Welcome to the NFL’s “financial fireworks” season—where helmets are off, but the calculators are out. With the 2025 draft in the rearview and training camp still weeks away, the league enters that quiet but crucial window where big-money extensions often get hammered out. The backdrop? A booming salary cap, newly cleared post-June 1 designations, and a crop of young stars eager to cash in.
Following Brock Purdy’s $265 million extension, the quarterback market held steady. But with a list of elite, extension-eligible players looming large, several new records are likely on the horizon.
Here are the six players most likely to reset the market in their respective positions per Bleacher Report—and why those record-setting deals feel not just possible but probable. The following contract details come from Spotrac and the stats come from Pro Football Reference.
1. Lamar Jackson – QB, Baltimore Ravens
- Current Deal: $52M AAV (signed in 2023)
- Why He’ll Get Paid: Two-time MVP. Two-time All-Pro. Four Pro Bowls. The resume writes the check.
- The Record to Beat: Dak Prescott’s $60M AAV
- Why He Could Break It: At 28, Jackson has more accolades than any quarterback not named Mahomes. His dynamic rushing adds value no other QB brings. The Ravens know the price of waiting and won’t wait long.
“There’s been conversations about that internally,” coach John Harbaugh admitted this spring.
If Baltimore is serious about long-term contention, locking Jackson up with a Prescott-topping deal is both logical and likely.
2. Micah Parsons – EDGE, Dallas Cowboys
- Current Deal: Rookie contract (final year)
- Why He’ll Get Paid: 52.5 sacks, 177 pressures, 4 All-Pro nods in 4 years. He’s Myles Garrett’s peer, not just by numbers but by presence.
- The Record to Beat: Garrett’s $40M per year
- Why He Could Break It: Cowboys history tells us Jerry Jones waits… then pays big. Parsons will be next. Whether or not he’s “better” than Garrett, he’s the next elite pass-rusher up. That’s the only leverage that matters.
3. T.J. Watt – EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Current Deal: $28M AAV (expiring)
- Why He’ll Get Paid: Former DPOY. Four-time All-Pro. 96.5 sacks. Watt isn’t just Garrett’s rival—he has a stronger statistical case.
- The Record to Beat: Garrett’s $40M
- Why He Could Break It: Pittsburgh traditionally finalizes big deals before training camp, and with Watt’s resume, anything under $40M would be a surprise. The Steelers may be low-key, but this extension will be loud.
4. Sauce Gardner – CB, New York Jets
- Current Deal: Rookie deal (2022 class)
- Why He’ll Get Paid: Two-time All-Pro, Defensive Rookie of the Year, and arguably the best cornerback in football since his debut.
- The Record to Beat: Derek Stingley Jr. ($30M/year)
- Why He Could Break It: Gardner has more awards and more consistency than Stingley. If the Jets want to build a dominant defense, they’ll pay to keep the anchor. Expect Gardner to land a deal north of $31M/year.
5. Kyle Hamilton – S, Baltimore Ravens
- Current Deal: Rookie deal (2022 class)
- Why He’ll Get Paid: Hybrid safety-linebacker with Pro Bowl versatility. Statistically comparable to Kerby Joseph, but with greater scheme value and more consistent game tape.
- The Record to Beat: Joseph’s $21.5M/year
- Why He Could Break It: Hamilton is the next evolution of the NFL safety—positionless, instinctive, and game-changing. If Baltimore extends him, expect a deal in the $22–24M/year range.
6. Tyler Smith – G, Dallas Cowboys
- Current Deal: Rookie contract (2 years left)
- Why He’ll Get Paid: Two Pro Bowls. 47 starts. Position versatility. Cowboys’ trench cornerstone.
- The Record to Beat: Chris Lindstrom ($21M/year)
- Why He Could Break It: He may not deserve top-of-market money—yet. However, with Jerry Jones, value and timing often take a back seat to optics. Smith could get an early payday; if he does, it’ll be massive.
Honorable Mentions
- C.J. Stroud & Bryce Young – Not eligible until next year, but worth watching.
- Garrett Wilson (Jets) – A quiet 3,000 yards in three years. His payday’s coming soon.
- Patrick Surtain II (Broncos) – Top-five CB money is a floor. Top-two may be the ceiling.
Where the NFL is Heading
The 2025 offseason is about more than rest and recovery—it’s the calm before the contract storm. With the salary cap on a steep upward trajectory and TV money flowing, teams have both the reason and the resources to pay up.
Expect new benchmarks. Expect shocking numbers. And expect to hear the phrase “highest-paid at his position” several more times before camp kicks off. Because in today’s NFL, talent doesn’t just win—you have to pay it to stay.
