kupp topped all the other three-year contract extensions signed in 2022. The deal is worth a total of $80.1 million, with $35 million guaranteed at signing and $75 million in total guarantees at the end of the contract. Kupp’s cap number is set to climb to $27.8 million and is not expected to drop below $25 million until 2026.
4) A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles | AAV: $25 million
Following his trade to the Philadelphia Eagles on the first night of the 2022 NFL Draft, A.J. Brown joined a unique club of NFL WRs with a contract worth $100 million. Brown’s contract remains relatively cheap in terms of cap number in 2023 — $8.319 million — before climbing over $27.5 million in 2024.
5) DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks | AAV: $24 million
DK Metcalf received a three-year extension worth $72 million overall. There is $31 million guaranteed at signing, $14.22 million further guarantees ahead of 2023, and then another $13 million in guarantees ahead of 2024.
6) Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills | AAV: $24 million
While Stefon Diggs is technically tied with Metcalf at $24 million AAV, his contract extension has an extra year, making it worth $96 million overall. A total of $47.985 million was guaranteed at signing, including a $21.5 million signing bonus. The 2023 offseason will see a $16 million option bonus triggered as his cap number climbs over $20 million this year.
7) Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers | AAV: $23.9 million
At one point, it looked like Deebo Samuel could be out the door before eventually signing a three-year extension worth $71.55 million. Samuel’s cap number remains relatively stable in 2023 at $8.653 million. However, that will jump to over $28.5 million in 2024, with a huge portion of that money guaranteed.
8) Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders | AAV: $23.2 million
Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $68.364 million. At the start of the 2023 league year, a further $12.5 million in 2024 base salary becomes fully guaranteed.
9) DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers | AAV: $20.6 million
DJ Moore found his way onto this list with a three-year contract extension worth a total of $61.884 million. The 2023 season will be the first year of the extension, with his cap number set to jump to $25.04 million this season. His extension contained $41.61 million in guaranteed money, including a $19.5 million signing bonus.