LSU’s football program continues to dominate the NFL financial landscape, with former Tigers securing some of the league’s most lucrative contracts.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. recently joined the ranks of LSU alumni cashing in with record-breaking NFL deals.
Chase signed a four-year, $161 million contract that made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history based on average annual salary. Stingley, meanwhile, became the highest-paid cornerback in league history after agreeing to a three-year, $90 million deal.
These massive contracts further cement the legacy of LSU’s 2019 national championship team. That undefeated 15-0 squad, led by Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, is widely considered one of college football’s greatest teams ever.
Burrow, now Chase’s teammate in Cincinnati, signed his own record-breaking five-year, $275 million extension in 2023. The deal made him the NFL’s third-highest-paid quarterback.
The combined contracts of Burrow, Chase, and Stingley alone exceed half a billion dollars. And that doesn’t include Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and other former Tigers.
CBS Sports’ Will Backus recently analyzed the most notable contracts from LSU’s 2019 team, using data from Over The Cap:
| Player | Position | Total Value | APY (Annual Salary) | Rank (Position) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Burrow | QB | $275M | $55M | 3rd |
| Ja’Marr Chase | WR | $161M | $40.25M | 1st |
| Justin Jefferson | WR | $140M | $35M | 2nd |
| Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | $90M | $30M | 1st |
| Patrick Queen | LB | $41M | $13.7M | 8th |
| Grant Delpit | S | $36M | $12M | 12th |
These six former Tigers have signed contracts totaling $743 million, with four ranking among the top three highest-paid players at their positions.
The one achievement these players haven’t yet replicated in the NFL is a championship. Burrow and Chase came closest in Super Bowl LVI, leading the Bengals before falling to the Los Angeles Rams 23-20.
