Over the past few years, a number of athletes in their respective sports—male and female alike—have signed multi-million-dollar deals, setting new monetary standards in the process. Those deals reflect the unique talents of the truly incredible players around the game. They point to the developing revenue channels in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL.
One of those superstars signed one of the most noteworthy contracts. Nikola Jokic. In 2022, he signed a lucrative five-year, $272 million deal to stay with the Denver Nuggets. This contract ranks as one of the largest in NBA history. It just shows how valuable Jokic is as a back-to-back MVP and driver of his team’s success.
In the NFL, Trevor Lawrence was the talk of the NFL after he signed a five-year, $275 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. This contract is one more example of teams being more inclined to spend massive money on young quarterbacks. Lawrence finally looked like the prospect the Jaguars traded up to take first overall in 2021.
Back in 2021, there was a big story in the world of MLB. He’s the same Edwin Díaz who once signed a staggering ten-year, $341 million contract with the New York Mets. The deal was important not only for what it did, but for how big it was. As a star shortstop, Lindor significantly changed the concentration of talent on the Mets’ roster.
There’s no underestimating how much Josh Allen changed the landscape of the NFL’s finances in 2025. This offseason, he signed a landmark six-year, $330 million contract with the Buffalo Bills. Allen’s incredible ascension as a dual-threat QB has solidified him as a cornerstone of the franchise, earning this massive investment.
The Cincinnati Bengals locked up their star, Joe Burrow, with a five-year, $275 million extension in 2023. Burrow’s meteoric rise through the league has established his standing as a franchise quarterback. This agreement is a huge step for the Bengals as they look to compete into the winter months.
In 2024, Dak Prescott cherry on his four-year, $240 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys. This extension is a clear sign of the organization’s faith in their starting signal-caller. Prescott’s leadership and performance on the field have made him a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ franchise.
Lamar Jackson, another key figure in the NFL, signed a five-year, $260 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. Jackson’s known for his outstanding positional athleticism and playmaking ability. His contract was important for the Ravens, allowing them to remain competitive against a very good AFC North division.
In MLB, Juan Soto became the first player to earn it with his record 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets. This contract foreshadows Soto’s rare and incredible talent and introduces an exciting new ceiling for long-term deals in baseball to the game.
Shohei Ohtani’s ability to pitch at a Cy Young caliber level and mash at an MVP level is unprecedented. In 2023, he signed a record-breaking ten year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani’s dual-threat status has captured fans’ imaginations all over the world and set a new standard for what athletes should be able to do in today’s baseball.
Mookie Betts, another Dodgers superstar, had signed a twelve-year, $365 million deal in 2021. Along the way, Betts’s record-breaking, Hall-of-Fame-bound play continues to deepen his standing as one of baseball’s best ever.
In the realm of basketball, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025. Gilgeous-Alexander’s development into an all-star level guard has caused the franchise to invest heavily, preparing themselves for the future.
Just as the Eagles had with Wentz years earlier, the Philadelphia Eagles rewarded Jalen Hurts with a five-year, $255 million contract in 2023. As Hurts led the team to an NFC Championship appearance, his strong performance warranted this financial commitment from the Eagles.
Jordan Love, drafted by the Green Bay Packers to replace Aaron Rodgers. In 2024 he signed a four-year, $220-million deal. The contract further demonstrates the team’s faith in Love as he moves into a starter role this season. This agreement further underscores a larger trend of teams doubling down on their burgeoning young QBs.
That Sidney Crosby sure is good. Well, for one thing, he just got off of signing a twelve-year, $104.4 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins! It’s that same consistency in performance and leadership that has maintained Crosby’s status as the unquestionable face of professional hockey.
The world of professional sports is undergoing unprecedented changes. Athletes are cashing in on once-unthinkable contracts that serve as trophies of their breathtaking talents and commercial appeal. Teams are aggressively investing resources into attracting the best and brightest. These multi-million dollar contracts are a testament to the value of the players acquired and evidence to the growth of the league.
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