He played college football for Ohio State.Thomas holds the NFL record for the most receptions by a player through his first four seasons with 470 along with the most receptions by a player in a single season with 149. Wide receivers come and go in the NFL and looking at these receivers, we hope they found success in their lives after football. Michael William Thomas Jr. (born March 3, 1993) is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). But that year the Pittsburgh Steelers had what is widely regarded as the single-best draft in NFL history. Take the Dallas Cowboys for example. 24. By using our site, you consent to our use of cookies. 1. In fact, not including Mahomes, 50 players agreed to deals during the year with values of at least $42 million. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. There’s no doubt that Johnson deserved every bit of the money Detroit gave him—even if it seems like a lot of money for one player considering the salary cap. In eight seasons with the Lions, Johnson has had 10,405 receiving yards, 74 touchdowns, and 643 receptions. Let’s break down the five biggest wide receiver divas in NFL history. It’s always been seen as the glamour position in the NFL, one where individual talent, flair and attitude is . Amari Cooper is in a terrific position to become the first wide receiver in NFL history to net a $100 million contract. 1 wide receiver for Jackson. The proposal was good enough to get White back on the practice fields immediately and satisfied for at least a few more years. The New Orleans Saints and Thomas have reportedly agreed to terms on a five-year, $100 million contract extension, making Thomas the first wide receiver to receive a contract … The result in 2020 was arguably the deepest crop of young wide receivers in the NFL. Hilton, the sixth-highest paid wide receiver in the league. Of the 48 wide receivers at the combine, Beckham had the fifth-largest hands, despite the fact that he was one of the shorter wide receivers there at 5 feet, 11 inches. ... and its third-round pick in 1994 (used to draft wide receiver Chris Penn) to Kansas City for its first-round pick in '93. With the Wednesday morning news that Saints receiver Michael Thomas … When it comes to operatic offense, it doesn't get much better than the best wide receivers in the NFL. Top 15 Biggest Wide Receiver Flops In NFL History. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to. Fitzgerald’s also the oldest player on this list at 31 years old. Indianapolis signed veteran wide receiver J.J. Nelson and second-year quarterback Jalen Morton to … Filter results From: New England Patriots To: San Francisco 49ers For: 2018 second-round draft pick Rarely in NFL history has a midseason trade carried such wide-ranging implications. On the other hand, 2014 was Bryant’s only season as a top-five-graded wide receiver—with his drop rates not having cracked the top 25 since 2011. Thus, here are the five biggest wide receiver contracts. That player just so happens to be his favorite player of all time. Correct! As he is arguably the best receiver in the NFL, he wishes to be paid as such. Quarterbacks have always been in demand, but the transition from high-paid running backs to even higher-paid receivers shows the direction the league’s trending. 2 of 28 Jimmy Smith: Sept. 10, 2000 George Gojkovich / Getty Images Ranking the top NFL Wide Receiver contracts and salaries in the NFL With his talent and his durability, there’s a reason he’s the highest paid receiver ever. The question now is, will anyone break Rice's three major receiving records? His last three seasons have seen him catch more than 100 balls each, have more than 1,000 receiving yards, and more than ten touchdowns. The Giants have had some excellent wide receivers in their long NFL history. When you’re this tall, you should be able to sky any defensive back right? © Copyright 2021 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants has signed a five-year contract extension, reportedly for $95 million, making him the highest-paid wide-receiver in NFL history. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. This week, the All-Pro wideout for the Kansas City Chiefs revealed who’s his pick for greatest wide receiver in NFL history. But not all do. By Richard Moore Published Oct 24, 2016. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. The Detroit Lions have signed Calvin Johnson to a new eight-year contract worth up to $132 million, making him the highest paid receiver in the NFL. Odell Beckham Jr. of the New York Giants has signed a five-year contract extension, reportedly for $95 million, making him the highest-paid wide-receiver in NFL history. Share Share Tweet Email Comment. That massive total comes to a whopping $18.75 million per year, which not only made him the highest paid receiver ever, but also gave him a bigger salary than most other offensive players. Allen Robinson has made it known that he would like to receive an extension from the Chicago Bears and would like to finish out his career as the best wide receiver in Bears history. Pittsburgh’s 1974 Draft . The New York Giants on Monday announced they signed Beckham to a five-year contract extension that … They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. 10 Allen Robinson - 3 Years/$42 Million Robinson broke out in 2015 with 80 receptions for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can give you a more personalised web experience. Athletes that approach 7-feet tall usually aren’t suiting up to play football. Contract Notes Michael Thomas signed a five year, $96.25 million extension with the Saints on July 31, 2019. Odell Beckham Jr. is now the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver. Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice has sometimes been called the best player in NFL history, but Rice says he’ll hand that status to Tom Brady. DJ Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars. Who's going to pay him top-dollar? Tallest Wide Receiver Harold Carmichael 6’8″ – 225lb. The previous record? Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes signed the richest contract in NFL history last July when he inked a 10-year, $450 million contract extension, but Mahomes wasn’t the only player in the NFL in 2020 to sign either a massive free-agent contract or extension. But not all do. Because we respect your right to privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. One because of the position he plays, the other because of his history in the NFL. Beckham has enormous hands, even for an NFL player. I generally prefer to watch and evaluate at least eight games of every notable receiver whether that be live viewings or after the fact. questions concerning possible collusion between the Cowboys and Broncos, a seven-year, $113 million dollar extension in 2012. A wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles (1987–89), the Minnesota Vikings (1990–2001) and the Miami Dolphins (2002), Carter was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. Note: Contract details are courtesy of Spotrac.com. The largest trade (based on number of players/draft choices involved) in league history had a ripple effect that impacted the entire NFL in the 1990s. May 17, 2019 9:00 am. Browse our online application for MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, EPL, or MLS player contracts, salaries, transactions, and more. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. One of the impetuses behind this article, Bryant signed an extension last week that will pay him $70 million over five years. His best one came a year ago when he finished with 1,619 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. However, no official contract details have been released by the team. And therein lies the catch; it’s a lot easier to have a rotating backfield without a superstar than it is to not have an elite pass catcher on the outside. Wide receivers were the biggest actors in America’s new favorite film: the NFL. With that, I’m going to dive in and break down the most physical receivers at this all-important position. Wide receivers come and go in the NFL and looking at these receivers, we hope they found success in their lives after football. The Detroit Lions have signed Calvin Johnson to a new eight-year contract worth up to $132 million, making him the highest paid receiver in the NFL. Probably one the lesser names on this list, Wallace signed a five-year, $60 million deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2013. Rice certainly still holds that title for receivers and is in the debate among all players. Bad for clubs, great for players”. Then again, Dallas also had Dez Bryant, whose 88 receptions, 1,320 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns were also atop the league. Considering the amount of money that Detroit had to shell out to lock up Johnson, this seems like a steal…albeit an expensive one at $14 million per year. That massive total comes to a whopping $18.75 million per year, which not only made him the highest paid receiver ever, but also gave him a bigger salary than most other offensive players. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. 2008: Cowboys acquire WR Roy Williams from the Lions for 1st, 3rd, 6th and 10th round pick This still may be the worst in-season trade in NFL history. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. They’re dominating on the basketball court, dunking with ease.Some are punching people’s lights out in the MMA ring. 15 Biggest Wide Receiver Busts Since 1990: Where Are They Now? When a player’s a physical specimen—the Calvin Johnson’s and Dez Bryant’s of the league—and also a workhorse, that kind of productivity is unmatchable. At the NFL combine his hands measured 10.0 inches long. Though he has since been traded to the Minnesota Vikings, he still averages $12 million per season. However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Listing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active NFL players. But in those three seasons, he has been statistically atop the league nearly every time. According to Spotrac, it’s the single largest dead cap hit in a season in NFL history. DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins. Despite Wallace having a few great seasons with Pittsburgh in 2010 and 2011, he’s dropped off since, thus why his big contract with Miami was a bit surprising. Similar to Bryant—weirdly similar, as there were questions concerning possible collusion between the Cowboys and Broncos—Thomas signed his extension last week with the Broncos for an identical $70 million over five years, which will pay him roughly $14 million per year. The Herschel Walker Trade (1989) The largest trade in NFL history involved 18 players and draft picks and launched the Dallas Cowboys' dynasty. Saints make Michael Thomas the highest-paid WR in NFL history with $100 million deal, per reports Thomas had been holding out of camp for a new contract… These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. Per PFT, Thomas received a $20 million signing bonus and $35.64 million fully guaranteed at signing. John Elway, Denver’s General Manager probably explicitly locked down Thomas to keep Peyton Manning happy. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it can have a ripple effect that impacts the course of NFL history. Wide Receiver Contracts A real-time, sortable list of active NFL contracts including total … Chark was one of just nine wide receivers to produce over 1,000 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. Wide Receiver Contracts A real-time, sortable list of active NFL contracts including total value, guaranteed money, and complete salary breakdowns. Moss says he would put Terrell Owens second on the top wide receiver … When Jerry Rice retired before the 2005 season, he was the unquestioned greatest receiver in NFL history. There wasn’t a wide receiver that took a bigger step last season than DJ Chark, and his speed along the boundary makes him constantly dangerous. It wasn’t cheap though; nor as it should be. Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is now the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, signing a two-year contract extension worth a reported $54.5 million. Others are in professional wrestling.. Football, however, is a sport in which bigger is usually better. Since the beginning of the game, receivers have been a … If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising. In a National Football League where the run game has taken the back seat to prolific passing attacks, big, strong wide receivers have become a hot commodity. Over the past decade, no Ravens wide receiver … Ten wide receivers in franchise history have logged more than 1,000 yards in a season, and Hall of Famer Mac Speedie achieved the feat twice. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Calvin Johnson got the biggest contract in NFL history Wednesday, and he wasn't even a free agent. Last season, they had running back DeMarco Murray, who put up career numbers—1,845 rushing yards on the year and 13 touchdowns—all while being the team’s workhorse. Though he didn’t have to do that, it certainly helped the Cardinals bring in other elite players, which helped them become one of the best teams in football a year ago. Michael Thomas' new deal leads the biggest receiver contracts in NFL history. 10 of the biggest diva wide receivers in NFL history. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings. 45 NFL wide receivers now make at least $5 million in average salary per year per overthecap.com, a site that tracks NFL player contracts (through Sept. 12, … Not to mention his record-breaking season in 2012, where he broke Jerry Rice’s single-season receiving record with 1,964 yards. The 49ers lucked into a premium passer who was ready to play immediately, redirecting their plan to pursue veteran Kirk Cousins in free a… When the Detroit Lions signed Calvin Johnson to a seven-year, $113 million dollar extension in 2012, it was the richest contract ever for a receiver. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. Antonio Brown. Top 25 wide receivers in the NFL 25. The details of the contract come from PFT, so please credit them if using any details of the contract. And he struggled with the Dolphins, too—in two seasons before being traded, he failed to notch a season with at least 1,000 yards. The Patriots shipped out their presumed quarterback of the future, clearing the way for Tom Brady to remain as starter indefinitely. But his career hasn’t been a bit short of impressive, even if it’s fallen off as he’s gotten older. In today's NFL the wide receiver position has become increasingly important. He played … These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. His lack of production might also be indicative of Miami’s offensive struggles during this time, but either way, he failed to didn’t live up to the high expectations that came with his massive contract. When the Denver Broncos and the Dallas Cowboys agreed to contract extensions with Damarius Thomas and Dez Bryant, respectively, both teams locked down an elite, franchise-caliber type of receiver. Here are the five biggest in NFL history. But if you look at the Cowboy’s roster for this upcoming season, you’ll only see one of those players: Dez Bryant. 15 Biggest Wide Receiver Busts Since 1990: Where Are They Now? We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, analyze site traffic, & serve targeted ads. The NFL is well into a pass-happy era defined by prolific playmaking wide receivers. Wide receiver Robert Woods has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Rams that includes $32 million guaranteed. Many even viewed him as the greatest player of all time. Moss says he sit alone at the top when it comes to discussions about the best wide receiver in NFL history. And while some wouldn’t put Tony Romo in the same category as Manning, his numbers are always up there, so it’s a similar situation in Dallas. He and Tony Romo are one of the league’s prolific duos, and Dallas’ commitment to him evidences the future they believe the two has together. Fitzgerald signed in 2013 with the Arizona Cardinals for $126 million over eight years. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. Share this article share tweet text email link Tim Weaver. Harold Carmichael did just that for 10+ seasons in the NFL with a league-leading 1,116 yards receiving on 67 receptions in 1973. Also, by disabling these cookies you will also disable banner ads served by Google Adsense on this website.. For more information about these items, view our complete privacy policy.Read More. Partnered with the USA TODAY Sports Media Group  |  Powered by. Throughout the 2019 NFL season, I continued to keep a close eye on wide receivers across the league. There’s no doubt that catching balls from Peyton Manning helps his cause, but the six-foot-three wide receiver’s strength and ability becomes obvious every time he steps on the field. He’ll definitely go down as the Cardinals greatest receiver, and though he’s not making $15.75 million annually anymore, he deserved it at the time. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has signed the largest contract in NFL history, making an average of $45 million per year. One of the biggest questions this offseason is whether Baltimore will add a proven No. But most impressively, and most importantly for the Lions, Johnson has appeared in 119 games and missed just nine. ... let's take a look at the 10 highest-paid NFL wide receivers for the 2019 season. Fitzgerald’s contract paid about 15.75 million per year, but he has since restructured it in order to free up more salary cap space for the team. He’s tallied six seasons with more than 1,000 yards, two seasons with 100 or more receptions, and five seasons with more than 10 touchdowns. Necessary Cookies. When you visit any web site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Not too shabby for a guy who’s played in just three full seasons. Use of any marks, trademarks, or logos on this website shall not constitute a sponsorship or endorsement by the trademark holder. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. At 27 years old, Bryant’s in the peak of his career, and it shows. Despite this, his contract is that of a top-five WR, a full $1 million per season and $5 million total above that of T.Y. Harrison had the benefit of playing with Peyton Manning, but he was also a highly-talented wideout who excelled as a route runner. After days of negotiation, White was offered a contract for 6 years worth 50 million dollars, becoming the 2nd highest paid receiver in the NFL. Lewis Hamilton signed a contract with McLaren Mercedes worth at least £70 million ($138 million USD) over 5 seasons (2008–2012). Odell Beckham Jr. is among the league’s best wide receivers, challenging Antonio Brown and Julio Jones for that honor when healthy. Smith-Schuster is the youngest player in NFL history to reach 2,500 career receiving yards and the first player to score two offensive touchdowns of at … Wide receiver is a position in the NFL that has created some of the biggest superstars, biggest divas, and best moments in history. And as the passing game has become more and more important to a team’s success, wide receivers have started to get bigger and bigger contracts. Between 1983 and '85, Quick was arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, averaging nearly 68 catches for 1,236 yards and 11 touchdowns. The greatest wide receiver of all time ran over the Falcons in Atlanta, catching 13 balls for 225 yards and five touchdowns. Ranking the top NFL 2019 Wide Receiver contracts and salaries in the NFL The NFL has never had a group of top wide receivers as good as the one it has in 2018. This website is not directly or indirectly affiliated, associated, or connected in any way to Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League or the National Hockey League. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. He held several all-time receiving records when he retired and is considered one of the greatest Sports online. 5. The wide receiver position on the football field is, some may argue, a very important one. It’s amazing that Marvin Harrison was able to carve out a career as one of the most productive statistical wide receivers in NFL history, considering he was barely six feet tall and just 175 pounds. The $22 million annual average value on his salary would make Jones the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, surpassing … Back … Though it might seem crazy to see a wide receiver sign a contract extension that will pay them more than some of the league’s average quarterbacks, it shouldn’t be a surprise. As you look at the teams with the best receivers, there’s also a noticeable common denominator; they have the best quarterbacks. A real-time, sortable list of active NFL contracts including total value, guaranteed money, and complete salary breakdowns. The DeVante Parker breakout season … Marques Colston was selected in the 7th round of the 2006 NFL draft, 252nd overall and four spots from the end of the draft, by the New Orleans Saints. The $21.8 million owed to wide receiver Brandin Cooks … by the Rams, a year earlier. When the Detroit Lions signed Calvin Johnson to a seven-year, $113 million dollar extension in 2012, it was the richest contract ever for a receiver. Since retiring from the NFL, Carter has worked on HBO’s “Inside the NFL,” ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” and “Monday Night Countdown” and Yahoo! Hopkins’ contract will be the second record deal the Cardinals give out this year.