Monday 3 September 2018 11:56, UK
After Aaron Rodgers, Odell Beckham Jr, Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack all signed big-money contracts, we examine the NFL's highest-paid players.
Rodgers became the highest-paid player in the league's history, while Beckham became the costliest receiver and Donald the richest ever defender - replaced immediately by Mack - so we've decided to run down the best paid players at each position.
We will begin with the biggest contract in the history of the league...
Rodgers signed a whopping contract four-year, $134m contract extension on Wednesday that will earn him an average of $33.5m over the course of his new deal, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL ahead of fellow quarterbacks Matt Ryan ($30m), Kirk Cousins ($28m), Jimmy Garoppolo ($27.5m) and Matthew Stafford ($27m). Ryan has the biggest contract ($150m total), but Rodgers will have the bigger salary and more guaranteed money.
The deal will see two-time NFL MVP Rodgers receive more than $80m by March 2019. The 34-year-old won the Super Bowl with Green Bay in 2010, has been to six Pro Bowls, guiding the Packers to the postseason as many as nine times.
After bursting onto the scene when winning the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015, Gurley had somewhat of a sophomore slump as the Rams faltered under Jeff Fisher.
However, last year's 2,093 scrimmage-yard, 19-touchdown season earned him the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award and in turn, a bumper contract in Los Angeles.
Known for his absurd one-handed catches and electrifying plays, Beckham's new deal puts him ahead of the rest of the league's receivers. And it is well-deserved, as the 25-year-old is second only to Julio Jones in all-time average receiving yards per game with 94.1.
Not including last season - which he missed the majority of with a fractured ankle - Beckham has had at least 90 catches, 1,300 yards, and 10 touchdowns in every campaign.
Despite yearly rumours of a retirement due to a long injury history, there's no doubting 'Gronk' is one of the best tight ends to ever play the game.
Still only 29, he is already in the top 31 touchdown scorers in NFL history with 76. Since signing his deal in 2012, he's made the Pro Bowl four times and won a pair of Super Bowls.
When the Cowboys drafted Smith with the ninth overall pick in 2011, he was the first offensive lineman taken in the first round by Jerry Jones since he bought the team in 1989.
Since then, he's been a Pro Bowler in the last five straight seasons and dominated defensive ends weekly. He ended last season on injured reserve but looks to be healthy this preseason.
Three years after Smith, Dallas again dipped back into the first round to take a lineman - this time choosing a player who has dominated on the interior of the line from the moment he stepped on the field.
He was the final piece of the puzzle in 2014 as the Cowboys built a formidable front with a trio of high picks, including Martin, Smith, and another key player in the middle...
Frederick was taken with the 31st pick of the 2013 Draft and, like both Martin and Smith, has made the Pro Bowl every year since 2014. For the last two seasons, the Cowboys have had a top-two rushing attack.
The former Wisconsin Badger signed his contract in 2016, but his NFL future is now in question. Earlier this month, he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome. There is currently no definitive timetable on his return, but thankfully, it was diagnosed at an early stage.
Donald followed in the footsteps of OBJ and Rodgers in signing a big-money new deal, the richest in NFL history as he put pen to paper on a record six-year, $135 million contract, with $87 million guaranteed.
The Rams defensive tackle has been a Pro Bowler in each of his four seasons in the league, a first-team All-Pro in the last three of those, and was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year for 2017. So, he's not bad then!
He's almost becoming a forgotten man after missing two straight seasons with a back injury followed by a fracture in his leg, but Watt's ability to dominant on defense is unmatched when healthy - and he signed his massive deal back in 2014.
Watt was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times between 2012 and 2015 - a feat only achieved once before, by Giants' great Lawrence Taylor. Let's hope he can return to full health.
Not long after completing his blockbuster switch from the Oakland Raiders to the Bears, Mack agreed a deal surpassing Donald's contract in Los Angeles. His six-year extension includes $90m guaranteed and the deal also takes him ahead of Von Miller at the outside linebacker position, and makes him the highest-paid defender in NFL history.
Like Donald, Mack has earned a Defensive Player of the Year award - his coming in 2016. The 27-year-old has also racked up 40.5 sacks in just four seasons as a pro. Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will be licking his lips over Mack's impact on the Chicago D.
Kuechly, selected just three picks before Cox in the 2012 Draft, has been tackling a tackling machine in the NFL.
The 27-year-old has averaged 136 tackles per season in his six years, and been named to the Pro Bowl in five of them. He received back-to-back Defensive Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year awards in 2012 and 2013, signing a five-year extension before the 2015 season.
Kansas City's star safety has had a rollercoaster eight-year career. After a spectacular start to his career, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and missed a large part of the 2014 season. On his NFL return in 2015, he was named Comeback Player of the Year.
Berry had another All-Pro season in 2016 and signed a six-year contract that offseason. However, in the very first game of 2017, he tore his Achilles. What is next?
Widely regarded as the best cover corner in the league after his first three seasons as a Carolina Panther, Norman hit free agency in the 2016 and was courted by the Redskins with a deal that topped the one Darrelle Revis had signed with the Jets a year earlier.
He had a strong first season, but after struggling with injuries last season, he will look to get back on track this year.
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