Wide receivers have never been more important in the NFL than they are today, and the contracts handed out to the best pass catchers indicates as much.
Superstar wide receivers like Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase are routinely taken with the top pick in most fantasy football leagues due to their ability to rack up plenty of yards and touchdowns in the passing game.
Most recently, Seattle Seahawks star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was rewarded for his stellar 2025 campaign with a massive four-year, $168.6 million contract extension.
But where does JSN rank among the highest-paid receivers ahead of the 2026 NFL season? We've ranked the top-10 biggest earners at the position, based on the average annual value of their contracts.
10 Brandon Aiyuk – $30,000,000
Brandon AiyukJeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Starting off the list is San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Aiyuk broke out as a top target in the Niners' offense in 2022, and posted a career-high 1,342 yards the following season.
The Reno, Nevada native cashed in ahead of the 2024 season, signing a four-year, $120-million extension with San Francisco, including $45 million guaranteed and major bonuses.
But things went downhill after that, as Aiyuk suffered a torn ACL during the 2024 season and missed all of 2025. The relationship between the player and team has since broken down, as the 49ers have reportedly voided tens of millions in guarantees, and are currently looking to trade the Arizona State product.
9 Amon-Ra St. Brown – $30,002,500
Amon-Ra St.BrownKatie Stratman-Imagn Images
Amon-Ra St. Brown has blossomed from a fourth-round pick to an NFL superstar since being drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2021.
St. Brown came less than 100 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie, and has since rattled off four-consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns, earning Pro Bowl nods in each of those seasons. The California native has also tallied double-digit touchdowns in his last three consecutive seasons.
His elite route running and reliable hands earned him a four-year, $120-million extension in April 2024.
8 A.J. Brown – $32,000,000
AJ Brown
A.J. Brown hit the ground running in the NFL, posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in his first two years with the Tennessee Titans.
Brown really entered superstardom when he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022, becoming one of the most intimidating receivers in the NFL with his unique blend of size, athleticism and physicality.
The Mississippi native was integral to the Eagles' Super Bowl conquest in 2024, but his relationship with the team has since faltered after numerous complaints over his usage in Philly's offense.
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7 Terry McLaurin – $32,333,333
Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin throws the footballCredit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Terry McLaurin has been the epitome of consistency for the Washington Commanders since entering the league in 2019, registering over 1,000 yards in five of his seven NFL seasons, despite never playing with a star quarterback.
McLaurin scored 13 touchdowns during the 2024 season, marking his first campaign with double-digit touchdowns. The Ohio State product followed up his career-best season with a handsome three-year, $97-million extension in 2025 to stay in Washington for the foreseeable future.
6 Garrett Wilson – $32,500,000
Garrett WilsonMandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
In just four NFL seasons, Garrett Wilson has established himself as one of the flashiest and entertaining receivers in the league.
Wilson is one of the best at creating separation and controlling his body to make highlight-reel catches on a weekly basis. The Chicago native posted three-straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career with the New York Jets, despite persistent issues at quarterback.
The Jets rewarded Wilson with a four-year, $130-million extension ahead of the 2025 season, locking down their WR1 as they continue to rebuild.
5 D.K. Metcalf – $33,000,000
DK Metcalf
D.K. Metcalf entered the NFL with a lot of hype due to his imposing 6-foot-4, 229-pound frame and impressive pass-catching ability.
Metcalf became an instant hit with the Seattle Seahawks, tallying 900 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. He followed it up with a career-high 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2020, earning his first Pro Bowl nomination.
In six seasons with the Seahawks, the Mississippi native totaled 6,324 yards and 48 touchdowns before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March 2025. Metcalf immediately signed a four-year, $132-million contract with the Steelers, and managed 850 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games last season.
4 CeeDee Lamb – $34,000,000
CeeDee Lamb
CeeDee Lamb has been one of the best receivers in the NFL in the 2020s, but has flown largely under the radar due to the Dallas Cowboys' shortcomings.
Lamb has registered over 1,000 yards in all but one of his six pro seasons, after a rookie campaign in which he put up 935 yards and five touchdowns.
The Oklahoma product had the best season of his career in 2023, when he managed 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns, while leading the league in targets (181) and catches (135).
The Cowboys locked up their star receiver to a four-year, $136-million deal ahead of the 2024 season.
3 Justin Jefferson – $35,000,000
Justin Jefferson Minnesota Vikings WRStephen Maturen/Getty Images
Justin Jefferson is on an all-time pace to start his career, having set numerous records in his six NFL seasons so far.
The Minnesota Vikings superstar broke the record for the most receiving yards in a player's first five seasons and tied the record for the fastest receiver to 6,000 career yards.
Jefferson put up one of the best seasons from a receiver in NFL history in 2022, when he led the league in receptions (128) and yards (1,809), while also scoring eight touchdowns.
The Louisiana product signed a four-year, $140-million extension in June 2024, breaking the record for the biggest non-quarterback contract in NFL history at the time.
2 Ja'Marr Chase – $40,250,000
Ja'Marr Chase
Ja'Marr Chase immediately dominated the NFL after being taken fifth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Joining forces with his college teammate Joe Burrow, Chase won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award after catching 13 touchdowns totaling 1,455 yards, breaking the record for rookie receivers set just one year prior by Justin Jefferson — another one of his former teammates at Louisiana.
Chase led the league in receptions (127), yards (1,708) and touchdowns (17) in 2024, earning him his first of two All-Pro nods.
Following his impressive 2024 campaign, Chase signed a massive four-year, $161-million extension with the Bengals.
1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba – $42,150,000
Jaxon Smith-Njigba-1
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the man of the moment in the NFL.
After leading the league in receiving yards (1,793) in 2025 and guiding the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl title, Smith-Njigba has been rewarded with a monstrous four-year, $168.6-million contract extension in March 2026.
The Nacogdoches, Texas native's rise to superstardom has been meteoric, staking his claim as one of the sport's top offensive players in just three NFL seasons.
JSN blends elite route running with strong hands and versatility as an option in the passing game, making him arguably the most well-rounded receiver in football today.
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