NFL Draft Pick Compensation Breakdown: How Much Does Each Pick Get?

The compensation for players drafted in the first round varies, as there are 32 picks, and signing bonuses vary based on the exact slot a player is selected.

As the seemingly consensus No. 1 overall pick, Mendoza will most likely earn upwards of $40 million in his first NFL contract, while the player drafted at No. 32 will be paid somewhere around $13 million, according to figures from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

For players drafted in the first round, the majority of their compensation comes as a signing bonus and guaranteed salary across four years.

The wage scale is a relatively new addition to NFL draft compensation, as massive contracts signed by top picks before even playing a snap came as a concern to owners. The wage scale (approximately $13 million to $40 million) now shifts the money teams are able to spend towards proven, veteran players as opposed to unproven rookies with a huge ceiling.

How Much Do Second-Rounders Generally Earn?

The second round is where first-round fringe players often fall, and steals can be aplenty. For example, the 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, was selected 33rd overall.

Similarly, up-and-coming New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough was the 42nd overall selection in the second round.

In 2025, the estimated compensation for second rounders like Shough and Schwesinger was between $7 and $12 million, with the higher end being given to top picks in the second round.

How Much Do Mid-to-Late-Round Picks Earn?

Round 3 of the NFL draft is where teams can still claim some value. The Browns and Detroit Lions picked rookie pass catchers Harold Fannin Jr. and Isaac TeSlaa in the early third round. For third-rounders, compensation varies between $5 and $6.5 million, though much depends on guaranteed money.

Players like Fannin Jr. and TeSlaa each receive four-year contracts, but likely receive smaller guarantees.

As the rounds go on, compensation drops sharply, with Day 3 signees drafted between Rounds 5 and 7 receiving contracts somewhere between $4 and $4.5 million across four years.

Ultimately, the sharp drop in compensation means players who end up being hidden gems in the later rounds get severely undervalued early in their career.