Top 5 highest-paid NFL kickers after Dustin Hopkins’ $15,900,000 contract extension

While NFL quarterbacks, wide receivers, linebackers and offensive tackles frequently earn tens of millions of dollars a year, teams must make other concessions, particularly when it comes to special teams players.

Special team players in the NFL do, however, have a salary scale, just like any other position.

Kicker Dustin Hopkins became one of the highest-paid players in the league for his position with his recent three-year, $15.9 million contract extension with the Cleveland Browns. Let's see which position he holds in his position.

Highest paid kickers in the NFL in 2024

5) Dustin Hopkins (Cleveland Browns) & Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans) - $15,900,000

The Cleveland Browns and Dustin Hopkins reached a three-year, $15.9 million contract agreement on Monday, according to several sources. The 33-year-old kicker will make an average of $5.3 million a year thanks to the deal.

Hopkins now shares the fifth-highest salary spot among kickers in the league with Kai'mi Fairbairn of the Houston Texans. Fairbairn agreed to a contract extension with the Texans worth $15.9 million in March, spanning three years. According to the agreement, he will play for the Texans until 2026.

4) Graham Gano (New York Giants) - $16,500,000

The New York Giants and kicker Graham Gano agreed to a three-year contract deal in September 2023. The contract terms will begin running in the 2024 season.

The seasoned kicker will begin his 15th NFL season, his fifth with the Giants, in 2024. He had previously played for the Washington Commanders from 2009 to 2011 and the Carolina Panthers from 2012 to 2019.

3) Matt Gay (Indianapolis Colts) - $22,500,000

Matt Gay was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2019 draft out of Utah. He has been selected for one Pro Bowl and has won one Super Bowl since joining the league.

The kicker played three seasons and won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams before agreeing to a four-year, $22.5 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts in 2023.

Gay has established himself as one of the league's finest and most reliable kickers over the past three seasons. He was among the top three kickers in the league in 2021 and 2022 for field-goal percentage among players who attempted at least 30 kicks during a season.

Tied 1) Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens) - $24,000,000

Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens is the NFL's co-highest paid kicker, taking home an average salary of $6 million each year. That should come as no surprise given that Tucker is the finest kicker in the NFL right now, if not ever in league history.

Baltimore has not had to be concerned about a lot of field goals or extra-point attempts since acquiring Tucker in 2012 as an undrafted free agent.

Tucker currently has five first-team All-Pro selections, behind only DT Aaron Donald (8), G Zack Martin (7), C Jason Kelce (6), and LB Bobby Wagner (6) among all players in every positional group in league history.

Tied 1) Jake Elliott (Philadelphia Eagles) - $24,000,000

Jake Elliott signed a four-year, $24 million agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, tying Justin Tucker for the highest salary of any kicker in the NFL.

Elliott will remain with the Eagles through the 2028 campaign according to the deal, which also includes a $5.54 million signing bonus and $9.7 million in guaranteed money.

Elliot, who joined the league in 2017, has proven to be one of the sport's top kickers and has supplied the Eagles with numerous game-winning kicks.

Elliot was also a member of the Eagles squad that won Super Bowl LII in 2017 after defeating the New England Patriots.