Fansided

30 highest-paid NFL players on their current contracts

By Rucker Haringey

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 03: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs yells out against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 3, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 03: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs yells out against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on October 3, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 03: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers calls a play against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

17 (tie). Tom Brady

Brady may be 44-years-old but he’s still playing the quarterback position at a Pro Bowl level. That’s why Buccanneers’ officials feel like he’s a bargain despite his average annual salary of $25 million per season.

The moment Brady brought a Super Bowl title to fans in Tampa Bay the terms of his contract came largely irrelevant. The fact that he signed a somewhat team-friendly teal to help the Buccaneers keep their star-studded core intact only adds to Brady’s lengthy legacy.

There will come a time when Brady isn’t worth this kind of money, but it’s anyone’s guess when his decline will actually begin. He’s already in uncharted territory in terms of longevity. Betting against him to play a few more seasons at a high level could make a gambler look foolish in retrospect.

As for now, Brady comfortably deserves his slot in this list of 30-highest paid players. He could have pushed Tampa to pay him more money to move up this list, but he values winning more than a few extra million dollars at this stage of his career.

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