As the NFL Salary cap consistently goes up, so will NFL contracts. Over the next two years you will see records fall at every position. It’s just the nature of the NFL. Since the offseason is agonizingly long, each week I will profile a different position to tell you who is the next man up for the Biggest NFL Contract. This week: Safety.
Quarterback
The Next Biggest NFL Contract Series
EDGE
Offensive Tackle
Defensive Tackle
Wide Receiver
Cornerback
Guard and Center
Safety
Running Back: August 5
Linebacker: August 12
Tight End: August 19
Special Teams: August 26
Right before the season started last year, Kyle Hamilton signed a market trouncing 4/$100.4m extension with the Baltimore Ravens. It completely blew away the previous year’s record 4/$84.1m contract signed by Antoine Winfield of the Bucs. As they say though, a rising tide lifts all boats.
AAV – Derwin James – $25.2m
See what I mean? Despite turning 30 this summer, the Chargers gave James a new record in terms of AAV with his 3/$75.6m extension. I mentioned his age, but James was still 2nd Team All Pro last year and is one of the best safeties in the league. His agent went to the Chargers, pointed to Hamilton’s $25.1m per year, and told them they’d have to beat it. They countered with a year less to make him the highest paid at the position. Done deal. That’s how James ends up making $100k per year more than his younger counterpart in Baltimore.
Total Value – Kyle Hamilton – $100.4m
Of course, at just 24 years old and with 2 All Pro nods under his belt, Hamilton was destined to pace the position as soon as he was eligible. Earlier in the summer of 2025, the Lions gave Kerby Joseph a 4/$86m extension. Here’s the thing though, Hamilton was not messing around in the safety market. Cornerbacks, specifically Jaycee Horn, had just crossed the $100m mark that summer and he wanted to do the same for safeties. If Horn was making $100m, then Hamilton wanted to beat it.
Total Guarantee – Kyle Hamilton – $82m
When Winfield signed, a little more than half his contract was guaranteed at $45m. Hamilton wasn’t playing here either. His $82m was higher than all but Derek Stingley and Sauce Gardner for guys in the secondary.
Who’s Next?
The guy who should be at the top of this list is Brian Branch. Maybe he wouldn’t get Hamilton money, but the 4th year player was due an extension for the Lions, then he got hurt. A torn Achillies is no joke and even with positive updates, there is no telling what he will be like when he returns.
PFF has Antonio Johnson as their #1 rated safety for the 2025 season, ahead of Kyle Hamilton. He just finished his 3rd season and is extension eligible. The problem for the Jaguars is that as a former 6th round pick, Johnson has no 5th year option to help them survey the situation. If they pass on extending Johnson this summer, they could franchise tag him next year, but that will come in around a $22.6m cap hit. Johnson wasn’t on the radar last year, but he’ll get his awards and recognition if he does it again.
Are there any veterans angling for a contract bigger than Hamilton right now? After James, who would you consider the 3rd best safety in the league? Is it Xavier McKinney? He signed with the Packers for 4/$67m back in 2024 and while this year is guaranteed, 2027 is not. He has been All Pro the last two seasons. There’s also previous record holder Winfield who doesn’t have any guaranteed money left on his deal and is only 28 right now.
The big wildcard for the safety market is Cooper DeJean. He is going to play some safety this season for the Eagles, but how much remains to be seen. In truth, he is more of an everything defender in that he is an outside corner by trade, plays the nickel most of the time, and can cover tight ends like a great linebacker. DeJean is going to get a $100m+ contract next offseason, but whether he counts as a safety will be debatable.
Contract Terms
Assuming DeJean isn’t in the safety conversation, the two top possibilities to top the market are Johnson and Winfield. There’s an argument to be made that because Winfield is under contract, he is likely to go first with an extension. If so, expect a contract in the James range, right around 3/$76m. Just enough to top him in AAV.
If Johnson has another elite season and gets a First Team All-Pro nod this time, he would probably be the guy to dance with Hamilton at the top of the market. The Jags would not be in a position to franchise tag him because they are cap strapped, so he would either hit free agency or have Jacksonville by the balls. 1st Team All-Pro is a big IF, but if he does get the nod as a 25-year-old he will have every right to ask for 4/$104m. Considering some teams do not value the safety position though, he will have a hard time really propelling the market forward like Hamilton did last year and we are seeing with other deals this offseason like Jaxon Smith-Njigba for WRs and Jalen Carter for DTs.
Contracts: Spotrac
Photo: vovohka1
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