Only a handful of athletic hopefuls ever make it to the highest level of professional football, the National Football League. But those who do enter one of the toughest, most star-studded leagues in any sport are paid handsomely for their perseverance and skill.
But all of that money has to come from somewhere: their team’s coffers. So, which teams are shelling out the most cash during the 2024-25 season to keep their rosters stocked with talent? Let’s take a look.
Which NFL Teams Have the Highest Payroll in 2024?
At the top of the list? The Cleveland Browns ($246.4M), Atlanta Falcons ($246.2M) and Cincinnati Bengals ($238.7M). This isn’t entirely surprising, since each of these teams have a top-10 highest paid quarterback: Deshaun Watson (Browns), Kirk Cousins (Falcons) and Joe Burrow (Bengals), who set a record this year with his $55 million per year contract, which was swiftly matched by the Jaguar’s Trevor Lawrence and the Packers’ Jordan Love.
Down at the bottom of the list? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos.
Here’s a look at NFL team payrolls for 2024 from highest to lowest:
| Team | Total Payroll |
| Cleveland Browns | $246.4M |
| Atlanta Falcons | $246.2M |
| Cincinnati Bengals | $238.7M |
| Baltimore Ravens | $230.9M |
| Kansas City Chiefs | $228.9M |
| Indianapolis Colts | $225.6M |
| Chicago Bears | $224.8M |
| San Francisco 49ers | $224.7M |
| New York Giants | $223.8M |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | $217.9M |
| Los Angeles Rams | $216.9M |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | $216.4M |
| Seattle Seahawks | $215.3M |
| Houston Texans | $214.2M |
| Arizona Cardinals | $213.9M |
| Dallas Cowboys | $210.5M |
| Carolina Panthers | $207.3M |
| New Orleans Saints | $205.2M |
| Miami Dolphins | $198.7M |
| Washington Commanders | $197.8M |
| Tennessee Titans | $197.3M |
| Las Vegas Raiders | $196.9M |
| Green Bay Packers | $195M |
| Los Angeles Chargers | $188.1M |
| New York Jets | $187.6M |
| Detroit Lions | $185M |
| Minnesota Vikings | $184.5M |
| Buffalo Bills | $184.3M |
| Philadelphia Eagles | $182.8M |
| Denver Broncos | $181.7M |
| New England Patriots | $175.1M |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | $174.5M |
Watch NFL Football on DIRECTV
So there you have it: Every NFL team’s payroll in 2024-25. Find out if all of that money is well spent by watching NFL games all season long on DIRECTV! Learn more about all of the ways to watch here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NFL team has the highest payroll in 2024?
The Cleveland Browns have the highest payroll in the NFL at $246.4 million.
Who is the highest paid player in the NFL in 2024?
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is the highest paid NFL player, with a record-setting $55 million annual salary worth a total of $275 million.
Who is the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL?
Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson is the highest paid wide receiver in the NFL with a $35 million per year contract worth $140 million in total.
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