Oregon Football Makes History: NFL Combined Salaries

Breaking down the former Oregon Ducks Football athletes with the highest total value contracts in the NFL.

Ally Osborne | Jul 12, 2024

Dec 31, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) passes the ball while Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (99) defends in the first half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

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Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell celebrates the 31-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

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.

Published Jul 12, 2024

ALLY OSBORNE

A born and raised Oregonian, Ally was raised going up and down the steps of Autzen Stadium. Ally graduated from the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communications in 2021. She currently works at KOIN 6 and Portland's CW in Portland, Oregon where she hosts the lifestyle program "Everyday Northwest" and reports for the KOIN Sports team. She's also a graphic designer in her free time, with several of her works created for Oregon athletes.