Comparison of NBA and NFL free agency contracts? Who makes more per year?

The staggering numbers continue to break the bank during NBA free agency and it’s been just two days since the opening of the market. Paul George is the headline signing so far, but there have been many more and many more are still to come. NFL stars must be looking on from afar, green with envy.

Tatum vs. the world

It’s difficult to pin point exactly why the NBA players are making so much more money than the NFL players. Sure, the season is longer, and maybe the sport is more international, but the NFL is one of the biggest businesses in the world. We aren’t here to put the NFL to the stake or lavish praise upon the NBA. We are here to simply compare the contracts of the top free agents in the NBA over the last couple days against the top free agent contracts in the NFL this offseason.

We won’t even count Jayson Tatum’s record breaking contract extension he is going to sign with the Boston Celtics, because that doesn’t exactly fall under the “free agent” umbrella. While we won’t count it, we will mention that the newly crowned champion just signed a 5-year, $314 million deal. That’s an average of slightly under $63 million a year. If you put that head-to-head with the NFL’s top yearly earners, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence who are set to make $55 million a year, Tatum will bring home almost $8 million more than the two gun slingers.

At the moment it’s Paul George who as the top contract in this free agent market, but take a look at some of the biggest deals that have been agreed to in the last days compared to the entire free agency period of the NFL. The hoopers that are signing monster deals are good players, but with all due respect they are far from the best of the best in the league.

NBA free agents

Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers, 4-years $211.5 million

This is the most expensive free agent acquisition as of Tuesday afternoon, and it’s probably the most similar to the Kirk Cousins deal. There may not be as many people doubting PG to Philly, but he’s a guy who is most likely on his final contract of is career, who has dealt with injury for much of his career, and getting huge money at 34 years old. This contract is set to pay him an average of $53 million dollars a year until the end of the the 2028 season. That is two million dollars less than the NFL’s two highest paid, franchise quarterbacks who are in the primes of their career.

OG Aninoby, New York Knicks, 5-years, $212 million

This is the most astonishing deal that we have seen during this free agent period, and maybe ever in the NBA. OG Aninoby just got a five year deal worth over $42 million dollars a year. The former NBA champ’s $212 million contract is the 16th biggest contract in the NBA. To put things in perspective, Aninoby has never been named to an All-Star Team and has never averaged more than 17 points and 5.5 rebounds a game in his seven years in the league.

Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, 4-years $204 million

Murray is the second NBA Champion on this list and was a huge part of the Nuggets run to the Finals last year. He has been brilliant, he has been loyal, he has been perseverant in his battle through injury and now he is a champion. Surprisingly he has never made an All-Star team in his eight years in the league, but he is regarded as one of the best point guards in the NBA. With his new contract he could make $51 million a year over the next four years.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat, 3-years, $166 million

The Heat’s big man was an essential part of the Heat’s surprise trip to the NBA Finals as an eight seed during the 2022/23 campaign. He’s a three time All-Star, and was named to the NBA first team. Adebayo inked a three year deal and that’s going to bring in $55.3 million a year over the next three years. That contract would make him the highest payed player in the NBA.

Immanuel Quickly, Toronto Raptors, 5-years, $175 million

This one is really going to irk the NFLers watching the cash just be thrown around. Quickly started the season as a back up shooting guard on the New York Knicks. He was traded in the middle of the season and started the final 38 games of the season for the Raptors. He’s a good role player that made the All-Rookie second team in 2020, but the 18.6 points a game he scored with the Raptors was the most of his career. Now he’ll be making $35 million a year.

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons, 5-years $226 million (pending agreement)

I don’t want to sound harsh on Cunningham or the Detroit Pistons, but neither have done much since Detroit took in with the one pick in the 2021 draft. Okay, he made the All-Rookie first team, but then he played just 12 games in a 22/23 campaign that was filled with injuries. This year he scored 22.7 points, and dished 7.5 assists a game while grabbing 4.3 rebounds. Those are good numbers, but are they worth $45.2 million a year that he is reported to get.

NFL free agents

Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons, 4-years $180 millions, QB

Kirk Cousins established himself as a franchise quarterback in his days with the Washington Commanders. After six years with the Minnesota Vikings, he was in the midst of one of his best seasons ever. A ruptured achilles ruined his season and the Vikings season, but that didn’t stop the Atlanta Falcons from paying big bucks to bring in the 35 year old QB. He is set to make 45 million dollars a year, making him the only NFL player making more than the top six NBA players annually.

Christian Wilkins, Las Vegas Raiders, 4-years, 110 millions, DT

After five years with the Miami Dolphins, Christian Wilkins is on the move. After the Dolphins picked up his fifth year option, they couldn’t match Raiders nine digit offer so he will be wearing the blacks and silver jersey in Las Vegas this season. He has never been to a Pro Bowl, or been an All-Pro, but he’s got 355 tackles and 20.5 sacks with four forced fumbles and six recoveries. He is set to make $27.5 million over the next four years.

Robert Hunt 100 million, five years Carolina Panthers G

Hunt became one of the top five best payed guards in the NFL after signing with the Carolina Panthers. He was injured for six games this season, but he played each game during his first three seasons in South Beach. He is going to be bringing in $20 million dollars over the next five seasons, but that’s a far cry from what some mid level players are making in the NBA.

Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans, 4-year $92 million WR

There was a time when Ridley was hailed as one of the top wide receivers in the league. His suspension for betting on games left him sidelined in 2022, but he had a 1,000 yard year on a Jacksonville team that wasn’t exactly the most proficient offense in the league. The Tennessee Titans came knocking and presented him with a deal that would be worth $23 million a year over the next four years. Just to put that into context, Cade Cunningham is going to make double that without ever having made an All-Star Game.

Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota Vikings, 4-years, $76 million, LB

Greenard signed the fifth richest contract in the NFL’s free agent market after finishing up his fourth season as a Houston Texan. The linebacker had 52 tackles and 12.5 sacks which was Top 10 in the league. The Vikings gave him a contract that will pay him an average of $19 million a year which just over half of what Immanuel Quickley will be making per year with the Toronto Raptors.