Biggest Sports Deals of 2020
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has done a real number on industries and economies throughout the world in 2020, one area has still certainly fared well: whoever gets to produce zeroes for all those huge checks professional athletes are cashing.
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Despite cancellations of numerous sports events and few (if any) fans in the stands, professional franchises haven’t slowed down in giving out huge paychecks.
Read on to see the eye-popping contracts given out in 2020.
Last updated: Dec. 21, 2020
25. Chris Jones, NFL
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Defensive Tackle
Age: 26
Years of Contract: 4
Value: $80 million
Average Annual Value: $20 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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24. Davis Bertans, NBA
Team: Washington Wizards
Position: Small Forward
Age: 28
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $80 million
Average Annual Value: $16 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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23. Keenan Allen, NFL
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Wide Receiver
Age: 28
Years of Contract: 4
Value: $80.1 million
Average Annual Value: $20.025 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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22. Byron Jones, NFL
Team: Miami Dolphins
Position: Cornerback
Age: 27
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $82.5 million
Average Annual Value: $16.5 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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21. DeForest Buckner, NFL
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Position: Defensive Tackle
Age: 25
Years of Contract: 4
Value: $84 million
Average Annual Value: $21 million
Year Contract Starts: 2022
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20. Arik Armstead, NFL
Team: San Francisco 49ers
Position: Defensive End
Age: 26
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $85 million
Average Annual Value: $17 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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19. Fred VanVleet, NBA
Team: Toronto Raptors
Position: Point Guard
Age: 26
Years of Contract: 4
Value: $85 million
Average Annual Value: $21.25 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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18. David Bakhtiari, NFL
Team: Green Bay Packers
Position: Left Tackle
Age: 29
Years of Contract: 4
Value: $92 million
Average Annual Value: $23 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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17. Josh Donaldson, MLB
Team: Minnesota Twins
Position: Third Base
Age: 34
Years of Contract: 4
Value: $92 million
Average Annual Value: $23 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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16. Marlon Humphrey, NFL
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Position: Cornerback
Age: 24
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $97.5 million
Average Annual Value: $19.5 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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15. Jalen Ramsey, NFL
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Cornerback
Age: 25
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $100 million
Average Annual Value: $20 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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14. Amari Cooper, NFL
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Wide Receiver
Age: 25
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $100 million
Average Annual Value: $20 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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13. Ryan Tannehill, NFL
Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Quarterback
Age: 31
Years of Contract: 4
Value: $118 million
Average Annual Value: $29.5 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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12. Gordon Hayward, NBA
Team: Charlotte Hornets
Position: Small Forward
Age: 30
Years of Contract: 4
Value: $120 million
Average Annual Value: $30 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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11. Myles Garrett, NFL
Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Defensive End
Age: 24
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $125 million
Average Annual Value: $25 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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10. Joey Bosa, NFL
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Defensive End
Age: 25
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $135 million
Average Annual Value: $27 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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9. Deshaun Watson, NFL
Team: Houston Texans
Position: Quarterback
Age: 24
Years of Contract: 4
Value: $156 million
Average Annual Value: $39 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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8. Brandon Ingram, NBA
Team: New Orleans Pelicans
Position: Small Forward
Age: 23
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $158.253 million
Average Annual Value: $31.6506 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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7. Jayson Tatum, NBA
Team: Boston Celtics
Position: Small Forward
Age: 22
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $163.00059 million
Average Annual Value: $32.600118 million
Year Contract Starts: 2021
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6. Donovan Mitchell, NBA
Team: Utah Jazz
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 24
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $163.00059 million
Average Annual Value: $32.600118 million
Year Contract Starts: 2021
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5. De'Aaron Fox, NBA
Team: Sacramento Kings
Position: Point Guard
Age: 22
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $163.00059 million
Average Annual Value: $32.600118 million
Year Contract Starts: 2021
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4. Edrice 'Bam' Adebayo, NBA
Team: Miami Heat
Position: Center
Age: 23
Years of Contract: 5
Value: $163.00059 million
Average Annual Value: $32.600118 million
Year Contract Starts: 2021
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3. Christian Yelich, MLB
Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Position: Left Field
Age: 28
Years of Contract: 7
Value: $188.5 million
Average Annual Value: $26.928571 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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2. Mookie Betts, MLB
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Position: Right Field
Age: 27
Years of Contract: 12
Value: $365 million
Average Annual Value: $30.416667 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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1. Patrick Mahomes, NFL
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Quarterback
Age: 24
Years of Contract: 10
Value: $450 million
Average Annual Value: $45 million
Year Contract Starts: 2020
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Methodology: In order to discover the biggest sports deals of 2020, GOBankingRates looked at Spotrac’s contract data for the National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and National Football League (NFL). From these lists, GOBankingRates looked at the top 100 contracts in terms of total value and isolated all contracts starting in 2020 or later and signed in the year 2020. With these qualifications met, GOBankingRates found the following factors for each contract: (1) player name; (2) league; (3) team name; (4) position; (5) age at signing; (6) years of contract; (7) total value of contract; (8) the average annual value of the contract; and (9) the year the contract starts. Only factor (7) was considered for final rankings. All data was collected on and up to date as of Nov. 25, 2020.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Biggest Sports Deals of 2020
