The NFL guarantees that its players are richly rewarded, even the rookies, as their NFL draft salary dictates. A rookie’s salary depends on how high or how low they are drafted, with each pick getting a lower and lower salary as the draft progresses. However, these rookie salaries are still big as compared to everyday people.
Each rookie will earn at least a six-figure salary during their rookie year, with their salary expected to grow bigger as their tenure in the league goes on. It should be noted that these earnings still do not include other earnings, such as brand deals and other ways to make money.
NFL Draft Salary By Round
Round 1
Spotrac has compiled a rookie scale which shows how much rookies will earn during their rookie contract, and Fernando Mendoza, who was picked at No. 1 by the Las Vegas Raiders, is expected to earn $57,271,500 across four years, with his Year 1 earnings being projected around $10,413,000.
Meanwhile, No. 32 pick Jadarian Price, the last rookie picked during the first round, is set to earn $16,783,950 overall and $3,051,627 in his rookie season.
Round 2
De’Zhaun Stribling, is set to earn $13,376,884 for the San Francisco 49ers for his rookie contract and $2,432,161 in his first year with the team. Meanwhile, safety Bud Clark will earn $7,878,262 for his rookie contract and $1,432,411 in his first year with the Seattle Seahawks.
Round 3
As the No. 65 pick, Carson Beck is set to earn $7,406,040 across four years with his rookie contract and $1,346,553 of that will come in his first year with the team. Meanwhile, No. 100 pick Jalen Huskey has a contract worth $6,693,940 and will earn $1,217,080 in his rookie year.
Round 4
Round 4 is yet to begin, but whoever gets picked first as the 101st pick should have a $5,549,727 deal and will earn $1,211,182 of that in his rookie year. The last pick, No. 140, should have a four-year contract worth $5,034,050 and would earn $1,082,263 during his rookie year.
Round 5
The first pick in the fifth round, No. 151, should have a contract worth $4,810,731 and could earn $1,026,433 in his rookie year, while the round’s final pick, No. 181, could earn a $4,624,478 contract and make $979,870 in his first year.
Round 6
The No. 182 pick, the first pick of the round, should have a $4,583,160 contract and earn $969,540 in his rookie season, while the round’s final pick, No. 216, could earn a $4,451,539 contract and earn $936,635 as a rookie.
Round 7
The No. 217 pick could earn $4,426,454 in his four-year contract and earn $930,364 in his first year, while the final pick, No. 257, could get a contract worth $4,365,480 and earn a rookie salary of $915,120.
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