Cooper Flagg has already earned an entire lot of cash earlier than he even steps on an NBA courtroom, reportedly earning a staggering amount of money in name, image and likeness (NIL) throughout his one season at Duke. However because the Dallas Mavericks chosen Flagg with the No. 1 total choose within the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday, he’s set to make much more dough in his NBA profession.
As soon as he indicators his rookie contract, Flagg will obtain $62.7 million over the subsequent 4 years. After that, Flagg’s wage may soar considerably, particularly if he lives as much as billing as a generational prospect. The potential common annual worth of his second contract may very well be north of $70 million, whereas that determine for his third contract is likely to be north of $100 million, according to projections from Spotrac.
If that’s the case, it stands to purpose that Flagg is likely to be the primary participant throughout the 4 main North American skilled sports activities leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) in on-field earnings. Let’s check out every of the 4 leagues and see who might need one of the best probability of reaching that mark.
All wage numbers are courtesy of Spotrac, until in any other case famous.
MLB
Once you have a look at the biggest contracts in North American sports activities historical past, MLB gamers principally make up the record. Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal to hitch the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023 blew individuals away on the time, however his document for the biggest contract in North American sports activities historical past solely lasted for one 12 months. Juan Soto beat Ohtani’s mark by $65 million this previous December, signing a 15-year, $765 million deal to hitch the New York Mets.
Whereas Ohtani and Soto are within the midst of the 2 largest contracts in MLB historical past, there’s a good probability these offers are their remaining two pacts as MLB gamers. Ohtani will likely be 38 when he’s a free agent once more and had $42.2 million in profession MLB earnings earlier than he signed his present deal. Soto will likely be 41 when his deal expires. There’s an opt-out following the 2030 season, so there’s a risk that Soto may obtain a bigger deal someday down the road. If he opts in, although, Soto will likely be on monitor to earn $847.3 million in his profession.
Wanting into the long run, there aren’t many gamers of Ohtani’s or Soto’s caliber set to hit free agency in the coming years. Some insiders have pontificated that Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker could earn a $600 million deal in free agency this offseason, which is clearly loads of dough, however nonetheless effectively in need of the $1 billion mark. Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is ready to grow to be a free agent following the 2026 season, however pitchers usually earn lower than hitters. So, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes in all probability gained’t get there, both, even when he continues to pitch at an elite stage by the point he’s eligible without spending a dime company within the 2029-30 offseason.
Kyle Tucker is ready to be the highest MLB free agent this winter, with some insiders projecting he may obtain one of many richest contracts in league historical past. (Picture by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Photos)
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is underneath contract by way of the 2031 season, when he’ll be 39. He’ll have $396.1 million in profession earnings by then. Dodgers star Mookie Betts can also be underneath contract by way of his age-39 season, changing into free-agent eligible in 2033. He’ll have $425.6 million in profession earnings by then, which incorporates the deferred cash he’s set to obtain after his contract expires.
Level being, the primary $1 billion MLB participant doubtless hasn’t begun his profession but, or is within the early years of his profession.
NBA
LeBron James lately turned the primary North American athlete to have an estimated internet price that crossed the $1 billion mark, however that quantity consists of his endorsement offers and investments. By way of his NBA profession earnings, James has solely $528.6 million in profession earnings by way of his NBA contracts. That quantity may improve to $581.3 million if he accepts his participant possibility for the 2025-26 season. Whereas James is the best earner in NBA historical past, he’ll need to play for much longer as a way to attain the $1 billion mark.
With lots of the different NBA’s all-time highest earners on the again 9 of their careers, the doubtless candidates to return closest or attain the $1 billion mark are youthful than 30. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum inked the richest contract in NBA historical past final offseason, signing a five-year, $313.9 million deal. If he accepts his participant possibility for the 2029-30 season, Tatum’s profession earnings will likely be at $469.4 million when that contract expires. He’ll be 32 by then, so he’d need to have a reasonably lengthy profession to achieve $1 billion.
Contemporary off successful an MVP and a title, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may break Tatum’s mark for the richest contract in NBA historical past within the coming weeks. He’s eligible for a five-year, $380 million extension this offseason. If Gilgeous-Alexander agrees to such a deal, he’ll have probably racked up $535.3 million in profession earnings by the point the extension ends in 2032. He’ll flip 34 that offseason, although, giving him a comparatively restricted earnings window to doubtlessly attain $1 billion.
Some individuals thought Luka Doncic would grow to be the primary participant to achieve the $1 billion mark as he had a powerful begin to his profession. However his potential to earn $1 billion in profession earnings took successful when he was traded this previous season, changing into ineligible to obtain a five-year, $345 million supermax extension from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. He can nonetheless signal a four-year, $229 million extension with the Lakers this offseason. Nevertheless, Doncic may maneuver his subsequent deal to make it potential for him to signal a five-year, $418 million deal within the 2028-29 offseason. If Doncic did that, he’d have $722 million in profession earnings by the top of the 2032-33 season, when he’s 34. One other huge deal that offseason may assist Doncic come near the $1 billion mark.
Past Tatum, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg may threaten to achieve the $1 billion mark in the event that they stay as much as the hype surrounding them. Wembanyama’s within the midst of a four-year, $55.1 million rookie deal, and his subsequent contract may very well be price round $300 million if he meets the requirement to earn a supermax, per Bloomberg. If Wembanyama meets the requirement to earn a supermax for his third deal, that contract may very well be price round $500 million, in accordance with Bloomberg. That may take Wembanayama’s profession earnings to round $850 million 12 years into his profession, when he’ll solely be 31.
If Cooper Flagg is not the primary participant to obtain $1 billion in on-court earnings, Victor Wembanyama is likely to be a powerful candidate to do accomplish that. (Picture by G Fiume/Getty Photos)
Flagg may earn much more than that in that span. Because the No. 1 total choose within the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg’s rookie contract will likely be a four-year, $62.7 million deal. If he meets the standards to earn a supermax on the finish of that contract, Flagg can obtain a five-year, $359 million deal for his second contract. If Flagg meets the standards to earn a supermax once more by the top of his second contract, his third contract could be price $509 million over 5 years. In whole, Flagg’s potential profession earnings by way of his first 14 seasons within the league may very well be at $930 million by the top of the 2037-38 season, by which he’ll solely be 32 on the time.
NFL
Just like MLB and NBA salaries, the salaries for NFL gamers have additionally risen tremendously over the previous couple of years because the wage cap has risen following the COVID-19 pandemic and the monstrous TV offers. Whereas gamers are setting wage information at every place seemingly each offseason, quarterbacks nonetheless receives a commission effectively greater than anybody else.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was the largest beneficiary of the current cap spike. He signed a document four-year, $240 million extension previous to the beginning of the 2024 NFL season, making him the primary participant in NFL historical past to have a median wage of $60 million. However his profession earnings will nonetheless be in need of $500 million by the point that deal ends in 2029 ($436.3 million) as he turns 36 that offseason.
Many would possibly assume that Patrick Mahomes could be a logical participant to threaten to cross the $1 billion mark. Nevertheless, the 10-year, $477 million extension he signed in 2020 will make it powerful for him to get there. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback will likely be 36 when that deal expires within the 2032 offseason and may have $497.7 million in profession earnings at the moment.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen turned the newest participant to money in a historic test, doing so when he signed a six-year, $330 million extension in March. However his profession earnings $504.6 million when that deal ends in 2031, as he’ll flip 35 that offseason.
Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are reportedly discussing an extension forward of coaching camp. Even when they comply with phrases on a large new deal, Jackson would in all probability nonetheless fall in need of $1 billion. He’s projected to earn $297.3 million in profession earnings by the top of the 2027 season, by which he’ll be 30.
In Might, wage cap knowledgeable and three Strand Sports activities’ vp of consumer compensation’s J.I. Halsell told FOX Sports’ Eric Williams that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels may very well be the primary quarterback to earn $100 million per 12 months. He initiatives that Daniels will signal a four-year, $360 million extension when his rookie contract expires on the finish of the 2028 season, assuming Washington picks up his possibility and he continues to play on the stage he performed at in 2024. If Daniels earns such a deal, his profession earnings could be north of $400 million by 2033. He’ll be 33 when his contract expires on the finish of that season, so he’d nonetheless have a while to make up for the $500-plus million he’d want to achieve $1 billion.
Jayden Daniels, or one of many quarterbacks drafted in recent times, would possibly grow to be the primary NFL participant to obtain a $100 million common annual wage. (Picture by Emilee Chinn/Getty Photos)
The 5 different quarterbacks chosen within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix) may feasibly earn the identical deal in the event that they play at Daniels’ stage earlier than signing an extension. Tennessee Titans quarterback and 2025 No. 1 total choose Cam Ward would even be in line to earn the same sum of money by way of the top of his second contract if he performs at that stage, in accordance with Halsell.
So, as salaries proceed to climb within the NFL, it does appear to be a quarterback drafted within the final couple of years or within the close to future will attain $1 billion in profession on-field earnings in some unspecified time in the future.
NHL
Barring a serious change within the NHL’s wage cap, it’s going to take a while for a hockey participant to earn $1 billion of their enjoying profession. The NHL is projected to have a tough wage cap of $95.5 million for the 2025-26 season, which is way fewer than the opposite three main skilled North American sports activities leagues (MLB has a $241 million tax threshold in 2025; NBA may have a $154.6 million mushy wage cap in 2025-26; NFL may have a $279.2 million arduous wage cap in 2025).
Washington Capitals star and NHL all-time goal-scoring chief Alex Ovechkin can also be the league’s highest earner ever at $161.7 million. That ought to assist paint an image for a way far-off an NHL participant is from $1 billion in profession earnings.
Connor McDavid nearly actually will not obtain $1 billion in profession earnings throughout his NHL profession, however his subsequent contract may assist him grow to be the best earner in league historical past. (Picture by Andy Devlin/NHLI through Getty Photos)
Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid will likely be a free agent after the 2025-26 season, placing him in line to doubtlessly earn a historic deal. However NHL gamers can solely obtain as much as 20% of the wage cap on an annual foundation. In consequence, a max contract for McDavid is projected to be round $19 million in common annual worth, according to ESPN.
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