2026 NFL Offseason: Who's Next In Line To Be Highest-Paid at Each Position?
#Lamar Jackson #Bijan Robinson #Puka Nacua #Kyle Pitts #highest-paid #NFL 2026 #contract extensions #average annual value
📌 Key Takeaways
- Lamar Jackson is poised to become the highest-paid quarterback, building on his MVP and All-Pro achievements since his last extension.
- Bijan Robinson, after leading the NFL in scrimmage yards and earning All-Pro honors, is the top candidate to reset the running back market.
- Puka Nacua's league-leading receiving stats position him to surpass Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the highest-paid wide receiver soon.
- Kyle Pitts is highlighted as the next tight end likely to secure a record-breaking contract, following recent market trends.
📖 Full Retelling
🏷️ Themes
NFL Contracts, Player Extensions
📚 Related People & Topics
Puka Nacua
American football player (born 2001)
Makea "Puka" Nacua (; born May 29, 2001) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies and BYU Cougars and was selected by the Rams in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Nac...
Kyle Pitts
American football player (born 2000)
Kyle Anthony Pitts Sr. (born October 6, 2000) is an American professional football tight end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, where he was named a unanimous All-American and won the John Mackey Award in 2020.
Bijan Robinson
American football player (born 2002)
Bijan Robinson ( bə-zhahn; born January 30, 2002) is an American professional football running back for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, where he won the Doak Walker Award and was a unanimous All-American in 2022 before be...
Lamar Jackson
American football player (born 1997)
Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. (born January 7, 1997) is an American professional football quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2016, and was selected by the Ravens with the fi...
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Deep Analysis
Why It Matters
This analysis matters because NFL contract trends directly impact team salary caps, competitive balance, and franchise financial planning. It affects team executives who must allocate limited resources, players seeking fair market value, and fans whose teams' success depends on retaining star talent. The continuous resetting of positional markets influences how teams build rosters and manage long-term sustainability in a hard-cap league.
Context & Background
- The NFL salary cap has increased significantly each year since 2021, rising from $182.5 million to over $260 million in 2026, creating more space for record deals.
- Quarterback contracts have escalated dramatically, with Dak Prescott's $60 million APY deal in 2025 resetting the market after Patrick Mahomes' $45 million APY deal was once considered groundbreaking.
- The 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement created new revenue streams that continue to push the salary cap higher, allowing for these escalating positional valuations.
- Teams are increasingly using contract restructures (like the Ravens did with Lamar Jackson) to create immediate cap space while pushing money into future years.
- The 'franchise tag' system creates artificial market suppression at positions like running back, making Saquon Barkley's $20.6 million APY deal particularly notable.
What Happens Next
Lamar Jackson's extension negotiations will likely conclude before the 2026 season starts, potentially setting a new quarterback benchmark above $65 million APY. Bijan Robinson's contract talks with Atlanta should progress through training camp, possibly establishing a new running back ceiling. Puka Nacua's off-field issues may delay but not prevent his market-resetting deal with the Rams, likely finalized by early 2027. Kyle Pitts' extension talks will test Atlanta's willingness to invest heavily in both Robinson and Pitts simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
NFL contracts rise primarily due to annual salary cap increases driven by new media deals and revenue sharing. As the league's revenue grows, the salary cap expands, giving teams more money to spend on player salaries while maintaining competitive balance.
When a player becomes the highest-paid at their position, it consumes significant salary cap space that limits the team's ability to sign other players. Teams must carefully balance paying stars with maintaining depth across the roster, often requiring creative contract structures.
Jackson is eligible because the Ravens restructured his contract last month, converting salary to bonus to create cap space. This restructuring opened the door for a new extension that would provide long-term security for Jackson while giving Baltimore more cap flexibility.
Running backs have shorter career spans and are more replaceable in modern NFL schemes, leading teams to devalue the position. The physical toll of the position and the availability of capable runners in later draft rounds suppress the market compared to quarterbacks or pass rushers.
Players drafted in 2023 become extension-eligible after completing their third NFL season. Teams can begin negotiating new contracts during the 2026 offseason, though deals typically aren't finalized until closer to training camp or the regular season.
If Atlanta cannot afford both players, they would likely prioritize Robinson given his production and the running back's immediate impact. They might use the franchise tag on Pitts or explore trade options, though restructuring other contracts could create space for both.
Source Scoring
Detailed Metrics
Key Claims Verified
JSN signed a 4-year, $69.7M extension (approx $17.4M APY) in March 2024. CeeDee Lamb holds the record at $45M APY.
Jackson is currently under contract with the Ravens until 2027. This is a speculative prediction.
Robinson is under contract until 2030. This is a speculative prediction.
Nacua is under contract until 2027. This is a speculative prediction.
Caveats / Notes
- Article content cuts off abruptly at the end.
- Claims are future predictions rather than current verified facts.
- Major factual error in the claimed contract value for Jaxon Smith-Njigba.