Kudos to the big fellas, the guards on the interior of the offensive line — this NFL position group has seen as much financial growth over the past 12 months as any position across the league.
Who are the highest-paid guards in the NFL following an offseason of contract splurges? Let’s run through the top 10 at the position, beginning with a guard who received an extension in March.
Who Is the Highest-Paid Guard in the NFL?
After signing a four-year, $84 million extension, the Philadelphia Eagles‘ Landon Dickerson is the NFL’s highest-paid guard.
Dickerson’s $21 million annual salary leads the league’s guards, but he only received $28.89 million in fully guaranteed money, seventh-most at the position.
The Eagles essentially pre-restructured Dickerson’s new deal by adding four void years and inserting option bonuses in each season beginning in 2025.
As such, Dickerson’s cap figure won’t hit $20 million through 2028. He can earn an annual $250,000 incentive for making the Pro Bowl and an annual $500,000 incentive for a first or second-team All-Pro nod.
Highest-Paid Guards 2-10
2) Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons | AAV: $20.5 million
The Atlanta Falcons made Chris Lindstrom a franchise cornerstone just before the 2023 free agent period started by signing him to a five-year, $105 million extension.
Lindstrom received $48.202 million in fully guaranteed money, which remains a record for guards. His two-year ($49.5 million) and three-year ($65.5 million) cash flows are also the gold standard at the position.
Lindstrom had been set to play the 2023 season on his fifth-year option, which would have paid him $13.202 million. His 2024 salary ($12.5 million) is fully guaranteed.
Lindstrom will be due $2 million in roster bonuses on the fifth day of the league year in 2027 and 2028, creating obvious decision points for Atlanta.
T-3) Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts: | AAV: $20 million
Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson’s four-year, $80 million contract included $41 million guaranteed at signing, including his $31 million signing bonus and his 2022 and 2023 salaries.
While Nelson’s cap figures were relatively low over the past two seasons, his charges will skyrocket to an average of $24.1 million from 2024 to 2026. Nelson’s 2024 base salary ($19 million) is $3.5 million higher than any other guard in the league.
While the Colts could theoretically convert some of Nelson’s salary into a signing bonus to create cap space, they don’t need the extra room at the moment.
MORE: 2024 NFL Offensive Line Rankings
T-3) Robert Hunt, Carolina Panthers | AAV: $20 million
Robert Hunt became the NFL’s fourth $20 million per year guard when he inked a five-year, $100 million accord with the Carolina Panthers in March. Carolina, needing to bolster its interior protection in front of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, also added former Seahawks guard Damien Lewis this offseason.
While Hunt ranks second among guards in fully guaranteed cash ($44 million), his $63 million in practical guarantees easily paces his position.
Hunt will see $10 million of his 2026 salary become guaranteed if he’s still on the Panthers’ roster on the third day of the 2025 league year.
T-3) Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos | AAV: $20 million
On July 16, 2024, Quinn Meinerz and the Denver Broncos reached an agreement on an extension to the tune of four years and $80 million. The deal includes $45 million in guarantees.
The DIII product from Wisconsin-Whitewater continues his unlikely path to one of the best interior linemen in the NFL, starting all 17 games this past season (and started 39 overall in his first three seasons).
Meinerz will provide consistency to a Broncos offensive line group that’ll be protecting a new quarterback behind center, whether that be first-rounder Bo Nix, Zach Wilson, or Jarrett Stidham.
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6) Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys | AAV: $18.425 million
Zack Martin made some waves during the 2023 preseason as he held out of Dallas Cowboys training camp.
However, the ploy worked, as he saw his AAV jump from $14 million to $18 million in 2023-24. Despite picking up around $1 million in fines, Martin came away with an extra $8 million on his deal without committing to playing beyond 2024.
Martin’s new deal contains four void years from 2025 to 2028. If Martin decides to retire next offseason, Dallas can designate him as a post-June 1 cut and save roughly $1.3 million in salary cap space.
T-7) Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers | AAV: $17 million
Elgton Jenkins was scheduled to hit free agency in 2023, but the Green Bay Packers opted to lock him in via a four-year extension. The 27-year-old Jenkins received a $24 million signing bonus, the only guaranteed portion of the contract.
Green Bay doesn’t typically guarantee base salaries, and Jenkins’ contract is no different. He earned a $5.1 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2024 league year. Additionally, Jenkins has $500,000 available each year via workout bonuses. He can also collect $600,000 per season in per-game roster bonuses through 2025 and $1 million in 2026.
T-7) Jonah Jackson, Los Angeles Rams | AAV: $17 million
The Los Angeles Rams prioritized Matthew Stafford’s interior pocket this offseason, adding Jonah Jackson while re-signing another guard we’ll get to shortly.
Jackson, a 57-game starter for the Lions, landed a three-year deal worth $57 million. Los Angeles guaranteed $25.5 million in full, including his signing bonus, 2024 and 2025 base salaries, and 2025 roster bonus.
Jackson has another roster bonus in 2026 worth $8 million, which should serve as a trigger for the Rams.
9) Brandon Scherff, Jacksonville Jaguars | AAV: $16.5 million
After playing through two franchise tags with the Washington Commanders, Brandon Scherff finally hit the open market in 2022. Jacksonville gave Scherff $49.5 million over three years, including $30 million guaranteed.
The Jaguars have since restructured his deal twice. Scherff accepted a $6.5 million pay cut this offseason in exchange for $15 million in guaranteed salary. His cap charge for this season will be $11.567 million.
If Jacksonville doesn’t re-sign Scherff before 2025 free agency begins, it will take a $14 million dead cap hit on next season’s books.
T-10) Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs | AAV: $16 million
The Kansas City Chiefs rebuilt their offensive line in 2021, and Joe Thuney was the crown jewel of those efforts. Thuney was the NFL’s highest-paid guard for a time after Kansas City gave him a five-year contract worth $80 million.
Thuney’s deal contained a $17 million signing bonus, $31.89 million in full guarantees at signing, and a total of $50.89 million in guarantees over the life of the pact.
The Chiefs have restructured his contract multiple times since, leaving Thuney with $26.9 million cap charges in each of the next two seasons.
T-10) Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns | AAV: $16 million
Joel Bitonio also earns $16 million annually under the three-year, $48 million extension he signed with the Cleveland Browns in November of 2021. Bitonio still had a season and a half left on his existing deal when he inked that extension, so he’s under contract through 2025.
Cleveland uses void years on nearly all its veteran contracts. Bitonio’s deal has dummy years through 2028, leaving his cap charges at $12.1 million and $22.9 million over the next two years.
KEEP READING: Who Are the Highest-Paid Centers in the NFL?
T-10) Kevin Dotson, Los Angeles Rams | AAV: $16 million
The third member of this list to sign a free agent contract in March, Kevin Dotson probably didn’t envision landing a $16 million contract when the Steelers traded him for fifth- and sixth-round picks in Aug. 2023.
Dotson took over as the Rams’ starting right guard in Week 4 and never looked back. Los Angeles is paying fellow guard Jonah Jackson $17 million annually, while tackles Rob Havenstein and Joe Noteboom have double-digit cap charges in 2024.
Los Angeles will rank fifth in offensive line spending next season.