Highest-paid CFL players at every position for 2026

Photo courtesy: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

High-level athletes want to be the best on and off the field. Many are competitive when it comes to the business side of the game, just as they are between the white lines.

Let’s take a look at the highest-paid Canadians and Americans in the Canadian Football League for the 2026 season. Canadians are denoted with an “N” for National while Americans are denoted with an “A.”

These figures are based on exclusive reporting from 3DownNation.

Quarterbacks:

Nathan Rourke, B.C. Lions (N)

Hard money: $684,700
Maximum value: $684,700

Chad Kelly, Toronto Argonauts (A)

Hard money: $625,000
Maximum value: $625,000

Running backs:

Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (N)

Hard money: $290,000
Maximum value: $290,000

Greg Bell, Ottawa Redblacks (A)

Hard money: $175,000
Maximum value: $182,000

Receivers:

Keon Hatcher, B.C. Lions (A)

Hard money: $287,500
Maximum value: $318,500

Samuel Emilus, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)

Hard money: $285,000
Maximum value: $291,000

Offensive linemen:

Coulter Woodmansey, Edmonton Elks (N)

Hard money: $300,000
Maximum value: $300,000

Jarell Broxton, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)

Hard money: $250,000
Maximum value: $250,000

Defensive linemen:

Mathieu Betts, B.C. Lions (N)

Hard money: $270,000
Maximum value: $276,000

Malik Carney, Edmonton Elks (A)

Hard money: $270,000
Maximum value: $272,500

Linebackers:

A.J. Allen, Ottawa Redblacks (N)

Hard money: $240,000
Maximum value: $246,000

Tyrice Beverette, Montreal Alouettes (A)

Hard money: $230,000
Maximum value: $236,500

Defensive backs:

Tyrell Ford, Edmonton Elks (N)

Hard money: $230,000
Maximum value: $236,000

Adarius Pickett, Toronto Argonauts (A)

Hard money: $190,300
Maximum value: $201,300

Exclusive CFL club

There are 10 quarterbacks and 42 players at other positions who will earn $200,000 or more in hard money in 2026. Here they are broken down by position.

Football insider, reporter and analyst.