College football 2026: How much does each position cost?

There has never been a better time to be a college football player competing at the highest level. Just ask their agents.

Last year, we dug into how much Power 4 starters are earning at every position. To find out just how much their value has increased 12 months later, we surveyed more than a dozen general managers and front office staffers as well as a dozen agents last week at the annual Personnel and Recruiting Symposium in Nashville.

We asked the folks tasked with negotiating their contracts to help define the new price ranges for each position, based on the deals they've struck for 2026 and what each side now considers fair value. And they had a lot to say.

If every Power 4 program was carefully abiding by the new revenue sharing cap and spending the same amount, the price points for the deals would be easier to identify. But that's not the case. The sport's most competitive programs had the funds to go far beyond $20 million for their rosters this offseason. Agents say SEC and Big Ten programs continue to outspend the Big 12 and ACC. As one agent put it, the gap between good and elite feels greater than ever. This year's price ranges for deals reflect that, too.

These ranges do not capture what every player is making at the Power 4 level. There are plenty of elite outliers at College Football Playoff contenders with seven-figure deals this season. There are plenty more competing for a starting job in preseason camp while making $200,000 or less. GMs still believe they're getting a discount when they re-sign starters, so these price ranges tend to reflect the contractual cost of talent acquisition more than retention.

The elimination of the spring transfer portal, a period when teams tended to overpay out of desperation, resulted in fewer FBS scholarship players transferring this offseason. But it also created a new level of urgency for roster construction in December and the frantic two-week portal window in January.

"Now that there's not two windows, teams can't miss," another agent said. "People ask me all the time why the market's so high. The market's so high because you've got one shot at this. When the portal's over, that's your team."

College GMs are debating positional roster value every day while navigating a marketplace with no transparency and lots of skepticism about the numbers that get reported. Their head coaches are increasingly concerned about where this is all heading.

"I can tell you right now, with NIL rising 20%, 30%, 40% a year, it's not sustainable if we stay on the path we're on right now," Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham said.

As GMs and agents gather more data and experience with every deal, both sides agree business is booming like never before. But they're still seeing too much misinformation on social media about who's making what.

"You hear and read so much about everyone having $40 million rosters and every tackle is making $2 million, every corner is making $1.1 million and every edge rusher is making $1.5 million," an ACC GM said. "That's not reality."

Here's what they believe college football players are now earning to start and compete at the Power 4 level entering Year 2 of the revenue sharing era.

Jump to a position:

QB | RB | WR | TE | OL

Edge | DT | LB | DB | Special teams

Quarterbacks

Typical range: $1 million-$3 million

Among general managers and agents, there was very little disagreement about the price range for quality quarterback play. They're expecting the average deal for Power 4 starters to exceed $2 million this year.

Darian Mensah was once again the extreme outlier, with his unprecedented deal with Miami that was believed to approach $8 million before his settlement with Duke. Now-former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby and LSU's Sam Leavitt pushed the top of the market into the $4 million to $5 million range, with Josh Hoover (Indiana) and Drew Mestemaker (Oklahoma State) not far behind them as coveted passers in the portal. South Carolina and Cal had to pony up to retain LaNorris Sellers and Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, respectively.

Then, you still have the truly elite tier. Oregon's Dante Moore could've been the No. 2 pick in the draft and signed a $54 million contract but preferred to stay in school. GMs believe Moore, Arch Manning (Texas), Julian Sayin (Ohio State) and the best of the best are getting revenue share guarantees but still earning just as much outside money in brand deals thanks to their NIL value.

"If you're in the ACC and Big 12, you're probably $1 million to $2 million," an SEC GM said. "If you're Big Ten and SEC, you're probably $2 million to $3 million and then plus, plus, plus for the elite."

Not all these quarterbacks are millionaires, to be clear. There are still a few Power 4 programs with unresolved QB competitions between two passers on six-figure deals.

"If you've got a $1 million starting quarterback, they're probably an inexperienced guy at this juncture," a Big 12 GM said.

But even the inexperienced guys cashed in this offseason, with career backups Lincoln Kienholz (Louisville) and Kenny Minchey (Kentucky) earning in the $2.5 million to $3 million range as they move into starting roles.

It's important to note with all these positions: We're talking about the all-in number for a player's value, not just what they'll earn in revenue sharing. Many still downplay how much they spent by citing a player's guaranteed money or cap number, but they're funding these deals with a blend of revenue share and third-party money from multimedia rights (MMR) and apparel partners.

"The schools are getting really creative on the MMR money," an agent said. "So, $3 million can turn into $6 million quickly."

These front office staffers are bracing for their next round of contract renegotiations at the end of the year. One staffer at a College Football Playoff contender has scouted dozens of potential transfer players for next January. He is already anticipating deals for the best available passers to hit about $6 million.

"The limit doesn't exist at the top end," an agent said. "If a team really wants someone and they feel like that's the player who's going to take them into the CFP, they just find a way."

Running backs

Typical range: $300,000-$800,000

There are certainly more million-dollar backs this season across college football. Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss), Jadan Baugh (Florida) and Isaac Brown (Louisville) helped raise the top of the running back market in January by turning down intense portal interest and re-signing with their respective programs. Front office staffers considered both of Texas' big portal pickups, Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown, to be elite backs whose deals could be worth $1 million or more.

"If you want elite elite, you're going to be paying $750,000 to $1 million," an ACC GM said.

But the pay range for running backs is largely tied to offensive philosophy, and there are still lots of teams that would rather move forward with a starting running back making $500,000 and their No. 2 option earning closer to $300,000.

GMs and agents agreed the range for this position didn't seem to change much year-over-year as teams focused on building out a group of backs.

"I think $500,000 to $600,000 is the sweet spot for a lot of teams where they can get a really good one and they don't feel like they're overpaying too much," one agent said.

Multiple Big Ten staffers surveyed by ESPN said they believe the top of the market is between $1 million and $1.2 million. The 2027 recruiting class could raise that bar.

Five-star Tennessee commit David Gabriel Georges reportedly getting a deal for around $2 million per year from the Vols raised a lot of eyebrows in the industry, but some agents believe he's not the only one in line to make seven figures as a freshman next year.

"That number is getting higher than people want to pay for the true elite guys," an SEC GM said.

Wide receivers

Typical range: $400,000-$1 million

Here's one position that has generated plenty of curiosity about how much the top of the market is earning, especially given the superstars returning for 2026.

Jeremiah Smith has said he was offered $10 million to transfer from Ohio State at the end of last season. General managers surveyed by ESPN said they could easily see Smith earning $5 million to $6 million this year, plus millions more in NIL endorsements.

"Jeremiah Smith, Cam Coleman and Malachi Toney are the outliers," one agent said. "Whatever the f--- they want, you pay 'em."

Beyond that trio, GMs believe there are quite a few proven playmakers who surpassed $1 million this offseason as re-signings or transfers. Some agents who did big deals for wideouts in January say that reflected desperation among teams more than anything else as they competed for difference-makers.

A few CFP contenders, such as Indiana, Texas and Miami, are heading into this season with elite wide receiver duos, but most GMs surveyed generally agreed that $500,000 to $600,000 would be their ideal range for a veteran No. 2 receiver. Some believe there are still lots of young, inexperienced receivers moving into No. 3 roles this season making between $200,000 and $300,000. Others who had serious work to do in the portal spent more than they would've liked and have No. 3 receivers making closer to $600,000.

But all of them are hunting for value. Receiver is still one of the easier positions to find affordable Group of 6 and FCS players who can make an instant impact. Last season, 20 G5 players surpassed 900 receiving yards. Eight of the 11 who still had remaining eligibility for 2026 transferred up to join Power 4 teams.

Even if you find good value at this position, it won't last long. One GM at a Big 12 school is set to pay his No. 1 receiver $500,000. He already knows if that player puts up good stats, the price is going up to $750,000 or $800,000 next year and even more if he hits the portal.

"It's one of the more undervalued positions in my opinion with how impactful they can be," an agent said, "but also one of the biggest positions that flops."

Tight ends

Typical range: $300,000-$600,000

The portal market at tight end was a bit more exciting a year ago, with seven players taken in the 2026 NFL draft plus Oregon's Jamari Johnson and Texas Tech's Terrance Carter Jr., two of the top returning pass catchers for 2026.

With fewer high-profile options in the portal this offseason, GMs and agents say the ceiling for tight end pay got a decent bump but not a substantial one. Most reported paying between $500,000 to $600,000 for their No. 1 tight end. A few GMs who brought their starter back in the $600,000 to $900,000 range admitted they felt as though they overpaid.

"It's hard, man," an SEC GM said. "It's a weird market because there's not very many of them. We want to just pay one and pay a premium price because they're so developmental."

A few agents said they got younger backups deals for $400,000, but the price for a second tight end was typically closer to $250,000.

"Some schools are like, 'We'd never pay above $250,000 for a tight end; we rotate three guys,'" said one agent, who repped a top transfer, "and for others, it's like $650,000 or $700,000 is no problem."

Offensive tackles

Typical range: $600,000-$1.2 million

Guards/centers

Typical range: $400,000-$800,000

The paydays for big men are getting bigger every year. If you were a Power 4 program determined to re-sign your top starting tackle, you had to be ready to pay between $1 million and $1.4 million in many cases. If you needed to find a new tackle in the portal, those recruiting battles easily got up to the $1.2 million to $1.5 million range.

"I'm always asking for $1 million," one agent said. "If you want to be in the game, you've got to be in that range."

Given those high standards, LSU's Jordan Seaton was a bit of a unicorn in this year's transfer portal cycle. You almost never see a first-round talent hit the portal ahead of his junior season. Personnel staffers agreed that Seaton could pretty much name his price and easily earn well beyond $2 million.

Teams looking to the G6 level for an experienced tackle didn't get a dramatic discount, with several saying they closed deals for key targets between $800,000 and $900,000, but even those deals could quickly get to seven figures if enough teams entered the mix.

"I would say $1.5 million is the high end," another agent said. "I mean, you've got freaking high school kids making that."

Indeed, the deal Miami gave five-star freshman Jackson Cantwellthat reportedly approaches $2 million per year was another signal that the million-dollar standard is likely here to stay for highly recruited tackle prospects, regardless of how prepared they are to be Day 1 starters.

As for interior offensive linemen, front office staffers and agents agreed that the going rate for guards and centers didn't change much this offseason. Two agents said they secured two-year deals for rising starters in the $1.3 million to $1.4 million range. One Big Ten staff went all the way to $1 million for its starting center, but another got its to re-up for just $500,000.

One agent's theory on the reduced price: Teams are having an easier time finding Group of 6 and FCS offensive linemen with the size and skills to play inside. Nearly 120 linemen transferred up for Power 4 opportunities this offseason.

"There just aren't many real offensive tackles out there," he said.

Edge rushers

Typical range: $500,000-$1.2 million

As the price for pass rushers keeps rising, the front office staffers surveyed by ESPN said they'd love to know how much this year's preseason All-Americans are set to earn.

"I can't imagine what Colin Simmons and Dylan Stewart are making," one Big Ten staffer said.

"For a Dylan Stewart, the limit does not exist," an agent added.

The Texas and South Carolina superstars did not enter the portal and certainly didn't need to in order to earn top dollar at this position. But several highly regarded edges hit the open market, including Damon Wilson II (Miami), Princewill Umanmielen (LSU), John Henry Daley (Michigan), Adam Trick (Texas Tech), Trey White (Texas Tech) and Tobi Osunsanmi (Indiana).

Teams knew if they wanted to compete for experienced transfers, the price was typically starting no lower than $900,000. One Big Ten GM who succeeded in retaining his top pass rusher for $750,000 knew just how costly it would be to get a replacement.

"In the portal, the ceiling is closer to $1.5 million," he said.

Programs that lack the resources to chase seven-figure pass rushers are still finding they can get good talent for around $500,000 or $600,000, and some prefer a more rotational approach of paying three or four players in that range. There can be a wide range of options at this position in terms of size, scheme fit, role and experience.

But as is the case with offensive tackle, GMs saw a big jump in price for top high school edge talent this summer. Several said they've heard rumors of two-year deals for top-100 recruits in the 2027 class starting at $1 million to $1.5 million per year.

"We'd be lucky to get one for $500,000," an SEC GM said.

Defensive tackles

Typical range: $500,000-$1 million

For general managers with major defensive tackle needs, this year's portal market was confounding. One agent described it as "astronomical" after seeing one of his clients receive multiple offers for $1.3 million or more. If you didn't get deals done early in the portal window, you were quickly in trouble.

"The market for them was as strong as edge," a Big Ten GM said. "Guys kept entering the portal later in the cycle, and the market never fell out. As more guys went in, they kept getting more money. It was nuts."

Teams knew it would take $1 million or more to get in the mix for coveted transfers with NFL potential, such asMateen Ibirogba (Texas Tech), Devan Thompkins (Alabama) and Xavier Gilliam (Tennessee), but didn't anticipate quite so many portal recruitments would cross seven figures. After this offseason cycle, one GM argued that the price range for an SEC-caliber starter now seems to be $600,000 to $1.5 million.

"They're not wrong," a Big 12 GM said. "I mean, that's the most egregious position. They can be really average and get paid a lot of money. It's just a function of supply and demand. With edges, there are super impactful ones and there are others who can do the job. Even the ones that can do the job are still better than some of these D-tackles."

Agents say there was still a tier of less proven defensive tackles in the portal who could be had for a deal between $500,000 and $800,000, and some GMs believe there's still good value to be found if you're seeking rotational players who possess good size but might not have draftable potential. Others focused on re-signing their veterans.

"If you got a starting D-tackle for $400,000, I'd love to see him," the Big 12 GM said.

Linebackers

Typical range: $300,000-$700,000

Linebackers are still perceived to be the most affordable starters on defense among GMs and agents.

There were quite a few high-profile transfers in January, including Rasheem Biles (Texas), Luke Ferrelli (Ole Miss), TJ Dottery (LSU), Amare Campbell (Tennessee) and Cade Uluave (BYU), whose recruitments helped raise the top of the linebacker market, but GMs believe the average cost for a team's top linebacker is still closer to $600,000 this year than $800,000.

"To me, if you're in the $700,000s, you're paying a guy who's done it and started a ton of games," an SEC GM said.

Several front office staffers agreed with that sentiment and said they still think they can find quality starters for half that price, especially in the ACC and Big 12.

"I'd say that's probably the cheapest position on defense by a decent amount," one agent said. "If you're getting paid $500,000 at linebacker, you're not average."

Cornerbacks

Typical range: $400,000-$900,000

Safeties

Typical range: $300,000-$900,000

The NFL's highest-paid cornerbacks are now making over $30 million per year, and its top safeties are at $25 million. At the highest levels of college football, though, the gap between these two positions isn't quite so dramatic.

If the best corners in the country are earning a little over $1 million this season, the top safeties aren't far behind. In fact, some GMs and agents believe there's enough scarcity at the safety position that they're now able to make just as much as the corners.

"Corner is interesting to me," a Big Ten GM said. "There's so many of them that I feel like that market gets tamped down at the college level."

Some Big Ten and SEC staffers see the bottom range for a starting cornerback being closer to $500,000 after struggling to find good options for less than $400,000 in the portal window. The teams that re-signed starters for less than $600,000 got good value this offseason.

"Corner was huge last year," an agent said. "Safety was on top this year. I think it kind of flipped."

One contributing factor to the top of the safety market this offseason: Ohio State, Ole Miss and Georgia all needed to sign multiple starters via the portal. Add in two more coveted playmakers in LSU's Ty Benefield and Oregon's Koi Perich and you end up with lots of competitive recruitments.

"Some defenses are so predicated on safety play that when those schools don't have 'em, they'll move heaven and earth to get them," the Big Ten GM said.

"The ones everybody wanted were $500,000 to $900,000," an SEC GM added.

Kickers

Typical range: $50,000-$200,000

Punters

Typical range: $50,000-$150,000

Long-snappers

Typical range: $10,000-$50,000

We omitted the specialists from last year's position value survey, but we're righting that wrong this year. Ever wondered how much a college kicker is getting paid these days?

Several Power 4 GMs told ESPN they have no problem paying $100,000 for their starting placekicker, and one staffer at a CFP contender said a great one in the transfer portal could be worth as much as $300,000 this year.

One intriguing factor behind placekicker pay: Multiple GMs told ESPN that top kickers have worked together to raise their market by sharing with each other how much they're being paid and offered.

"All the kicker guys chat and jack the price up," one SEC GM said.

GMs said they're fine with paying in the $100,000 to $150,000 range for a good punter and up to $50,000 for their long snapper. There are still Power 4 programs who bring in their specialists on scholarship only and don't start paying them revenue share until they become contributors, so the true low end of pay this year is still probably closer to $0.

If you're genuinely trying to follow a budget, the SEC GM argued, there's no way you're dropping $300,000 on a kicker. But similar to all other positions, there's nothing stopping well-funded programs with title ambitions from writing big checks to all-conference-caliber specialists.

One Big Ten staffer who paid $125,000 to a kicker last season said that's the cost of doing business at the highest level. He can justify six figures for kickers and perhaps punters.

"If we're ever paying big bucks to a long-snapper, get me out of this industry," he said.

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