- Quarterback Nathan Rourke is the highest-paid player in the CFL, earning $455,666 in 2025.
- The average CFL salary is projected to be about $133,333.
- Nine quarterbacks are in the top 25 for 2025 salaries.
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.
I’ve been able to bet online on CFL games at the BetMGM sportsbook.
Below are the top 25 highest-paid CFL players.
Who Is the Highest-Paid CFL Player?
| Name | Salary | Position | Team |
| Nathan Rourke | $455,666 | QB | B.C. Lions |
| Chad Kelly | $449,000 | QB | Toronto Argonauts |
| Zach Collaros | $438,000 | QB | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| Vernon Adams Jr. | $339,450 | QB | Calgary Stampeders |
| Trevor Harris | $299,781 | QB | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Dru Brown | $259,931 | QB | Ottawa Redblacks |
| Bo Levi Mitchell | $236,374 | QB | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Kenny Lawler | $202,356 | WR | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Ryan Hunter | $197,100 | OL | Toronto Argonauts |
| Robbie Smith | $197,100 | DL | Edmonton Elks |
| Mathieu Betts | $189,800 | DL | B.C. Lions |
| Drew Desjarlais | $189,800 | OL | Ottawa Redblacks |
| Davis Alexander | $188,340 | QB | Montreal Alouettes |
| Tre Ford | $187,610 | QB | Edmonton Elks |
| Justin McInnis | $181,250 | WR | B.C. Lions |
| Brady Oliveira | $175,200 | RB | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| Jake Ceresna | $171,550 | DL | Edmonton Elks |
| Folarin Orimolade | $167,900 | DL | Calgary Stampeders |
| Tyrell Ford | $167,900 | DB | Edmonton Elks |
| Wynton McManis | $167,535 | LB | Toronto Argonauts |
| Mark Korte | $164,250 | OL | Edmonton Elks |
| Justin Hardy | $164,250 | WR | Ottawa Redblacks |
| Nic Demski | $164,250 | WR | Winnipeg Blue Bombers |
| Tim White | $164,104 | WR | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Eugene Lewis | $162,790 | WR | Ottawa Redblacks |
Biggest CFL Salary This Year
Heading into the 2025 CFL season, B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke is the highest-paid player at $455,666.
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 32 games. He’s completed 443 of 615 passes for 5,884 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions.
How Much Do CFL Players Make?
As of the 2025 season, the average CFL salary is expected to be about $133,333.
The salary cap increased to over $6 million. The top 25 salaries in the CFL range from $162,790 to $455,666. Of those 25, nine are quarterbacks. Quarterbacks hold the top seven salaries. The highest-paid non-quarterback is Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Kenny Lawler at $202,356.
There are just six defensive players on the list. The highest-paid defensive player is Edmonton Elks defensive lineman Robbie Smith. He’ll earn $197,100.
