Top 5 Highest Paid CBs in the NFL Currently

Before their 2026 preseason opener, the Seattle Seahawks made Devon Witherspoon the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. Witherspoon signed a four-year $132 million contract extension with the reigning Super Bowl champions.

With that agreement, the Seahawks changed the cornerback market, opening the way for more expensive deals. Witherspoon’s new deal should serve as a blueprint for the New England Patriots, who are currently negotiating contract terms with top defensive back Christian Gonzalez.

Until then, let’s take a look at who the best-paid cornerbacks in the league are.

5. Derek Stingley Jr. ($30 million/year)

• Team: Houston Texans
• College: LSU Tigers
• Drafted: 3^rd overall in 2022
• Years played: 4 years
• NFL Games played: 54 games

Derek Stingley Jr. was part of the 2019 LSU team that went unbeaten and won the college football championship. In 2022, he was drafted 3^rd overall by the Houston Texans. Since then, Stingley Jr. has played 54 regular-season games and has recorded 172 combined tackles, 6 TFLs, 51 passes defensed, four interceptions, one forced fumble, one sack, and one touchdown.

Stingley has earned two All-Pro honors and attended a couple of Pro Bowls. Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, the Texans agreed to a three-year, $90 million contract extension with Stingley. The contract included $89.02 million guaranteed money, of which $48.02 million was paid to him when he put pen to paper.

4. Sauce Gardner ($30.1 million/year)

• Team: New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts
• College: Cincinnati Bearcats
• Drafted: 4^th overall in 2022
• Years played: 4 years
• NFL Games played: 59 games

Sauce Gardner played three years of college football with the Cincinnati Bearcats. He was drafted 4^th overall by the New York Jets in the 2020 NFL draft. In July 2025, Gardner signed a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension with the Jets.

In November of 2025, the Jets traded Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and two first-round picks. Gardner has made 59 appearances since his debut in the NFL. He has recorded 217 combined tackles, 6 TFLs, 49 passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble, and a couple of quarterback hits.

Gardner won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2022. Additionally, he has earned two All-Pro accolades and attended a couple of Pro Bowl games.

3. Trent McDuffie ($31 million/year)

• Team: Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams
• College: Washington Huskies
• Drafted: 21^st overall in 2022
• Years played: 4 years
• NFL Games played: 56 games

Trent McDuffie played three years of college football with the Washington Huskies. He was drafted 21^st overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. In four years since his debut, McDuffie has made 56 appearances, accumulating 246 combined tackles, 12 TFLs, 34 passes defensed, 3 interceptions, and 8 forced fumbles.

During the 2026 offseason, the Chiefs traded McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a 2026 first-round, fifth-round, and sixth-round picks and their third-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft.

McDuffie has earned an All-Pro and a Pro Bowl title to his name. But importantly, he won two Super Bowls during his time with the Chiefs.

McDuffie signed a four-year, $124 million contract extension with the Rams.

2. Denzel Ward ($31.1 million/year)

• Team: Cleveland Browns
• College: Ohio State Buckeyes
• Drafted: 4^th overall pick in 2018
• Years played: 8 years
• NFL Games played: 110 games

Denzel Ward spent three years with the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was drafted 4^th overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2018. Ward has played 110 games for the Browns, recording 361 combined tackles, 13 TFLs, 104 passes defensed, 18 interceptions, 6 forced returns, 4 forced fumbles, and scored a couple of touchdowns.

In July 2026, Ward signed a two-year, $62.2 million contract extension with the Browns, making him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history for the second time in his career (currently the second highest).

Ward has attended 5 Pro Bowls in his NFL career.

1. Devon Witherspoon ($33 million/year)

• Team: Seattle Seahawks
• College: Illinois Fighting Illini
• Drafted: 5^th overall pick in 2023
• Years played: 3 years
• NFL Games played: 43 games

Devon Witherspoon played three years of college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini. He was drafted 5^th overall in 2023 by the Seattle Seahawks.

Since his debut, Witherspoon has played 43 NFL games, recorded 249 combined tackles, 16 TFLs, 32 passes defensed, and 4.5 sacks.

On August 15, Witherspoon agreed to a four-year $132 million contract extension with the Seahawks, making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

Witherspoon has been to 3 Pro Bowls and earned his first All-Pro title last year when he won his first Super Bowl.

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