When betting on football games and examining the CFL odds, especially at the beginning of a season, I do consider players’ salaries.
If a player is given a sizable contract, that’s typically indicative of the player’s skill and/or the team’s belief in the player.
Below are the top 25 highest-paid CFL players.
Who Is the Highest-Paid CFL Player?
| Name | Salary | Position | Team |
| Nathan Rourke | $624,200 | QB | BC Lions |
| Chad Kelly | $615,000 | QB | Toronto Argonauts |
| Zach Collaros | $600,000 | QB | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| Vernon Adams Jr. | $465,000 | QB | Calgary Stampeders |
| Trevor Harris | $399,700 | QB | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Dru Brown | $354,700 | QB | Ottawa Redblacks |
| Bo Levi Mitchell | $323,800 | QB | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Kenny Lawler | $277,200 | WR | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Ryan Hunter | $270,000 | OL | Toronto Argonauts |
| Robbie Smith | $270,000 | DL | Edmonton Elks |
| Davis Alexander | $258,000 | QB | Montreal Alouettes |
| Tre Ford | $257,000 | QB | Edmonton Elks |
| Justin McInnis | $250,000 | WR | BC Lions |
| Brady Oliveira | $240,000 | RB | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| Jake Ceresna | $235,000 | DL | Edmonton Elks |
| Tyrell Ford | $230,000 | DB | Edmonton Elks |
| Wynton McManis | $229,500 | LB | Toronto Argonauts |
| Jermarcus Hardrick | $213,700 | OL | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Cameron Judge | $197,000 | LB | Toronto Argonauts |
| Mathieu Betts | $189,800 | DL | BC Lions |
| Drew Desjarlais | $189,800 | OL | Ottawa Redblacks |
| McLeod Bethel-Thompson | $185,000 | QB | Montreal Alouettes |
| Cody Fajardo | $180,000 | QB | Edmonton Elks |
| Folarin Orimolade | $167,900 | DL | Calgary Stampeders |
| Jake Maier | $165,000 | QB | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
What’s the Highest-Paid CFL Player Making?
Heading into the 2025 CFL season, BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke is the highest-paid player, earning $624,200.
Rourke played college football at Fort Scott and Ohio. He’s a Canadian native. He was drafted in the second round of the 2020 CFL Draft. He went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft but has had short stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants, and Atlanta Falcons.
He joined the Lions in 2024.
Over his CFL career, Rourke has played 50 regular-season games. He’s completed 795 of 1,115 passes for 11,174 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 40 interceptions.
How Much Does Nathan Rourke Make in the CFL?
Rourke made $624,200 as the quarterback for BC in 2025.
How Much Do CFL Players Make?
As of the 2025 season, the average CFL salary is more than $100,000 CAD. The salary cap increased to over $6 million. The top 25 salaries in the CFL range from $165,000 to $624,200.
Of those 25, 12 are quarterbacks. Quarterbacks hold the top seven salaries. The highest-paid non-quarterback is Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Kenny Lawler at $277,200.
There are just seven defensive players on the list. The highest-paid defensive player is Edmonton Elks defensive lineman Robbie Smith. He made $270,000 in 2025.
CFL Odds at BetMGM
BetMGM provides CFL odds and betting throughout the year, from preseason through the Grey Cup. From offseason futures to weekly betting to live odds, Canadian Football League wagering is available at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
CFL betting is currently available to residents of Ontario, Canada, and online Alberta sports betting will be offered soon as well.
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