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NFL's highest paid edge rushers for 2026 led by Will Anderson Jr.
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- NFL's highest paid edge rushers for 2026 led by Will Anderson Jr.
Who are the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL for the 2026 season?
The position has handed out a lot of money for players in recent years, with 29 edge rushers currently set to make at least $16 million per season in average annual salary, led by an edge rusher who is earning an average of $50 million per season.
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There are 22 edge rushers set to make at least $20 million per season.
Here's a look at the top 10 highest-paid edge rushers in the league for 2026, ranked by average annual salary, per overthecap.com , a site that tracks NFL player contracts (through Aug. 30, 2026).
NFL's highest paid players in 2026: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive linemen | D-linemen | Cornerbacks | Safeties | Linebackers | Edge rushers | Overall | By position | By team
Take a look at the highest paid players in the NFL for the 2026 season, ranked by average annual salary, including Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: $64 million
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: $60 million
Bengals QB Joe Burrow: $55 million
Bills QB Josh Allen: $55 million
Packers QB Jordan Love: $55 million
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence: $55 million
Rams QB Matthew Stafford: $55 million
Lions QB Jared Goff: $53 million
49ers QB Brock Purdy: $53 million
Chargers QB Justin Herbert: $52.5 million
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: $52 million
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts: $51 million
Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr.: $50 million
Packers EDGE Micah Parsons: $46.5 million
Browns QB Deshaun Watson: $46 million
Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson: $45 million
Colts QB Daniel Jones: $44 million
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: $42.2 million
Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt: $41 million
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase: $40.25 million
Texans EDGE Danielle Hunter: $40.1 million
Rams EDGE Myles Garrett: $40 million
Eagles DL Jalen Carter: $38 million
Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby: $35.5 million
Falcons WR Drake London: $35.3 million
Cowboys DL Quinnen Williams: $35.3 million
Titans DL Jeffery Simmons: $35.28 million
Ravens WR Zay Flowers: $35 million
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: $35 million
49ers EDGE Nick Bosa: $34 million
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold: $33.5 million
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield: $33.3 million
Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon: $33 million
Steelers WR D.K. Metcalf: $32.99 million
Jets WR Garrett Wilson: $32.5 million
Patriots WR A.J. Brown: $32 million
Chiefs DL Chris Jones: $31.75 million
Browns CB Denzel Ward: $31.1 million
Saints WR Chris Olave: $31 million
Rams CB Trent McDuffie: $31 million
Commanders OL Laremy Tunsil: $30.1 million
Colts CB Sauce Gardner: $30.1 million
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: $30.002 million
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk: $30 million
Texans WR Nico Collins: $30 million
Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.: $30 million
Eagles EDGE Jonathan Greenard: $30 million
Panthers EDGE Jaelan Phillips: $30 million
Bears OL Darnell Wright: $29 million
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin: $29 million
Bengals WR Tee Higgins: $28.75 million
Chargers OL Rashawn Slater: $28.5 million
Colts WR Alec Pierce: $28.5 million
Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle: $28.25 million
Jaguars EDGE Josh Hines-Allen: $28.25 million
Giants EDGE Brian Burns: $28.2 million
Buccaneers OL Tristan Wirfs: $28.13 million
Ravens EDGE Trey Hendrickson: $28 million
Bengals DL Dexter Lawrence: $28 million
Lions OL Penei Sewell: $28 million
Bills WR D.J. Moore: $27.5 million
Jaguars EDGE Travon Walker: $27.5 million
Cowboys WR George Pickens: $27.3 million
Raiders OL Tyler Linderbaum: $27 million
Lions WR Jameson Williams: $26.6 million
Broncos EDGE Nik Bonitto: $26.5
Seahawks OL Charles Cross: $26.1 million
Vikings OL Christian Darrisaw: $26 million
Patriots DL Milton Williams: $26 million
Eagles DL Jordan Davis: $26 million
Broncos DL Zach Allen: $25.5 million
Chargers safety Derwin James: $25.2 million
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton: $25.1 million
Eagles WR Devonta Smith: $25 million
Titans OL Peter Skoronski: $25 million
Eagles OL Lane Johnson: $25 million
Colts OL Bernhard Raimann: $25 million
49ers OL Trent Williams: $25 million
Panthers CB Jaycee Horn: $25 million
Steelers LB Nick Herbig: $25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Take a look at the highest paid players in the NFL for the 2026 season, ranked by average annual salary, including Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Take a look at the highest paid players in the NFL for the 2026 season, ranked by average annual salary, including Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson.
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: $64 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: $60 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Bengals QB Joe Burrow: $55 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Bills QB Josh Allen: $55 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Packers QB Jordan Love: $55 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence: $55 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Rams QB Matthew Stafford: $55 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Lions QB Jared Goff: $53 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
49ers QB Brock Purdy: $53 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Chargers QB Justin Herbert: $52.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: $52 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts: $51 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Texans EDGE Will Anderson Jr.: $50 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Packers EDGE Micah Parsons: $46.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Browns QB Deshaun Watson: $46 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson: $45 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Colts QB Daniel Jones: $44 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: $42.2 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt: $41 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase: $40.25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Texans EDGE Danielle Hunter: $40.1 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Rams EDGE Myles Garrett: $40 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Eagles DL Jalen Carter: $38 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby: $35.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Falcons WR Drake London: $35.3 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Cowboys DL Quinnen Williams: $35.3 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Titans DL Jeffery Simmons: $35.28 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Ravens WR Zay Flowers: $35 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson: $35 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
49ers EDGE Nick Bosa: $34 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold: $33.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield: $33.3 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon: $33 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Steelers WR D.K. Metcalf: $32.99 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Jets WR Garrett Wilson: $32.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Patriots WR A.J. Brown: $32 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Chiefs DL Chris Jones: $31.75 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Browns CB Denzel Ward: $31.1 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Saints WR Chris Olave: $31 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Rams CB Trent McDuffie: $31 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Commanders OL Laremy Tunsil: $30.1 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Colts CB Sauce Gardner: $30.1 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: $30.002 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk: $30 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Texans WR Nico Collins: $30 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Texans CB Derek Stingley Jr.: $30 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Eagles EDGE Jonathan Greenard: $30 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Panthers EDGE Jaelan Phillips: $30 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Bears OL Darnell Wright: $29 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin: $29 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Bengals WR Tee Higgins: $28.75 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Chargers OL Rashawn Slater: $28.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Colts WR Alec Pierce: $28.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle: $28.25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Jaguars EDGE Josh Hines-Allen: $28.25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Giants EDGE Brian Burns: $28.2 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Buccaneers OL Tristan Wirfs: $28.13 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Ravens EDGE Trey Hendrickson: $28 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Bengals DL Dexter Lawrence: $28 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Lions OL Penei Sewell: $28 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Bills WR D.J. Moore: $27.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Jaguars EDGE Travon Walker: $27.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Cowboys WR George Pickens: $27.3 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Raiders OL Tyler Linderbaum: $27 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Lions WR Jameson Williams: $26.6 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Broncos EDGE Nik Bonitto: $26.5
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Seahawks OL Charles Cross: $26.1 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Vikings OL Christian Darrisaw: $26 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Patriots DL Milton Williams: $26 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Eagles DL Jordan Davis: $26 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Broncos DL Zach Allen: $25.5 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Chargers safety Derwin James: $25.2 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton: $25.1 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Eagles WR Devonta Smith: $25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Titans OL Peter Skoronski: $25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Eagles OL Lane Johnson: $25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Colts OL Bernhard Raimann: $25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
49ers OL Trent Williams: $25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Panthers CB Jaycee Horn: $25 million
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Who are the highest paid NFL players for the 2026 season? See who tops the list
Steelers LB Nick Herbig: $25 million
Who is the highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL?
The Houston Texans' Will Anderson Jr. is currently the highest-paid edge rusher in the NFL, with an average annual salary of $50 million.
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His current contract has a total value of $150 million, with a total guaranteed amount of $134 million.
What changed? NFL's highest paid edge rushers for 2025 season
Which NFL edge rushers will make the most in 2026?
Anderson Jr. has company on the list of the top-paid edge rushers in the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons is second, at $46.5 million per season, with the Detroit Lions' Aidan Hutchinson third, at $45 million per season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. Watt is fourth among the highest-paid NFL edge rushers with an average salary of $41 million per year.
Danielle Hunter of the Houston Texans comes in fifth, with a salary of $40.1 million per season.
Jan 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) takes the field prior to a game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
NFL's highest-paid edge rushers in 2026 (average salary per year):
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1. Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.: $50 million
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2. Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons: $46.5 million
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3. Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson: $45 million
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4. Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt: $41 million
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5. Houston Texans edge rusher Danielle Hunter: $40.1 million
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6. Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Myles Garrett: $40 million
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7. Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby: $35.5 million
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8. San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa: $34 million
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9. Philadelphia Eagles edge rusher Jonathan Greenard: $30 million
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10. Carolina Panthers edge rusher Jaelan Phillips: $30 million
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- Source: overthecap.com
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NFL's highest paid edge rushers for 2026 led by Will Anderson Jr.
