Updated by Dan on Sep 1, 2026
What Independent schools have the most and highest paid NFL players in 2026?
How it works
| College | # | Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Notre Dame | 41 | $197.2M |
| 2. | Connecticut | 7 | $16.9M |
| Name | College | NFL | Pos | Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Travis Jones | Connecticut | Ravens | DL | $5.6M |
| 2. | Ryan Van Demark | Connecticut | Vikings | LT | $4.3M |
| 3. | Matt Peart | Connecticut | Broncos | LT | $2.4M |
| 4. | Christian Haynes | Connecticut | Seahawks | G | $1.6M |
| 5. | Skyler Bell | Connecticut | Bills | WR | $1.2M |
| 6. | Foley Fatukasi | Connecticut | Raiders | DL | $1.1M |
| 7. | Joe Fagnano | Connecticut | Ravens | QB | $890K |
| Name | College | NFL | Pos | Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Quenton Nelson | Notre Dame | Colts | G | $24.2M |
| 2. | Mike McGlinchey | Notre Dame | Broncos | RT | $23.8M |
| 3. | Julian Love | Notre Dame | Seahawks | S | $12.9M |
| 4. | Aaron Banks | Notre Dame | Packers | G | $12M |
| 5. | Kyren Williams | Notre Dame | Rams | RB | $11.6M |
| 6. | Kyle Hamilton | Notre Dame | Ravens | S | $10.7M |
| 7. | Ronnie Stanley | Notre Dame | Ravens | LT | $9.9M |
| 8. | Jeremiyah Love | Notre Dame | Cardinals | RB | $9.6M |
| 9. | Joe Alt | Notre Dame | Rams | RT | $9M |
| 10. | Tommy Tremble | Notre Dame | Panthers | TE | $8M |
| 11. | Cole Kmet | Notre Dame | Bears | TE | $7.8M |
| 12. | Drue Tranquill | Notre Dame | Chiefs | LB | $5M |
| 13. | Brock Wright | Notre Dame | Lions | TE | $4.7M |
| 14. | Robert Hainsey | Notre Dame | Jaguars | C | $4.5M |
| 15. | Alohi Gilman | Notre Dame | Chiefs | S | $3.5M |
| 16. | Brandon Aubrey | Notre Dame | Cowboys | K | $3.4M |
| 17. | Jadarian Price | Notre Dame | Seahawks | RB | $3.1M |
| 18. | Durham Smythe | Notre Dame | Ravens | TE | $3M |
| 19. | Michael Mayer | Notre Dame | Raiders | TE | $3M |
| 20. | Ben Skowronek | Notre Dame | Steelers | WR | $2.8M |
| 21. | Benjamin Morrison | Notre Dame | Buccaneers | CB | $1.9M |
| 22. | Blake Fisher | Notre Dame | Texans | T | $1.8M |
| 23. | Xavier Watts | Notre Dame | Falcons | S | $1.4M |
| 24. | Spencer Shrader | Notre Dame | Colts | K | $1.4M |
| 25. | Malachi Fields | Notre Dame | Giants | WR | $1.3M |
| 26. | J.J. Jansen | Notre Dame | Panthers | LS | $1.3M |
| 27. | Jerry Tillery | Notre Dame | Colts | DL | $1.3M |
| 28. | Eli Raridon | Notre Dame | Patriots | TE | $1.2M |
| 29. | Blake Grupe | Notre Dame | Jets | K | $1.2M |
| 30. | Cam Hart | Notre Dame | Rams | CB | $1.2M |
| 31. | Jarrett Patterson | Notre Dame | 49ers | G | $1.1M |
| 32. | Rylie Mills | Notre Dame | Seahawks | DL | $1.1M |
| 33. | Javontae Jean-Baptiste | Notre Dame | Commanders | ED | $1.1M |
| 34. | Mitchell Evans | Notre Dame | Panthers | TE | $1.1M |
| 35. | Thomas Harper | Notre Dame | Lions | S | $1.1M |
| 36. | Audric Estimé | Notre Dame | Saints | RB | $1.1M |
| 36. | Khalid Kareem | Notre Dame | 49ers | LB | $1.1M |
| 38. | Riley Leonard | Notre Dame | Colts | QB | $1.1M |
| 39. | Billy Schrauth | Notre Dame | Buccaneers | G | $1M |
| 40. | Gabriel Rubio | Notre Dame | Steelers | DL | $946.7K |
| 41. | Harrison Smith | Notre Dame | Vikings | S | N/A |