Top 10 Highest-Paid CFL players

Zach Collaros, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, boasts a salary of $600,000.

Zach Collaros leads the list of highest earners in the CFL. Since joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2020, he has risen to become a star player on the team.

At 35, Collaros was honored with the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award in 2022 and was recognized as the Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player. He has maintained exceptional performance in 2023, showcasing his talent by leading the league with an impressive 4,252 passing yards.

Chad Kelly, representing the Toronto Argonauts, has a salary of $583,000.

Chad Kelly, another prominent quarterback, ranks second among the highest earners in the CFL. His yearly earnings are slightly below Collaros' at just under $600,000.

After a challenging stint in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts, which included suspensions and ultimately being released in 2020, Kelly rebounded by joining the Argonauts in 2022 and has thrived since.

In 2023, Kelly demonstrated remarkable consistency and was awarded the season's Most Outstanding Player. He secured a three-year contract in August 2023, briefly holding the title of the league's highest-paid player until Collaros reclaimed it for the upcoming season.

Trevor Harris, playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, earns $473,000.

At the age of 38, Trevor Harris is the oldest athlete in the CFL's group of top earners.

He joined the Roughriders at the start of the 2023 season under a two-year contract. Unfortunately, a serious knee injury early in the season ended his campaign prematurely.

Further injury issues have affected Harris's participation in the 2024 season, resulting in him playing only eight games for the Roughriders since the beginning of the 2023 season.

McLeod Bethel-Thompson, with the Edmonton Elks, has a salary of $461,000.

McLeod Bethel-Thompson played the previous season in the United States Football League, representing the New Orleans Breakers. His outstanding performance included leading the league with a total of 2,433 passing yards.

His impressive play earned him a free agency contract with the Edmonton Elks for $461,000 annually. As an experienced quarterback, he has the potential to reach new heights in his career, having previously been selected for the East Division All-Star team in both 2021 and 2022 and holding two Grey Cup championship rings.

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Cody Fajardo, representing the Montreal Alouettes, earns $432,000.

Fajardo signed with the Montreal Alouettes as a free agent for a two-year term in February 2023. Throughout the 2023 season, he consistently displayed skill, finishing with the highest pass completion rate at 70.9%.

He also earned the title of Most Valuable Player in the Grey Cup final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he threw for three touchdowns.

Vernon Adams Jr, B.C. Lions – salary $403K

Vernon Adams, who joined the BC Lions in 2022, opted to extend his contract for two more years in February 2024.

This extension came after a standout 2023 season where Adams achieved career-high numbers, completing 333 of 488 pass attempts for 31 touchdown throws over 16 games.

Jake Maier, quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders, has a salary of $339,000.

Maier has established himself as a reliable starter for the Stampeders in recent years, having joined the team in 2020 and receiving a contract extension in 2022.

During the 2023 season, he was among the league's top quarterbacks, throwing for 19 touchdowns and accumulating 2,244 passing yards.

Eugene Lewis, Edmonton Elks – $320K

Eugene 'Geno' Lewis stands out as the highest-paid wide receiver among the CFL's top earners. After establishing himself as a key player on the CFL East All-Star team for three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, he made a lucrative move to Edmonton in February 2023.

Despite facing some injuries in the 2023 season, Lewis managed to secure 48 receptions for a total of 844 yards across just 12 games.

Dru Brown, Ottawa Redblacks – $286

After spending time as a backup to Collaros at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Dru Brown made headlines by signing a lucrative contract with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2024.

His impressive performance during the 2023 season raised his profile; he played in 18 games for Winnipeg, completing 62 out of 89 passes for 983 yards. This performance has set him up for a base salary of $286,000 this season, with an increase to $355,000 and additional bonuses anticipated for 2025.

Kenny Lawler, also of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, earns $285,000.

Lawler is the only player on the CFL's highest-paid list who is not a quarterback. He made his return to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2023 after previously playing for the team from 2019 to 2021.

Although Lawler was sidelined for the first six games of his return due to injury, the 30-year-old showcased commendable performance in the 2023 season, racking up 901 receiving yards in just 12 games.

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