When it comes to professional athletes recovering from injuries, no news is usually good news.
That should bode well for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is working his way back from a torn ACL and LCL. When Chiefs head coach Andy Reid spoke to reporters at the annual league meeting on March 31, he gave something of a there-is-no-update update on his star quarterback.
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Asked about Mahomes’ timeline to return from injury, Reid said he’ll leave it to the medical team to determine whether or not the quarterback is “ahead of schedule” in his recovery.
“I’m going to defer to the experts on that,” Reid said when asked if Mahomes would be limited for training camp. “So, if he’s good to go, he’ll go. If he’s not, we’ll manage that. So, we’ll just cross it as we go. Everybody’s different. Everybody heals different. Everybody’s injuries are a little bit different. We don’t have to put him in a category. We’ll see, see where it goes.”
Reid added that it’s been all “positive” for the passer during his rehab.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
1. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Prescott’s $60 million AAV makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The Dallas quarterback signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Cowboys on the eve of the 2024 NFL season opener.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
1. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Prescott’s $60 million AAV makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The Dallas quarterback signed a four-year, $240 million deal with the Cowboys on the eve of the 2024 NFL season opener.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
T-2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Burrow also signed a deal with an AAV of $55 million, however his deal was for five years and $275 million. Burrow agreed to the extension with Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 2023.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
T-2. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence signed his own five-year, $275 million dollar extension on June 13, 2024. His AAV is also $55 million.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
T-2. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen’s $55-million AAV ties him with Love, Burrow and Lawrence, however the Bills quarterback’s extension was for six years and $330 million.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
6. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
With an AAV of $53.1 million, Tagovailoa barely beats the next few players on this list. The Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $212.4 million extension on July 26, 2024.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
T-7. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
The Lions rewarded Goff with a four-year, $212 million extension before the 2024 NFL season after he helped turn Detroit into a top contender in the NFC. His deal has an AAV of $53 million.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
T-7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft shocked the world after taking over as the 49ers QB and turned his success into a five-year, $265 million contract on May 16, 2025. Purdy will earn an average of $53 million per season.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
9. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert earns an AAV of $52.5 million after he signed a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the Chargers before the 2023 NFL season.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
10. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Jackson’s average salary is $52 million thanks to the five-year, $260 million contract he signed on April 27, 2023.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
11. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
The Super Bowl LIX MVP earns an average salary of $51 million. He signed a five-year, $255 million deal in April 2023 and has already paid off the Eagles’ investment with a Super Bowl win.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
12. Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers
Parsons became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history after signing a four-year, $186 million extension following his trade from the Dallas Cowboys to the Packers. His AAV is $46.5 million.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
13. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Murray earns $46.1 million on average after he signed a five-year, $230.5 million deal on July 21, 2022.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
14. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Despite playing just 19 games over three seasons with Cleveland, Watson’s contract has an AAV of $46 million. He signed a five-year, $230 million contract after the Browns acquired him in a trade with the Houston Texans on March 18, 2022.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
T-15. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons before the 2024 NFL season. Despite losing the starting QB job to Michael Penix Jr., Cousins earns $45 million on average.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
T-15. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million deal is the biggest contract in NFL history, despite his $45 million AAV ranking him 15th on this list.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
17. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams signed Stafford to a two-year, $84 million extension for an AAV of $42 million before the 2025 NFL season.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
18. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Watt signed a three-year, $123 million deal on July 17, 2025, to briefly make him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback before Micah Parson’s extension with the Green Bay Packers. Watt earns an average salary of $41 million.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
19. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase became the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver after signing a four-year, $161 million extension before the 2025 NFL season. His average salary is $40.25 million
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
20. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Garrett earns a $40 million AAV. The Browns defensive end signed a four-year, $160 extension on March 9, 2025.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
21. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
Crosby also earned his big payday in March, signing a three-year, $106.5 million contract just four days before Garrett’s extension. Crosby earns a $35.5 million AAV.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
22. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension on June 3, 2024 to make him the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback in history at the time. He earns $35 million on average.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
T-23. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Two months after Jefferson’s deal, Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million extension with Dallas. Lamb’s AAV is $34 million.
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Highest paid NFL players 2025: See where Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons rank
25. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Darnold scored a payday with Seattle after a resurgent season with Minnesota in 2024. Darnold earns an AAV of $33.5 million after signing a three-year, $100.5 million contract on March 10, 2025.
According to an article published by Arthroscopy, recovery from an ACL tear “typically spans 9 to 12 months.” The “return to sport” phase ranges from 6-12 months, with the 9-12 month range listed as a likely timeline for return to competition.
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Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL on Dec. 14 during a Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He underwent surgery to repair the ligaments in his knee the following day.
On March 25 – just over three months after his operation – Mahomes posted a video of himself throwing a football with a compression sleeve on his left leg.
