Oregon Football Makes History: NFL Combined Salaries

10. Bucky Irving, Running Back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With a total contract value of $4,751,552, former running back Bucky Irving makes the tenth place on this countdown. Irving is a new Pro Duck, having been drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft at pick 125.

Irving played one year for University of Minnesota before transferring to Oregon for his 2022 and 2023 seasons. During that time, Irving earned several honors like the First Team All PAC 12 for the AP, Coaches Poll, and Pro Football Focus. Irving boasts 1180 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in his college career, starting all 14 games during his final season.

This year, Irving will make a base salary of $795,000, with a $182,888 signing bonus and a cap at $977,888.

9. Marcus Mariota, Quarterback, Washington Commanders

A legend of the green and yellow, Marcus Mariota played for Oregon from 2011 to 2014. In that time Mariota became an icon for the university nationwide, leading the Ducks to a twelve and one record in his first non-redshirt season, he was the first Oregon Duck and Polynesian athlete to win the Heisman Trophy, and a national championship bought his senior year. The Marcus Mariota Performance Center was erected on campus in his honor in 2016. If you don’t know who Mariota is, you’re not a Duck fan.

Mariota currently has $6,000,000 in total value in his one-year deal with the Washington Commanders signed in March of this year. Mariota’s NFL career has not been as illustrious as his college tenure, moving from the Tennessee Titans, to the Las Vegas Raiders, to the Atlanta Falcons, then Philadelphia Eagles, to now the Commanders.

In the Netflix series “Quarterback”, Mariota takes viewers through his season with the Falcons, in which Mariota was signed to a two year deal worth $18,750,000. He appeared in 13 games passing 2,219 yards for 15 touchdowns and rushing for 438 yards and four touchdowns with nine interceptions. Mariota was eventually benched and put on medical leave for a knee injury before ultimately being cut by the Falcons in spring of 2023.

Mariota’s current contract guarantees a salary of $2,390,000, a $3,000,000 signing bonus, and a $100,000 workout bonus. According to 247 Sports, Mariota is a top five all-time earner for the Oregon Ducks.

8. Jackson Powers-Johnson, Offensive Guard, Las Vegas Raiders

The first 2024 NFL Draft pick and eighth highest 2024 contract on our list is offensive guard Jackson Powers-Johnson. Johnson signed a deal with the Raiders totaling in value at $8,767,762.

Trained on both sides of the ball, Powers-Johnson remained the trusted center for the Ducks from 2021 to 2023. As a junior, Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Trophy, the award given to the best center in college football. He was also a Outland Trophy Semi-Finalist and a unanimous All American.

Powers-Johnson will earn a guaranteed $795,000 in his first year with the Raiders. That includes a $799,138 signing bonus and a $1,594,138 cap.

7. Christian Gonzalez, Corner, New England Patriots

With a total value of $15,102,868 for a four year contract, corner Christian Gonzalez is making serious cash for an athlete drafted in 2023. Gonzalez transferred from Colorado to Oregon in 2022 to play for the Ducks. During his one year tenure, Gonzalez was named first team all Pac-12 for his three interceptions, seven pass break-ups, and 45 tackles.

Gonzalez forfeited his remaining two years of college eligibility for the NFL Draft and was taken round one pick seventeen by the New England Patriots.

During his first year with New England, Gonzalez received Defensive Rookie of the Month, the same month in which he caught his first interception versus the Miami Dolphins. Later in the season, Gonzalez suffered a season-ending shoulder injury and was put on injury reserve.

This year, Gonzalez makes a base salary of $910,000, with a signing bonus of $1,995,976, and a roster bonus of $521,494.

Juwan Johnson, tight end of the New Orleans Saints, was originally supposed to be the number seven choice, but is currently on injury reserve due to a broken foot, and his contract bonuses have been waived.

6. Bo Nix, Quarterback, Denver Broncos

Next up is another new Pro Ducks to join the Oregon Football Alumnus status: quarterback Bo Nix. Drafted number twelve overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton and company, Nix signed a contract value of $18,613,166.

Transferring from University of Auburn to play two seasons for Oregon in 2021, Nix became a clear leader for the Oregon team under Oregon Football Head Coach Dan Lanning. Though in his final season, the National Championship Bound Washington Huskies got the best of the Ducks twice over, Nix broke New England Patriots’ quarterback Mac Jones’ record of highest single season completion percentage at 77.45% Nix also finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting for 2023.

Nix will receive a guaranteed salary of $795,000 this year, with a prorated signing bonus of $2,589,212. He will not earn a roster bonus until his 2025 year.

5. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, New York Giants

Entering his second year with the New York Giants since he was drafted number five overall in 2022, edge Kayvon Thibodeaux’s contract has a total value of $31,339,040.

Thibodeaux played for Oregon from 2019 to 2021 and dominated the skill level of his respective position. “Mr. Thibs” won an award every year he played for the green and yellow, picking up the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year, the Morris Trophy, MVP Honors for the 2020 Pac-12 Championship Game, and a unanimous vote for 2021’s All American Team. That year, he forewent his last year of college eligibility to try his luck in the NFL Draft.

During his last two years with the Giants, Thibodeaux recorded 59 tackles and 15.5 sacks (including 11.5 sacks just last year). After trading for defensive end Brian Burns, it’s clear the Giants are building a pass-rush defense that heavily involves Thibodeaux.

Thibodeaux will make a base of $985,000 this year, with a $4,993,007 prorated signing bonus and a $2,569,004 roster bonus to boot.

4. Arik Armstead, Defensive Lineman, Jacksonville Jaguars

With a tenured nine seasons in the NFL, it stands to reason defensive lineman Arik Armstead would receive a total value contract of $43,500,000.

Armstead, a former guest coach for the 2022 Oregon Spring Game, played for the Ducks from 2012 to 2014. Originally balancing his time between the Oregon Football Team and Oregon Basketball Team, Armstead left the court to pursue the field after a freshman redshirt season and playing one game his sophomore year. During his tenure, Armstead played in every game, recording 87 total tackles and four sacks for 18 yards.

After being drafted the 17th overall pick by the San Francisco 49rs in the 2015 NFL Draft, Armstead collected a career total of 302 tackles, 33.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles.

Armstead was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars in March. This year he’ll make a guaranteed salary of $1,500,000, with a $2,500,000 signing bonus, a $250,000 roster bonus, and a $250,000 workout bonus.

3. DeForest Buckner, Defensive Lineman, Indianapolis Colts

One of Oregon’s two picks from the 2016 NFL Draft and eight year NFL veteran, defensive lineman DeForest Buckner’s contract has a total value of $46,000,000.

A beast in his position during his time with the Ducks, Buckner played for Oregon from 2012 to 2015. Buckner played in all available games during his tenure, recording 232 total tackles and 18 sacks for 124 yards. He was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the second athlete to be named so from the Ducks since 1983 and won the Morris Trophy.

In his professional career so far, Buckner is dominant. He’s a three time Pro-Bowl selection, Second Team All Pro, and First Team All Pro. He played eight years with the 49ers before being traded to the Colts for a 2020 first round draft pick. He re-signed with the Colts this year.

In 2024, Buckner will make a guaranteed $2,250,000 with a $6,100,000 prorated signing bonus.

2. Penei Sewell, Offensive Tackle, Detroit Lions

The highest paid offensive tackle currently playing in the NFL, Penei Sewell signed a jaw-dropping $112,000,000 contract with the Detroit Lions this year.

Playing for Oregon from 2018 to 2020, Sewell garnered plenty of praise. He was a day one starter for the university, but missed six games due to an ankle injury later in the year. His sophomore year, he won Polynesian Play of the Year with Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, as well as became the first Polynesian player to win the Outland Trophy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sewell opted out of the 2020 year to enter the NFL Draft.

Sewell was drafted in the seventh pick overall by the Detroit Lions. In his first year, he made the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. In 2022, he was named a Pro-Bowl alternate after starting the whole season. The next year, Sewell helped the Lions get to their first NFC Championship in 31 years and made his second Pro Bowl team.

Sewell will earn a guaranteed $1,446,236 with a signing bonus of $6,721,649.

1. Justin Herbert, Quarterback, Los Angeles Chargers

Finally, we land on another historic year and the highest earning Duck of them all: Los Angeles Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert. Herbert’s total contract value adds up to $262,500,000. That’s a lot of money for one of his favorite hobbies, fishing.

Herbert played for Oregon from 2016 to 2019. During that time, Herbert racked up more awards than we can list. From being the Second player in Pac-12 history to win the William V. Campbell Trophy and Second Oregon athlete in any sport to be named the Division one CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year, to punching in a 29-13 record over 42 college starts with 40 of those games involving a touchdown, Herbert is an icon for the Oregon Ducks.

Now, after playing four years with the Chargers, Herbert is an established name in the NFL. At 31 passes, Herbert holds the most passing touchdowns by a rookie and most completions by a rookie at 396. Last season, Herbert signed his current deal, which at the time made him the highest paid NFL player in history. Herbert played through the season until he broke his index finger, which resulted in season ending surgery.

Herbert will make a guaranteed $6,000,000 with a signing bonus of $3,224,375 and option of $10,121,300.

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