The prospect of going professional is the most exciting and anxiety-inducing moment in an athlete’s career. And even as a first-year, NFL draft salaries mean players make serious bank. The 2024 draft takes place over April 25-27, 2024, and is held around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan.
Typically held in late April, the NFL draft consists of seven rounds where teams take turns selecting players. The selection order is determined by the teams’ performance in the previous season, with the team with the worst record picking first in each round. However, trades between teams can result in changes to the draft order.
Before the draft, college players showcase their skills and abilities at events like the NFL Scouting Combine and individual pro days held by their colleges. These events allow teams to evaluate players’ physical attributes, skills, and performance in various drills and tests. There’s a lot of speculation and analysis by experts and fans. Mock drafts are predictions of which players teams will select in each round. Analysts also evaluate players’ strengths, weaknesses, and potential fit with different teams.
As we said, it’s one of the most exciting nights of a young football player’s career, and the NFL draft salaries are certainly nothing to sneeze at. Take a look.
A round-one pick in the NFL draft gets paid between $12.1 million and $39.5 million. In 2024, number one draft pick Caleb Williams went to the Chicago Bears for $39.5 million including a $25.5 million signing bonus. In 2023, Panthers QB Bryce Young signed a four-year, $37.96 million contract including a nearly $24.6 million signing bonus.
A round-two pick in the NFL draft earns between $6.3 million and $9.9 million. In the 2023 draft, Joey Porter Jr. signed a four-year, $9,618,345 contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including a $3,995,160 signing bonus, $8,999,868 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,404,586.
A third-round NFL rookie will earn between $5.5 million and $6 million. In 2023, Zacch Pickens signed a 4 year, $5,763,791 contract with the Chicago Bears, including a $1,191,848 signing bonus, $2,203,838 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,440,948
A fourth-round NFL rookie can expect to earn $4.5 million to $4.8 million. The Saints offensive tackle Nick Saldiveri signed a three-year, $4,661,947 deal (including a $842,283 signing bonus) when he was picked up 104th overall in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
A fifth-round NFL rookie can earn between $4.2 million to $4.4 million at first signing. The Jacksonville Jaguars picked up offensive linebacker Yasir Abdullah on a four-year, $4,205,216 with a $365,216 signing bonus in 2023.
A sixth-round NFL rookie can expect to bring in between $4.1 million and $4.2 million. Eric Scott Jr. signed a four-year, $4,058,304 contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, including a $218,304 signing bonus, $218,304 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,014,576.
A seventh-round NFL rookie can earn between $4.09 million and $4.13 million for his first contract. Travis Bell signed a four-year, $3,957,140 contract with the Chicago Bears in 2023, including a $117,140 signing bonus, $117,140 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $989,285. In 2024, Bell will earn a base salary of $915,000, while carrying a cap hit of $944,285 and a dead cap value of $87,855.
Round 1, Pick 1: Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)
Round 1, Pick 2: Washington Commanders
Round 1, Pick 3: New England Patriots
Round 1, Pick 4: Arizona Cardinals
Round 1, Pick 5: Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1, Pick 6: New York Giants
Round 1, Pick 7: Tennessee Titans
Round 1, Pick 8: Atlanta Falcons
Round 1, Pick 9: Chicago Bears
Round 1, Pick 10: New York Jets
Round 1, Pick 11: Minnesota Vikings
Round 1, Pick 12: Denver Broncos
Round 1, Pick 13: Las Vegas Raiders
Round 1, Pick 14: New Orleans Saints
Round 1, Pick 15: Indianapolis Colts
Round 1, Pick 16: Seattle Seahawks
Round 1, Pick 17: Jacksonville Jaguars
Round 1, Pick 18: Cincinnati Bengals
Round 1, Pick 19: Los Angeles Rams
Round 1, Pick 20: Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 1, Pick 21: Miami Dolphins
Round 1, Pick 22: Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1, Pick 23: Minnesota Vikings (from Cleveland Browns)
Round 1, Pick 24: Dallas Cowboys
Round 1, Pick 25: Green Bay Packers
Round 1, Pick 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Round 1, Pick 27: Arizona Cardinals (from Houston Texans)
Round 1, Pick 28: Buffalo Bills
Round 1, Pick 29: Detroit Lions
Round 1, Pick 30: Baltimore Ravens
Round 1, Pick 31: San Francisco 49ers
Round 1, Pick 32: Kansas City Chiefs
