Find out “Top 20 Highest Paid Wide Receivers In NFL 2022” Every NFL team searches for that sweet spot, either in the draft or through free agency, in order to secure a quarterback, a quarterback worth constructing a team around, like Tom Brady, who can play for decades. Whether it was Gronk or those quick and tenacious receivers like Randy Moss, Antonio Brown, and Julian Edelman, it’s safe to say that Captain Tom had weapons close by.
Ten years ago, if I had stated that a receiver could be paid $22 million a year, you would have laughed at me. Thankfully for those route runners, things have changed. You still need receivers even though the offensive line is questionable these days; just look at the Bengals team from 2021 that selected Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell. With the rise in trade value, we have seen teams unable to pay their best-receiving options as the salary cap hits the market. Teams have lured the likes of Devante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper, and many more just this offseason with a massive contract. Many players have set the bar living up to that amount, while others are giving their best performance in the game, trying to post numbers and ranking upside.
With the numbers shifting dramatically every off-season, here is the list of the top 20 wide receivers who get paid what one could ever dream of.
20. Courtland Sutton – Denver Broncos
Sutton signed a four-year contract with the Denver Broncos for $60.8 million, including a signing bonus of $6 million and $34 million guaranteed money with an average salary of $15.2 million in December 2021.
Just three years ago, he signed a contract of $6.8 million with the Broncos, which guaranteed $4.3 million. There was a total of $54 million raise from his previous contract.
His base salary will be $1.5 million with a restructure bonus of $10.5 million while holding a cap hit of $5.3 million and a dead cap value of $30.8 million in 2022.
The 26-years-old Broncos player has risen seemingly high since his debut in 2018, and let’s see what football brings to his life shortly. Sutton stands at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 216 lbs.
19. Allen Robinson – LA Rams
The 28-years-old wide receiver has signed a three-year deal worth $46.5 million with the Los Angeles Rams in March 2022. His contract includes guaranteed money of $30.25 million with an annual salary of $15.5 million, including a $14 million signing bonus. Allen’s cap this year is low, just $4.3 million but will mount around $18 million in 2023 and 2024.
His last contract was in 2021 for $17.9 million with the Bears for a year, which guaranteed $17.8 million.
Robinson stands in the ninth-highest with a cap number of $4.3 million on the Rams this year but will be sixth with an $18.05 million cap in 2023. Allen heights at 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 220 lbs.
18. Adam Thielen – Minnesota Vikings
Every football fan has heard the story of Adam’s rise to fame, working his way up from an undrafted free agent to the Pro Bowl. Wearing his Vikings jersey for the eighth season, Adam signed a contract of 4 years with the Minnesota Vikings of $64.2 million, including a $9 million signing bonus and $33 million guaranteed with an annual salary of $16 million on average.
Previously, Adam signed his contract of 4 years with the Vikings for $64.8 million, which guaranteed $14.1 million, which was then extended in 2022.
#Vikings WR Adam Thielen's restructured contract includes $18 million guaranteed and he gets a raise to $14.4M this year, per source. A void year was tacked on for salary cap purposes as Minnesota continues to clear space.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 18, 2022
Adam will have a base salary of $4.2 million with a $9 million signing bonus plus a roster and workout bonus of $1.1 million while holding a cap hit of $11.6 million and a dead cap value of $24.3 million.
The 31-years-old player restructured his contract through which the Vikings saved roughly $5 million on this year’s salary cap. Thielen received some additional guarantees for the future decisions that are to be made by the Vikings. He heights at 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 195 lbs.
17. Brandin Cooks – Houston Texans
The Texans star Brandin was all set to finish his contract and be a free agent after the 2022 season, but he has signed a two-year extension contract because Houston always planned on keeping him to rebuild the team.
Brandon’s last contract with the Rams in 2018 was $81 million for five years, which guaranteed $20.4 million, but the latest agreement gives him what he deserves.
Source: The #Texans have agreed to terms with WR Brandin Cooks on a 2-year deal. He’s not going anywhere.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 7, 2022
Cooks signed a 2-year contract of $39.7 million, including a $16 million signing bonus with $36 million guaranteed and an average salary of $20 million. He will have a base salary of $2 million with a signing and roster bonus of $16.5 million while carrying a cap hit of $10.3 million and a dead cap value of $43.5 million in 2022. The player stands at 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 189 lbs.
16. Robert Woods – Tennessee Titans
Veteran wide receiver Robert has signed a contract of 4 years with the Tennessee Titans for $65 million, including $32 million guaranteed and an average salary of $16.25 million.
Woods’s previous contract with the Rams before trading in 2017 was $34 million for five years with $10 million guaranteed, which is half the contract he signed in 2020.
The 30-years-old player has two more years remaining on his contract and is the third Rams player who has received an extension with two others just in two weeks. He will earn a base salary of $10 million while fetching a cap hit of $10 million and a dead cap value of $10 million. Woods stands at the height of 6 feet and weighs 190 lbs.
15. Mike Evans – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Saving the team Tampa Bay more than $10 million in cap space, Mike has restructured his contract several times throughout his career. He has signed a 5-years contract of $82.5 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including $55 million guaranteed with an average salary of $16.5 million.
Previously, he signed a contract of $14.6 million with the Buccaneers in 2014, which guaranteed $14.6 million but only got the value for his skill in the new agreement.
Mike Evans is restructuring his deal to save the Bucs $10.3 million in cap space this year, per source. Prior to that, he counted $20.62 against the cap for 2022.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) March 17, 2022
The 28-year-old veteran will earn a base salary of $1.12 million with a bonus of $12.8 million, holding a cap hit of $10.3 million and a dead cap value of $30.5 million in 2022. Evans stands at 6 feet 5 inches and weighs 231 lbs.
14. Tyler Lockett – Seattle Seahawks
The first rookie named First-Team All-Pro, Tyler signed a contract with the Seattle Seahawks for $69 million with a signing bonus of $19 million, including $37 million guaranteed with an average salary of $17.25 million. His base salary for 2022 is $3 million with a signing bonus of $13 million.
The Seahawks have been signing the wide receiver since his draft in 2015. In 2018, he signed with them for $31.8 million with a guaranteed $11 million renegotiating their first contract.
The 30-year-old wide receiver carries a cap hit of $10 million and a dead cap value of $31.2 million in 2022. Lockett stands at 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 182 lbs.
13. Christian Kirk – Jacksonville Jaguars
This season, a strategic game played by the Jacksonville Jaguars is acquiring Christian Kirk off Arizona Cardinals by signing a four-year contract of $72 million on March 14, 2022. Kirk received a total of $37 million guaranteed, including a $20 million signing bonus and an average salary of $18 million.
In 2018, he signed his first contract with the Cardinals for $5.8 million, guaranteed $3.5 million for four years.
This contract has made the 25-year-old player one of the league’s top highest-paid wide receivers in average annual value. His base salary will be $1.5 million with a signing bonus of $20 million, a roster, and a workout bonus of $1 million while carrying a cap hit of $7.5 million and a dead cap value of $37 million. Christian stands at 5 feet 11 inches and weighs 200 lbs.
12. Kenny Golladay – New York Giants
Kenny’s first contract with the Lions was for $3.2 million, which guaranteed $718,824 in 2017 and expired in 2021, and since then, he has been with the Giants.
The expectations of Golladay were seemingly high when the New York Giants signed a four-year contract with him for $72 million but his first season with the Giants was the worst, with zero touchdowns. Some suggest this is one of the league’s worst deals for the Giants.
Golladay had beaten Darryl Roberts on a double move. Decent throw from Fromm, but Golladay can't quite reach it. Washington gets lucky pic.twitter.com/Vozq37q040
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) January 9, 2022
The 28-year-old player’s contract included a signing bonus of $17 million, including $40 million guaranteed with an annual salary of $18 million. He will earn a base salary of $13 million with a roster bonus of $4.5 million while holding a cap hit of $21.1 million and a dead cap value of $31.1 million in 2022. Kenny stands at 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 218 lbs.
11. Michael Thomas – New Orleans Saints
Michael was drafted by the Saints in 2016, signed for $5.1 million with a guaranteed $3 million, and extended their contract for five years in 2019.
The New Orleans Saints and Thomas have restructured their contract for the third time, saving $16.7 million in cap space. He signed a five-year contract of $96.2 million, including a signing bonus of $20 million with $60.5 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $19.25 million.
The 29-year-old receiver will earn a base salary of $1 million with a restructured bonus of $14.5 million, holding a cap hit of $13 million. Michael stands at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 212 lbs.
10. Mike Williams – Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers extended Mike’s contract to keep the receiver till 2025. Mike was drafted by the Chargers in 2017 and signed a contract for $19.7 million with a guaranteed $19.7 million. Again, he signed a contract of $60 million for three years with a signing bonus of $21 million with $40 million guaranteed.
The 27-year-old charger will earn a base salary of $7 million, a signing bonus of $21 million, and a cap hit of $14 million. He stands at 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 218 lbs.
9. Chris Godwin – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris missed the season’s final three games and had 98 receptions for 1130 yards and five touchdowns. Godwin has signed a 3-year contract of $60 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including an $18.75 million signing bonus with $40 million guaranteed.
Chris was drafted by the Buccaneers in 2017, signing a contract of four years. In 2021, he signed a contract for $12.9 million with $15.9 guaranteed for one year.
The 26-year-old player will earn a base salary of $1.25 million with an $18.75 million signing bonus while holding a cap hit of $5 million in 2022. 2017 drafted player Chris stands at 6 feet 1 inch and weighs 209 lbs.
8. Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers
Just before 90 minutes of submitting their roster list, the Chargers announced that Allen was signing his new contract with them. He signed a contract of $80.1 million, which included a $13.5 million signing bonus with $43 million guaranteed.
The Chargers first drafted him in 2013, signing for four years. In 2016, he signed for $45 million with a guaranteed $20.6 million.
The 38-year-old player will earn a base salary of $16.5 million, holding a cap hit of $19.2 million and a dead cap value of $26.1 million in 2022. Keenan stands at 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 211 lbs.
7. Amari Cooper – Cleveland Browns
Cooper and his much-talked-about contract have traded with the Cleveland Browns, which was signed in 2020 for the same amount. The versatile player signed a contract of $100 million for five years with the Dallas Cowboys, including a $10 million signing bonus with $65 million guaranteed.
His previous contract with the Raiders in 2015 for $22.6 million with $22.6 million guaranteed ended in 2019.
The 28-year-old has an experience of 8 years and will earn a base salary of $1.12 million with a restructure bonus of $18.8 million while holding a cap hit of $4.8 million in 2022. Amari stands at 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 211 lbs.
6. D.J Moore – Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers tied up one of the finest wide receivers but did not get the quarterback they wanted. Moore signed a contract of $61 million for three years with a signing bonus of $19.5 million, with $41.6 million guaranteed. The contract was extended after signing in 2018 for four years of $11.1 million, including $10.8 guaranteed.
Moore does not disappoint the team and led them with a career-high 93 receptions last season for 1157 yards and four touchdowns. The 25-year-old player will earn a base salary of $1.035 million with a signing bonus of $19.5 million in 2022. DJ stands at the height of 6 feet and weighs 210 lbs.
5. Stefon Diggs – Buffalo Bills
Stefon said in an interview that he wants to retire with the Buffalo Bills, and his contract could make it possible. Diggs signed a 4-year contract of $96 million, with a $21.5 million signing bonus and $70 million guaranteed.
His previous contract with the Bills of $72 million with $16.9 million guaranteed for five years was extended after it expired in 2022.
The 28-year-old receiver will earn a base salary of $2.5 million with a signing bonus of $21.5 million and a roster plus workout bonus of $500,000 while holding a cap hit of $11.7 million in 2022. He stands at the height of 6 feet and weighs 195 lbs.
4. Cooper Kupp – LA Rams
Drafted by the Rams in 2017, they have been extending Cooper’s contract since the beginning. His 2020 contract was $47.25 million with a guaranteed $20 million and was again extended till 2025.
The Super Bowl MVP, Cooper, signed a contract with the LA Rams just two days after a deal with Aaron Donald and is getting paid way more than he ever earned. Kupp signed a 3-year contract of $80 million, including a $20 million signing bonus with $75 million guaranteed, carrying an annual salary of $26.7 million.
The 29-year-old MVP will earn a base salary of $10 million with a signing bonus of $20 million while holding a cap hit of $17.8 million and a dead cap value of $47.2 million. Cooper stands at 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 204 lbs.
3. DeAndre Hopkins – Arizona Cardinals
Hopkins agreed to restructure his contract through which the Arizona Cardinals created cap flexibility. He signed a 2-year contract of $54.5 million, with a $27.5 million signing bonus and a $60 million guarantee. His last contract was for $81 million with a guaranteed $36.5 million for five years, was restructured, and will end this year.
The 30-year-old wide receiver earns a base salary of $6.6 million with a restructure bonus of $9.4 million holding a cap hit of $17.9 million and a dead cap value of $33.9 million. DeAndre stands at the height of 6 feet 1 inch and weighs 218 lbs.
2. Davante Adams – Las Vegas Raiders
After completing eight seasons with the Packers with $20.1 million in the contract for one year in 2022, Davante was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. He signed a 5-year contract of $140 million, including a signing bonus of $19.25 million with $65.67 million guaranteed and an annual salary of $28 million.
The 29-year-old Raider will earn a base salary of $3.5 million with a signing bonus of $19.25 million included with a roster and workout bonus of $600,000 while holding a cap hit of $8.1 million and a dead cap value of $22.75 million. Adams stands at 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 216 lbs.
1. Tyreek Hill – Miami Dolphins
Given a four-year extension by the Miami Dolphins with a contract of $120 million and an annual salary of $30 million, Tyreek Hill becomes the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history by yearly average contract value and guaranteed money.
His previous contract with the Kansas City Chiefs was for $54 million, with $22.5 million guaranteed for three years ended in 2022, giving him massive money on the new team.
The #Dolphins are signing Tyreek Hill to a three-year, $75 million extension as part of the trade from the #Chiefs, per source. So he's now under contract through the 2025 season at $23.8M per year overall.
By most metrics, the NFL's new highest-paid receiver.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 23, 2022
Hill signed his contract with a $25.5 million signing bonus and $72.2 million guaranteed. The 28-year-old star will earn a base salary of $1 million with a signing bonus of $25.5 million and a workout bonus of $100,000 while holding a cap hit of $6.4 million and a dead cap value of $52.5 million. The 2016 drafted player stands at 5 feet 10 inches and weighs 185 lbs.
To date, Hill stands at the top of the list as he is the highest-paid wide receiver of all time. Let us see what the NFL teams have planned for the receivers in the future.
