Amon-Ra St. Brown’s mega deal makes him the highest-paid WR in the NFL, but it comes with gut-wrenching taxes

Taxes for a professional athlete in Detroit are very high.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown recently secured his position as the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver with a lucrative four-year contract extension worth $120 million. While the deal solidifies his presence with the Lions until 2028 and puts him on par with Tyreek Hill in terms of salary, the hefty paycheck comes with significant tax implications.

According to earnings analyst Andrew Petcash, St. Brown’s annual salary of $30 million will be significantly reduced due to various taxes. Federal tax will chip away $11.1 million, with an additional $900,000 allocated to his agent.

Jock tax will take another $894,000, while FICA/Medicare and Michigan state tax will claim $703,000 and $637,000, respectively. After accounting for these deductions, St. Brown will take home approximately $15.7 million annually.

In comparison, Hill, who plays for the Miami Dolphins, benefits from lower tax rates in Florida, allowing him to keep more of his earnings. The disparity in tax rates highlights the impact of location on an athlete’s take-home pay.

Despite the substantial deductions, St. Brown expressed excitement about his extended tenure with the Lions, stating on Instagram, “I’m here four more years. It’s up. It’s turnt. Detroit, whatupdoe.”

St. Brown’scontract extension marks the second-largest deal in Lions history, trailing only Matthew Stafford’s contract. The agreement also surpasses Calvin Johnson’s record for a receiver in total money, with St. Brown’s deal exceeding Johnson’s $113.45 million contract with the team.

His contract includes $77 million in guarantees, with $73.634 million being new guarantees, and his 2024 and 2025 compensation fully guaranteed. Additionally, if St. Brown remains on the roster in 2026, his $27.5 million salary for that year will become fully guaranteed.