Top 5 highest-paid DBs in NFL history

The Carolina Panthers broke headlines with a recent contract extension that has set the NFL world on fire. The Panthers set a new record in the defensive back (DB) market by signing 25-year-old Jaycee Horn to a record $25 million a year deal.

With the league becoming increasingly pass-heavy, teams now rely heavily on shutdown cornerbacks and playmaking safeties to neutralize opposing offenses. The lucrative contract signed by Jaycee Horn has also shone light on the increasing influence of defensive backs in the game.

Players like Jalen Ramsey, Pat Surtain II, and Sauce Gardner have set the standard for lockdown coverage, making life difficult for top wide receivers. Safeties like Antoine Winfield Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick have also proven invaluable in creating turnovers and providing defensive stability.

This increasing ability to cover, tackle, and disrupt plays has made the position essential to team success. The modern NFL revolves around passing efficiency, and teams are investing heavily in defensive backs to combat that.

In this article, We take a look at the highest earners by average annual salary.

#5 Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers, $21 Million

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander is the fifth highest-paid DB in NFL history. As it stands now, the player is in his final year of contract and heads into free agency in a few days.

In 2022, Jaire Alexander became the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history after signing a four-year, $84 million contract extension with the Green Bay Packers. Selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Alexander quickly established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks, earning Second-Team All-Pro honors twice — first in 2020 and again in 2022.

However, injuries have hampered his availability over the past few seasons, limiting his on-field impact despite his proven talent. Despite the same, it appears unlikely to happen anytime soon, if at all. According to ESPN’s Packers beat writer Rob Demovsky, the team has no immediate plans to move the All-Pro cornerback, meaning another big-money contract extension could be on the cards.

#4 Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $21.02M

On May 13, 2024, Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. signed a four-year, $84.10 million contract extension, which included $45 million guaranteed at signing and an initial signing bonus of $20 million. The deal made Winfield the highest-paid DB in NFL history at the time of signing.

Despite the setbacks last year, Winfield’s production in nine games and nine starts remained impressive. He finished the season with 60 combined tackles (34 solo), three pass deflections, two sacks, one fumble recovery, and one defensive touchdown. In Week 9, recording a season-high 12 combined tackles (five solo) during a 30-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

While injuries disrupted his 2024 season, Winfield’s impact on the field remained undeniable, justifying the Buccaneers’ massive financial investment.

#3 Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos, $24M

The Denver Broncos signed Pat Surtain II to a four-year, $96 million contract extension on September 4, 2024. The deal includes $77.5 million guaranteed, with $40.68 million guaranteed at signing and an initial signing bonus of $15 million.

Surtain’s performance in the 2024 season more than justified his record-setting contract. In sixteen games, He registered 45 total tackles (34 solo), 11 pass deflections, four interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and even scored a defensive touchdown.

His outstanding season was recognized on February 6, 2025, when Surtain was named the 2024 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). This achievement made him only the second player in Broncos history to win the award, joining Randy Gradishar, who received the honor in 1978.

#2 Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins, $24.1 M

In 2024, the Miami Dolphins made major long-term commitments and locked down cornerback Jalen Ramsey as a key part of their future. The deal made Ramsey the then-most-paid DB in history.

According to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Cameron Wolfe, Ramsey and the Dolphins have agreed to a three-year, $72.3 million contract extension, with an average annual value of $24.1 million. The deal, reported on Thursday, will officially make Ramsey the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

He started all 17 games during the last season and delivered a solid performance, recording 60 total tackles (39 solo), 11 passes defended, two interceptions, and one sack.

#1 Jaycee Horn, Carolina Panthers, $25M

The team announced on March 10, 2025, that Jaycee Horn is set to become the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history after agreeing to a four-year contract extension with the Carolina Panthers. The deal will keep Horn in Carolina through the 2029 season.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the extension is worth $100 million, with $70 million guaranteed. The contract, negotiated by Trevon Smith and David Mulugheta, will pay Horn an average of $25 million per season and could max out at $108 million through performance-based incentives, per Schefter’s sources.

Horn, the eighth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, earned his first Pro Bowl selection this past season. He recorded a career-high 68 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 interception for the Carolina Panthers.