The amount an NFL draft pick makes varies significantly depending on the round and overall pick number. Here is a summary based on recent data and projections for 2025:
- First-round picks have the highest salaries, with the No. 1 overall pick projected to sign a contract worth over $43 million total, including a signing bonus around $32 million
. For example, the 1st overall pick's total contract value can be about $48.8 million with a $32.1 million signing bonus, while the 2nd overall pick might get around $11.8 million total with a $5.2 million signing bonus
- Second-round picks and beyond receive significantly less. Contracts for players drafted in rounds two through seven are typically four-year deals but with much smaller signing bonuses and base salaries
. For instance, a 4th overall pick might get about $5.3 million total with a $1.1 million signing bonus, and a 7th overall pick around $4.35 million total with a $153,000 signing bonus
- Later rounds (third through seventh) have progressively lower salary floors and bonuses. The rookie minimum base salary in 2025 is $840,000, which applies to all rookies regardless of draft position, but signing bonuses and guaranteed money decrease steeply after the first round
In summary, an NFL draft pick's earnings depend heavily on their draft position, with first-rounders making multi-million dollar contracts including large signing bonuses, while later-round picks make closer to the league minimum salary with smaller bonuses. The exact figures vary by pick number within each round due to the NFL's rookie wage scale and collective bargaining agreement
