The top 5 highest-paid Clemson players in the NFL

Clemson has a ton of players in the NFL, but who is earning the biggest paycheck?

Per Spotrac, Clemson currently has 45 players in the NFL. That's good enough for 10th overall. But it's their combined salaries where the former Tigers start to show their value. All told, Clemson players currently in the NFL have earned over $752 million, but who are the biggest earners among the Tigers heading into 2023? While surprising at first, if you follow Clemson football and how they've won their national championships, the results make sense.

While Clemson boasts two NFL starting quarterbacks in DeShaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence, only one of them made the top five of the top-earning Tigers in 2023. Meanwhile, three former Clemson defensive linemen are earning north of $10 million this season.

Grady Jarrett (Clemson Athletics)

Top Earning Clemson Players in the NFL in 2023, based on cap hit. 

1. Grady Jarrett - DL - Atlanta - $20,625,000
2. DeShaun Watson - QB - Cleveland - $19,057,000
3. D.J. Reader - DL - Cincinnati - $15,521,324
4. Hunter Renfrow - WR - Oakland - $13,126,000
5. Christian Wilkins - DL - Miami - $10,753,000

Trevor Lawrence, who is still on a rookie deal with Jacksonville, fell just short of this list, but will likely be at the top very soon. It's cool to see three defensive linemen on the list, as a strong front seven is what Dabo Swinney has built Clemson on. As for Watson and Renfrow, the combination that knocked off Alabama and gave Clemson its first national title in a generation is now cashing in in the NFL.