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NFL's richest contracts

Drew Brees' new five-year, $100 million contract makes the New Orleans Saints quarterback the highest-paid player in the league. Here's is the current list of the NFL's 25 richest contracts ever signed in terms of yearly salary.

1. Drew Brees: $20M average salary (2012)
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1. Drew Brees: $20M average salary (2012)
Derick E. Hingle/US Presswire
2. Peyton Manning: $19.2M (2012)
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2. Peyton Manning: $19.2M (2012)
Ron Chenoy/US Presswire
3. (tie) Tom Brady: $18M (2010)
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3. (tie) Tom Brady: $18M (2010)
Perry Knotts/NFL
3. (tie) Peyton Manning: $18M (2011)
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3. (tie) Peyton Manning: $18M (2011)
Ben Liebenberg/NFL
5. Julius Peppers: $16.7M (2009)
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5. Julius Peppers: $16.7M (2009)
Rick Havner/Associated Press
6. Mario Williams $16.67M (2012)
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6. Mario Williams $16.67M (2012)
Tom DiPace/Associated Press
7. Eli Manning: $16.25M (2009)
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7. Eli Manning: $16.25M (2009)
Ben Liebenberg/NFL
8. Calvin Johnson: $16.21M (2012)
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8. Calvin Johnson: $16.21M (2012)
Derick E. Hingle/US Presswire
9. Carson Palmer: $16.17M (2005)
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9. Carson Palmer: $16.17M (2005)
Nick Wass/Associated Press
10. Larry Fitzgerald: $16.14M (2011)
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10. Larry Fitzgerald: $16.14M (2011)
Paul Connors/Associated Press
11. (tie) Michael Vick: $16M (2011)
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11. (tie) Michael Vick: $16M (2011)
Brian Garfinkel/Associated Press
11. (tie) Brett Favre: $16M (2010)
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11. (tie) Brett Favre: $16M (2010)
Ben Liebenberg/NFL
13. Philip Rivers: $15.3M (2009)
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13. Philip Rivers: $15.3M (2009)
Ben Liebenberg/NFL
14. Richard Seymour: $15M (2011)
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14. Richard Seymour: $15M (2011)
Greg Trott/Associated Press
15. Donovan McNabb: $14.85M (2010)
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15. Donovan McNabb: $14.85M (2010)
David Drapkin/Associated Press
16. Jay Cutler: $14.67M (2009)
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16. Jay Cutler: $14.67M (2009)
Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press
17. Ben Roethlisberger: $14.66 (2008)
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17. Ben Roethlisberger: $14.66 (2008)
Ben Liebenberg/NFL
18. Nnamdi Asomugha: $14.3M (2009)
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18. Nnamdi Asomugha: $14.3M (2009)
Paul Spinelli/Associatd Press
19. Adrian Peterson: $14.2M (2011)
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19. Adrian Peterson: $14.2M (2011)
Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press
20. (tie) Julius Peppers: $14M (2010)
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20. (tie) Julius Peppers: $14M (2010)
Paul Spinelli/Associated Press
20. (tie) Peyton Manning: $14M (2004)
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20. (tie) Peyton Manning: $14M (2004)
Greg Trott/Associated Press
22. Chris Johnson: $13.494M (2011)
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22. Chris Johnson: $13.494M (2011)
Wade Payne/Associated Press
23. Mark Sanchez: $13.491M (2012)
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23. Mark Sanchez: $13.491M (2012)
J. Pat Carter/Associated Press
24. (tie) Sam Bradford: $13M (2010)
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24. (tie) Sam Bradford: $13M (2010)
Paul Jasienski/Associated Press
24. (tie) DeMarcus Ware: $13M (2009)
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24. (tie) DeMarcus Ware: $13M (2009)
David Drapkin/Associated Press
26. Richard Seymour: $12.975M (2010)
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26. Richard Seymour: $12.975M (2010)
Gary A. Vasquez/NFL
27. Aaron Rodgers: $12.7M (2008)
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27. Aaron Rodgers: $12.7M (2008)
Gary A. Vasquez/NFL
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