As the NFL offseason begins, who are the highest-paid centers in the league? Center is traditionally the lowest-paid position along the offensive line, but a recent extension reset the market. Which pivots have the NFL’s highest annual average value (AAV)?
Who Is the Highest-Paid Center in the NFL?
Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs is the NFL’s highest-paid center, and it isn’t particularly close. In August of 2024, Humphrey signed a four-year extension worth $72 million. The deal has an AAV of $18 million, and it includes $50 million guaranteed. Humphrey is making $4.5 million more than any other center in the league.
Not only is Humphrey the highest-paid active center, he’s also the highest-paid at the position in NFL history. At just 25 years old, the second-round pick is already a two-time Super Bowl winner and two-time Pro Bowler.
Highest-Paid Centers 2-10
2) Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions | AAV: $13.5 million
Following Jason Kelce’s retirement in 2024, Frank Ragnow briefly became the NFL’s highest-paid center until Humphrey signed his extension. Ragnow inked a four-year, $54 million extension in May 2021 that guaranteed him nearly $28 million.
Ragnow’s repeated injuries have led to hints of an early retirement, but the former first-round pick has three years remaining on his current deal. He’ll have cap charges between $12.8 million and $15.6 million through 2026.
3) Lloyd Cushenberry, Tennessee Titans | AAV: $12.5 million
A third-round selection in 2020, Lloyd Cushenberry made 57 starts in four years under three Denver Broncos coaching staffs. The Tennessee Titans, who needed offensive line support more than any NFL club this offseason, liked Cushenberry’s production enough to hand him a four-year, $50 million deal with $26 million in guarantees.
His Tennessee contract is slightly frontloaded, with $30 million coming over the first two seasons. A portion ($5.49 million) of Cushenberry’s 2025 salary is already fully guaranteed, while the remaining $4 million will be guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2025 league year. He has $1 million roster bonuses due early in the 2025 and 2026 offseasons.
4) Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts | AAV: $12.413 million
Ryan Kelly has one season remaining on the four-year, $49.65 million extension he signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2020. That deal included more than $25 million in full guarantees and $34 million in injury guarantees.
Kelly has no more guaranteed salary left on his contract, but Indy paid him a $1 million roster bonus in March. This season, he will earn an $11.375 million base salary and carry a $14.625 million cap charge. In April, Kelly confirmed he wants to work on an extension with the Colts.
MORE: 2024 NFL Offensive Line Rankings
5) Erik McCoy, New Orleans Saints | AAV: $12 million
Erik McCoy re-upped with the New Orleans Saints in Sept. 2022, inking a five-year pact worth $60 million. In true New Orleans fashion, the Saints have already twice restructured his deal to open up more cap space.
As a result, McCoy’s cap figure for next season sits at just $6.52 million. However, because New Orleans moved money from 2023 and 2024 into future years, his cap charges will rise to north of $15 million from 2025 through 2027.
6) Tyler Biadasz, Washington Commanders | AAV: $10 million
New Commanders head coach Dan Quinn brought plenty of his former Dallas Cowboys defenders to Washington. But Tyler Biadasz was the only offensive player who followed Quinn from Dallas to the nation’s capital this offseason.
The Commanders gave Biadasz a three-year, $29.25 million contract, including $17.7 million guaranteed at signing. The deal contains two void years to help reduce his cap charges. Biadasz got half his $6 million salary in 2025 guaranteed; the other half will be guaranteed on April 1 of next year.
7) Andre James, Las Vegas Raiders | AAV: $8 million
Andre James is on his third contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. A 2019 undrafted free agent, James earned an extension with Las Vegas in 2021 before inking a three-year, $24 million accord this offseason that will double his previous salary.
James can collect up to $510,000 per year in per-game roster bonuses. He can also collect a $100,000 workout bonus in each season of the deal.
8) Aaron Brewer, Miami Dolphins | AAV: $7 million
In need of a new center after Connor Williams tore his ACL in 2023, the Miami Dolphins gave former Titans starter Aaron Brewer a three-year, $21 million contract on the first day of free agency. The former UDFA played the 2022 campaign on a second-round restricted free-agent tender.
Miami packed two void years onto the end of Brewer’s pact in 2027 and 2028. He’ll earn a league-minium salary in 2024, keeping his salary cap charge at just $2.528 million.
T-9) Ted Karras, Cincinnati Bengals | AAV: $6 million
After watching Joe Burrow take a league-leading 51 sacks in 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals decided to get serious about their offensive line. Cincinnati signed three veterans — C Ted Karras, G Alex Cappa, and OT La’el Collins — to multi-season contracts to block for their franchise quarterback.
Karras’ three-year, $18 million deal included just $5 million in guarantees, but he’s well on his way to earning every penny in the accord. He’s heading into his contract year in 2024 and will carry a $7.4 million cap figure.
KEEP READING: Who Are the Highest-Paid Guards in the NFL?
T-9) Ethan Pocic, Cleveland Browns | AAV: $6 million
Ethan Pocic wasn’t even supposed to be the Cleveland Browns’ starting center in 2022. After Nick Harris suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp, Pocic — then playing on a one-year contract near the league minimum — stepped in and started 13 games.
His performance was enough for Cleveland to give him a three-year extension worth $18 million. The Browns paid him a $4 million option bonus at the end of March that will prorate over the next four years. Pocic can earn a $500,000 annual incentive by earning a first or second-team All-Pro nod.
11) Mitch Morse, Jacksonville Jaguars | AAV: $5.25 million
While the Buffalo Bills cut Mitch Morse in March, he only had to wait five days before finding a new NFL home. The Jacksonville Jaguars beat out the Pittsburgh Steelers for Morse by inking him to a two-year, $10.5 million deal with $7 million fully guaranteed.
Morse will immediately start over 2022 third-round pick Luke Fortner, who’s struggled through two NFL campaigns. Jacksonville used three void years to keep Morse’s 2024 cap charge at $2.65 million. He should play out the deal, especially since the Jags would save just $750,000 in cap space by cutting him next offseason.
