Top 10 Highest-Paid NFL Safeties: Salary Rankings

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Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick runs with the ball after intercepting a pass from Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Andrew Doughty @DoughtyBetMGM Aug 09, 2022, 11:13 AM
  • Minkah Fitzpatrick is the only $20-million safety.
  • Two Seahawks' safeties are in the top five.
  • Harrison Smith's dead cap hits are declining.

NFL safeties have never ranked among the highest-paid NFL players. And barring a mega deal just before or during the 2022 season, thatโ€™ll continue for another year.

It took the largest contract for a safety in NFL history to push just one player, Minkah Fitzpatrick, into the top 40 highest-paid NFL players. And while more safeties than ever will make at least $15 million in 2022, the high-end safety salaries still rank worst among all defensive position groups.

By total cash, here are the highest-paid NFL safeties for 2022:

Highest-Paid NFL Safeties: Salary Rankings, 2022

RankPlayerTeam Total Cash
1Minkah FitzpatrickSteelers$22.1 million
2Marcus WilliamsRavns$16 million
3Justin SimmonsBroncos$15.1 million
4Jamal AdamsSeahawks$14.4 million
5Quandre DiggsSeahawks$14 million
6Jessie Bates IIIBengals$12.9 million
7Kevin ByardTitans$12.5 million
8Justin ReidChiefs$11.6 million
9Harrison SmithVikings$11.5 million
10Eddie JacksonBears$11.1 million

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers

Approximately half of Minkah Fitzpatrickโ€™s four-year, $73.6-million extension โ€“ signed in June 2022 โ€“ is guaranteed. Heโ€™s scheduled to earn at least $14.5 million in cash annual from 2023-26.

Fitzpatrickโ€™s teammate T.J. Watt is the second-highest-paid NFL linebacker for 2022.

Minkah Fitzpatrick career earnings: $16,447,771

2. Marcus Williams, Baltimore Ravens

Marcus Williams won big in free agency after five years with the New Orleans Saints. The former second-round pick signed a five-year, $70-million deal with the Ravens that pays him at least $12 million annually through 2026.

Marcus Williams career earnings: $16,852,439

3. Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos

Justin Simmons made a total of $4.7 million in his first four NFL seasons (2016-19). He earned $28.5 million in the last two seasons and is scheduled to earn another $44 million over the next three seasons on his current four-year, $61-million deal.

Justin Simmons career earnings: $33,202,947

4. Jamal Adams, Seattle Seahawks

Three weeks before the 2021 season, Jamal Adams signed a four-year, $70.6-million extension that included $38 million in guarantees. His base salary is just $2 million in 2022 before jumping to $11 million in 2023, $16.5 million in 2024, and $17.5 million in 2025.

Jamal Adams career earnings: $43,348,738

5. Quandre Diggs, Seattle Seahawks

Quandre Diggs has gone from a sixth-round pick with a mid-six-figure average annual salary over his first three seasons to one of the highest-paid safeties in the league.

His current three-year, $39-million contract includes cash numbers of $14 million in 2022, $14 million in 2023, and $11 million in 2024.

Quandre Diggs career earnings: $23,575,237

6. Jessie Bates III, Cincinnati Bengals

Jessie Bates III is scheduled to earn $12.9 million in 2022 . . . if he plays in 2022.

As of early August, the fifth-year safety hasnโ€™t signed his franchise tag and doesnโ€™t intend to report to training camp until a long-term deal is signed.

Jessie Bates III career earnings: $6,854,902

7. Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans

Kevin Byard is in the third year of a five-year, $70.5-million contract thatโ€™ll pay him $12.5 million in 2022 and $14.1 million in both 2023 and 2024. His dead cap number doesnโ€™t drop below $10 million until 2024, the final year of the contract.

Kevin Byard career earnings: $35,008,847

8. Justin Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs landed Justin Reid in 2022 free agency with a three-year, $31.5-million contract that included a $10.5-million signing bonus, which accounts for nearly all of his total cash ($11.6 million) in the first year of the deal.

Reid is the only player on this list playing for a team in the top five of preseason Super Bowl odds at the online sportsbook.

Justin Reid career earnings: $6,219,449

9. Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings

At 33 years old, Harrison Smith is in the first year of a four-year, $64-million that includes just $26.4 million guaranteed and has modest dead salary cap hits in 2024 ($7.8 million) and 2025 ($3.9 million).

Smithโ€™s teammate Kirk Cousins is one of the highest-paid NFL quarterbacks.

Harrison Smith career earnings: $68,018,489

10. Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears

Eddie Jacksonโ€™s base salary was just $1 million in 2021, the first year of a four-year, $58.4-million contract signed before the 2020 season. His base salary is $11 million in 2022.

Eddie Jackson career earnings: $25,329,175

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About the Author

Andrew Doughty

Read More @DoughtyBetMGM

Andrew Doughty is the Web Content Lead for BetMGM. A graduate of the University of Kansas, he previously wrote for Sports Illustrated and HERO Sports.

Andrew Doughty is the Web Content Lead for BetMGM. A graduate of the University of Kansas, he previously wrote for Sports Illustrated and HERO Sports.