Watching BYU football on Saturdays is a blast in and of itself. But after LaVell Edwards Stadium quiets down on Saturday nights, a large contingent of former BYU players takes the field on Sundays in the NFL. And those special former Cougars who go on to play in the pros also go on to make big-time NFL money.
Here are the career cash earnings for five of the highest-paid former BYU players in the NFL. All salary information is provided by Spotrac.
Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers - $65.1 million
There's a strong case to be made that Fred Warner has been the NFL's best linebacker since he entered the league seven seasons ago, and he's paid accordingly. In seven years he has racked up 897 tackles, 10 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, and 53 passes defended en route to four All-Pro awards.
In May of this year he signed a 3-year, $63 million extension that runs through 2029, making him the NFL's highest-paid inside linebacker. Assuming he plays out his current contract as-is through 2029 (which rarely happens in the NFL), he stands to make nearly $165 million in career earnings.
Taysom Hill, QB/TE/RB, New Orleans Saints - $52.7 million
One of the most unique and beloved players in the NFL, the human Swiss Army Knife known as Taysom Hill has literally done things no other player has done before in league history. In his eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints he has thrown for 2,369 yards and 11 touchdowns, rushed for 2,437 yards with 33 touchdowns, and hauled in 943 receiving yards with 11 more scores.
Taysom is entering the final year of his current contract and is scheduled to make an additional $10 million in 2025.
Kyle Van Noy, LB, Baltimore Ravens - $48.2 million
Kyle Van Noy has been terrorizing quarterbacks for 11 NFL seasons, but the last two have been the most remarkable in the 34-year-old veteran's career. After going unsigned in 2023, he joined the Baltimore Ravens from "off his couch" during the season and racked up nine sacks in 14 games. He followed that up by delivering a career-high 12.5 sacks last year and earning his first Pro Bowl nod.
Van Noy is playing on the final year of his current contract and should earn an additional $3.8 million this season.
Zach Wilson, QB, Miami Dolphins - $35.1 million
We all know the frustrating history of the former No. 2 overall pick essentially wasting the first three seasons of his NFL career in the wasteland that is the New York Jets. Given his lofty draft status, his rookie contract with the Jets was for $35.1 million over four years, but he only played three seasons on that deal.
In 2024 he joined the Denver Broncos and this year he signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins that is scheduled to pay him another $6 million.
Michael Davis, CB, Free Agent, $33.3 million
Cornerback Michael Davis may have had the most overlooked, underappreciated NFL career of any former BYU player in recent memory. He entered the NFL in 2017 the hard way as an undrafted rookie free agent. But despite his undrafted status, he has carved out a solid eight-year career in which he has started 76 of 122 career games. After seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers he spent 2024 with the Washington Commanders.
Davis is currently a free agent, but at 30 years old he still has gas left in the tank at a position that's always in demand in today's NFL. Don't be surprised if he gets signed before or sometime during the 2025 season.