The modern NFL is a passing league, and cornerbacks who can slow down opposing aerial attacks earn higher salaries than most other positions. The Pittsburgh Steelers did not give Jalen Ramsey a new contract following the blockbuster trade, but he’s still one of the most expensive players at his position.
Note: This list is based on the average per-year total value of the cornerbacks salary, not guaranteed money or total value when signed
Top 10 Cornerbacks By Salary Entering the 2025 Season
10. Tyson Campbell, Jaguars ($19.12M per year)
Former General Manager Trent Baalke signed Tyson Campbell to a massive four-year, $76.5 million extension in the 2024 offseason. At the time, the cornerback was coming off a rough 2023, and Baalke believed he could bounce back. That didn’t happen, as he finished 2024 with a 62.9 PFF grade, the 67th-best mark in the league. With a new regime running the show, Campbell may not be long for this list of top cornerbacks by salary.
9. Marshon Lattimore, Commanders ($19.4M per year)
The Saints deserve all the credit in the world for offloading Marshon Lattimore’s contract while they still could. After battling injuries for years on end, the team sent him to the Washington Commanders at the 2024 trade deadline. He struggled to stay healthy for his new club and struggled during his limited time on the field. Unless he shows dramatic improvement in the offseason, the team could cut him.
8. Trevon Diggs, Cowboys ($19.4M per year)
Trevon Diggs is still a valuable player when healthy, but injuries have limited him to just 13 games over the past two seasons. Now one of the most expensive cornerbacks on a per-year salary basis, rumors across the league indicate the Cowboys want to trade him to free up money for Micah Parsons.
7. Marlon Humphrey, Ravens ($19.5M per year)
While Marlon Humphrey is expensive, he’s still a good player who will increase Baltimore’s odds of winning it all in 2025. Paired with veteran Jaire Alexander and first-round pick Nate Wiggins, Humphrey plays a key role on what could very well be the NFL’s best secondary.
6. Denzel Ward, Browns ($20.1M per year)
A four-time Pro Bowler, Ward is one of the few bright spots on a weak Cleveland Browns roster. After leading the league with 19 passes defended last year, the former first-round pick will continue to serve as the best player in the secondary and a defense that will probably need to compensate for a weak offense.
5. AJ Terrell, Falcons ($20.25M per year)
AJ Terrell has been one of the few bright spots on a historically inconsistent Atlanta Falcons defense. Tasked with locking down receivers with no support from the pass rush, the former first-round pick is one of the game’s better cornerbacks. With two first-round picks added to the front seven, Terrell’s job shouldn’t be quite as difficult in 2025.
4. Patrick Surtain, Broncos ($24M per year)
One of the game’s premier cornerbacks, Patrick Surtain is an elite player, and his salary reflects that. Spending over $20 million on any non-quarterback is normally a difficult decision, but Surtain easily justified every game check with his high-level play.
3. Jalen Ramsey, Steelers ($24.1M per year)
Jalen Ramsey is no longer an elite lockdown cornerback, but the aging veteran is still an above-average starter. While he’s slightly overpaid on his massive contract, the Pittsburgh Steelers need all the cornerbacks they can get. Mike Tomlin is clearly sick of the Wild Card exits and is loading up for a Super Bowl run with veteran Aaron Rodgers under center.
2. Jaycee Horn, Panthers ($25M per year)
After struggling to stay healthy through his first three seasons, Jaycee Horn played a career-high 15 games while providing lockdown coverage for the Carolina Panthers. While $25 million per year is a heavy salary for a player with his inconsistent track record, his ceiling justifies the heavy investment in the leader of the cornerbacks room.
1. Derek Stingley Jr., Texans ($30M per year)
Selected with the third-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, some believed the Houston Texans messed up by choosing Stingley after Sauce Gardner. While Gardner has made a strong name for himself in New York, Stingley has become everything Houston could have hoped for.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro – Imagn Images
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