Top 10 Highest Paid Guards in the NFL 2025, FT Tyler Smith

On Saturday, September 13, the NFL franchise Dallas Cowboys made headlines by announcing a four-year, $96 million extension for guard Tyler Smith, averaging $24 million per year. The deal, which secures one of the league’s brightest young offensive linemen for the long haul, now sets a new benchmark, making Smith the highest-paid guard in NFL history.

Smith’s extension is a clear pointer to the value NFL teams place on dominant guards, a value that has been steadily climbing in recent years. In fact, with contracts at this position continuing to rise, locking Smith in now could very well look like a bargain just a few seasons down the line. In other words, we’re only going to see more record-breaking deals for interior linemen as franchises double down on protecting their quarterbacks and building powerful run games.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the highest-paid guards in the NFL today and see where Smith’s new deal stands in comparison to the league’s best. Let’s dive right in!

10. Will Fries ($17.54 million per year)

On March 12, 2025, Will Fries locked in a five-year, approximately $88 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings. That works out to about $17.6 million per season, making him one of the higher-paid right guards in the league. 

Fries’s rise has been fairly impressive considering where he started. A seventh-round pick out of Penn State in 2021 by the Colts, he gradually worked his way into a starting role. He began seeing consistent starts mid-2022, and by 2023, he was the full-time right guard. 

The Vikings invested in Fries even though he suffered a leg injury in 2024 (a fractured right tibia) that put him on injured reserve. But before that injury, he was having a breakout stretch, proving himself in both run blocking and pass protection, steadily lowering his missed-block/blown-block rates and earning good marks in evaluation metrics. 

For Vikings fans, the move is part of a broader push to revamp the interior of their offensive line, aiming to give the quarterback more time and clean lanes for the run game. Fries’s deal might look like a smart investment; if he stays healthy and continues developing, he could be counted among the elite guards in the near future.

9. Quinn Meinerz ($18 per year)

Next on the list is Quinn Meinerz, who has quickly established himself as one of the most dominant interior linemen in the NFL. On July 17, 2024, the Denver Broncos rewarded his stellar play with a four-year, $80 million extension, an agreement that works out to $18 million annually and keeps him locked in through the 2028 season.

Meinerz’s journey to the league is remarkable in itself. Coming out of Division III Wisconsin–Whitewater, he was a relative unknown until he impressed scouts with his toughness and raw power at the Senior Bowl. Drafted in the third round by the Broncos in 2021, he wasted little time proving he belonged, breaking into the starting lineup as a rookie and steadily improving with each season.

By 2024, Meinerz had cemented his reputation as one of the league’s premier guards, earning first-team All-Pro honours at right guard. That recognition didn’t come by chance; he’s become a cornerstone of Denver’s offensive line, excelling in both run blocking and pass protection. 

The Broncos’ decision to extend him when they did looks like a masterstroke. With the price of elite guards rising fast, securing Meinerz for $18 million per year could end up being a steal compared to the record-setting deals still to come.

8. Sam Cosmi ($18.5 million per year)

Coming in at No. 8 is Washington Commanders guard Sam Cosmi, who secured his place among the NFL’s top-earning guards with a four-year, $74 million extension signed on September 4, 2024. The deal, which included $45 million guaranteed, works out to an average of $18.5 million per season, a significant investment from Washington in a player who has steadily grown into a reliable starter on their offensive line.

Cosmi entered the league as a second-round pick out of Texas in 2021, originally drafted as a tackle. Injuries and roster shifts eventually pushed him inside, where he found his stride at right guard. By 2023, he had settled into the role full-time, starting all 17 games and showcasing his versatility, athleticism, and toughness in the trenches.

The 2024 campaign showed just how valuable he’d become. Cosmi started every regular-season game for the Commanders, providing both consistency and physicality up front. Unfortunately, his season ended on a tough note; he tore his ACL in the Divisional Round matchup against the Detroit Lions, a setback that ruled him out for the remainder of the playoffs.

Even with the injury, Washington made it clear they view Cosmi as a long-term cornerstone, locking him in before the market could push his value even higher. While he began the 2025 season on the PUP list as he recovers, the Commanders are betting that once healthy, Cosmi will continue to be one of the more dependable and impactful guards in the NFL.

7. Aaron Banks ($19.25 million per year)

Aaron Banks cashed in this offseason with a major payday from the Green Bay Packers. On March 18, 2025, Banks signed a four-year, $77 million contract, which averages out to $19.25 million per season, making him one of the highest-paid guards in the league.

Banks began his career with the San Francisco 49ers after being drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. While his rookie year was more about learning than playing, he developed into a steady starter by 2022, starting 16 games that season and following it up with 14 more starts in 2023. His consistency and physical presence helped San Francisco reach Super Bowl LVIII, where he started at guard in the 49ers’ narrow overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Although a late-season injury in 2024 forced him onto injured reserve, Banks had already proven himself as a reliable interior lineman with playoff experience. That made him a prime target in free agency, and the Packers didn’t hesitate to invest heavily in him as they continued to retool their offensive front.

For Green Bay, the signing is about both stability and championship aspirations. Banks brings size, power, and proven ability on the big stage, qualities that should make him an anchor for the Packers’ line in the years ahead. If he stays healthy, this deal could look like money well spent for a team intent on building around the trenches.

6. Robert Hunt ($20 million per year)

Robert Hunt signed a five-year, $100 million contract with the Carolina Panthers on March 13, 2024. The deal averages $20 million annually, placing him firmly among the highest-paid guards in the NFL.

Hunt began his career with the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Louisiana. He was originally lining up at tackle, but he eventually found his long-term home at the guard position, where his combination of size, strength, and mobility made him a key part of Miami’s offensive line. Over his four years with the Dolphins, Hunt became known for his physical run blocking and steady improvement in pass protection, making him one of the more dependable linemen in the AFC.

The Panthers saw an opportunity to secure a proven veteran for their offensive rebuild and wasted no time offering a market-setting deal. Hunt’s arrival was part of a broader effort to fortify Carolina’s line and give their young quarterback a more reliable pocket. With his experience and versatility, Hunt is expected to serve as both a stabilising presence and a tone-setter up front.

At $20 million per year, Carolina’s investment is significant, but for a player with Hunt’s track record and leadership qualities, it’s the type of move that could pay dividends if he continues to anchor their offensive front at a high level.

5. Quenton Nelson ($20 million per year)

When it comes to dominant interior linemen, Quenton Nelson’s name is almost always the first to pop up. The Indianapolis Colts recognised that early, and in September 2022, they locked him into a four-year, $80 million extension with $60 million guaranteed, which made him the highest-paid guard in NFL history at the time. That deal averages out to $20 million annually, putting Nelson among the financial elite of the offensive line world.

What makes him worth every penny is his remarkable consistency and dominance since stepping into the league as the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Nelson stormed onto the scene by becoming the first guard to ever win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month and has been virtually unstoppable ever since. He’s now been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons, while also earning three first-team All-Pro nods, a résumé that cements his place as one of the greatest guards of his era.

Even in seasons where injuries threatened to slow him down, Nelson continued to play at a high level, showing not just talent but grit and resilience. His ability to protect quarterbacks and anchor the run game has been central to the Colts’ offensive identity, and at just 29 years old, he’s still in his prime. With that kind of track record and his deal running through 2026, Nelson has set the gold standard for what elite offensive guards are worth in today’s NFL.

Read Also: Travis Hunter breaks 20-year NFL record in debut for Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Chris Lindstrom ($20.5 million per year)

The Atlanta Falcons wasted no time ensuring their offensive line cornerstone would be around for the long haul. In March 2023, the team signed Chris Lindstrom to a five-year, $105 million extension, averaging $20.5 million annually, and at the time, it made him the highest-paid guard in NFL history. For a player drafted 14th overall in 2019, the deal was both a reward for his development and a statement of his importance to Atlanta’s future.

Lindstrom’s rise has been a mix of perseverance and dominance. After a rookie season shortened by a broken foot, he rebounded to start every game in 2020 and 2021, including a remarkable 2021 campaign where he allowed zero sacks all year. That kind of reliability in pass protection is rare, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. He earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2022, followed by another in 2023, along with back-to-back All-Pro Second Team honours.

At just 28 years old, Lindstrom has already cemented himself as one of the most technically sound and durable guards in the league. His combination of strength, footwork, and consistency has made him the anchor of Atlanta’s offensive line, and his record-breaking deal reflects the value of having that kind of stability up front. With his contract running through 2028, the Falcons have their franchise guard locked in for the foreseeable future.

3. Landon Dickerson ($21 million per year)

The Philadelphia Eagles made sure to keep one of their youngest offensive stars in-house when they signed Landon Dickerson to a four-year, $84 million contract extension in March 2024. Averaging $21 million annually, the deal briefly made him the highest-paid guard in NFL history at the time, and it showed just how vital he has become to Philadelphia’s offensive line dominance.

Drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Dickerson stepped in as a starter almost immediately following an injury to Isaac Seumalo, and he hasn’t looked back since. His size, strength, and versatility allowed him to settle at left guard, where he has developed into one of the league’s most reliable interior linemen. By his second season, he was already a Pro Bowl selection, and he has since added more honours while helping the Eagles reach back-to-back Super Bowls, including their Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

At just 26 years old, Dickerson represents the future of Philadelphia’s offensive front. His new deal not only rewards his rapid rise but also ensures the Eagles’ line remains one of the most feared units in football. With several prime years still ahead of him, Dickerson looks set to be a fixture among the NFL’s elite guards for a long time.

2. Trey Smith ($23.5 million per year)

The Kansas City Chiefs locked down a cornerstone of their offensive line in July 2025, when they signed Trey Smith to a four-year, $94 million contract extension with $70 million guaranteed. Averaging $23.5 million annually, the deal made Smith the highest-paid guard in NFL history at the time, a remarkable rise for a player once drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Smith’s journey has been one of resilience and dominance. A former five-star recruit out of Tennessee, his college career was nearly derailed by recurring blood clots in his lungs, but he fought through the setbacks to establish himself as one of the SEC’s best interior linemen. That grit carried into the NFL, where he immediately became the Chiefs’ starting right guard as a rookie and earned a spot on the NFL All-Rookie Team.

Since then, Smith has been a stalwart on Kansas City’s line, starting nearly every game while protecting Patrick Mahomes and paving the way for back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 2022 and 2023. In Super Bowl LVII, he helped the Chiefs shut out the Eagles’ vaunted pass rush, keeping Mahomes clean en route to a 38–35 victory. His steady play continued in Super Bowl LVIII, where Kansas City outlasted the 49ers in overtime.

Now 26, Smith is entering the prime of his career, and his new deal is both a reward for his past dominance and a bet on his future as the anchor of the Chiefs’ offensive front. Considering his durability, championship pedigree, and relentless work ethic, Kansas City may well have secured one of the best values in football, even at a record-setting price tag.

1. Tyler Smith ($24 million per year)

At just 24 years old, Tyler Smith has already climbed to the very top of the pay scale for NFL guards. The Dallas Cowboys showed just how much they value their young lineman when, on September 13, 2025, they signed him to a four-year, $96 million extension with an impressive $81.2 million guaranteed. Averaging $24 million annually, the deal made Smith the highest-paid guard in league history and showed the Cowboys’ belief that he will anchor their offensive line for years to come.

Smith’s rise has been as rapid as it has been impressive. Drafted 24th overall in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Tulsa standout wasted no time making an impact, starting all 17 games as a rookie and earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. His sophomore campaign in 2023 further proved his reliability, as he started 14 games and continued to showcase the blend of power, agility, and versatility that had made him a first-round pick in the first place.

Known for his physical dominance in the run game and steady improvement in pass protection, Smith has quickly become the type of lineman every franchise dreams of building around. The Cowboys’ decision to lock him up long-term will definitely help protect Dak Prescott and power their ground attack.

If the first three years of his career are any indication, the Cowboys’ record-breaking investment may prove to be worth every penny.

Read Also: Cowboys Guard Tyler Smith Signs Four-Year, $96M Extension, Becomes Highest-Paid at Position in NFL History

Conclusion

The financial landscape for NFL guards has changed dramatically in just a few short years, and Tyler Smith’s record-breaking deal is proof that the trend is only accelerating. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if we see a few more record-setting contracts for guards in the coming seasons.

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