How Rich Are Tom Brady and the NFL’s Wealthiest Offensive Players?
It pays to be an NFL player.
It pays even better to be an NFL quarterback.
The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to Money
Explore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions Answered
The average NFL salary is around $2.7 million per season, but the list of 10 wealthiest offensive players includes nothing but quarterbacks. From the greatest player of all time (Tom Brady) to one of the most polarizing players in recent history (Deshaun Watson), the list is a glittering array of talent and star power.
Read on to see who made the ranking.
9 (tie). Deshaun Watson
Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $50 million
Watson, 26, signed a controversial five-year, $230 million with the Cleveland Browns after being traded from the Houston Texans in the offseason. He has been suspended for the first 11 games of the season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy -- at one point he faced lawsuits from 24 women who alleged sexual misconduct.
9 (tie). Ryan Tannehill
Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $50 million
Tannehill is entering the first year of a four-year, $118 million deal with the Titans. He led the Titans to the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC last season but three threw interceptions in a playoff loss to the Bengals. Can he (and Tennessee) rebound?
7 (tie). Matt Ryan
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $70 million
The longtime Atlanta Falcons quarterback was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in the offseason. He has two seasons remaining on his five-year, $150 million deal.
7 (tie). Kirk Cousins
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $70 million
Cousins, 34, famously signed a fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million deal with the Vikings in 2018. He's currently playing on a one-year, $35 million deal.
5 (tie). Derek Carr
Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $80 million
Carr agreed to a three-year, $121.5 million extension in the offseason. Now the quarterback, who threw for 4,804 yards, 23 TDs and 14 interceptions last season, leads the Raiders in the loaded AFC West.
5 (tie). Matthew Stafford
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $80 million
Coming off a Super Bowl victory in his first season with the Rams, Stafford signed a four-year, $160 million extension in the offseason. Now he seeks to be a rare repeat Super Bowl winner.
4. Joe Flacco
Team: New York Jets
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $85 million
Flacco won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and amassed $147 million in career earnings with the Ravens. Now he'll start at least the first four games of the season for the New York Jets. Flacco is playing on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.
3. Russell Wilson
Team: Denver Broncos
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $165 million
Wilson, traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos in the offseason, signed a monster five-year, $242.5 million extension in the offseason. Now he tries to win his second Super Bowl after a subpar (for him) season in which he threw for 3,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions, missing three games because of a thumb injury.
2. Aaron Rodgers
Team: Green Bay Packers
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $200 million
Rodgers won his fourth MVP last season and entered an offseason of uncertainty, with talk of retirement or signing with another team. But the longtime star signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Packers and enters the season as one of the favorites to win his second Super Bowl crown.
1. Tom Brady
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: Quarterback
Net worth: $250 million
Brady, 45, is simply the GOAT -- the greatest of all time. He has a record seven Super Bowl titles and continues to play at a high level. Brady retired this offseason before returning to the Bucs on a one-year, $15 million deal.
For this support piece GOBankingRates used Spotrac career earnings data as well as CelebrityNetWorth.com to find some of the wealthiest NFL offensive players. To be qualified, the player had to play on the offensive side of the ball and be on a current NFL roster. Networth data was collected and is up to date as of Aug. 24, 2022.
More From GOBankingRates
Check Out Readers' Favorite Small Businesses in Our 2022 Small Business Spotlight
This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions Of Americans
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Rich Are Tom Brady and the NFL’s Wealthiest Offensive Players?