These are the highest-earning professional athletes with Delaware ties
Over the past month in the NFL, hundreds of millions have been committed to free agents.
Several players with Delaware ties were among those vying for new contracts, including Hodgson and University of Delaware alum Bilal Nichols (3 years, $21 million to Arizona) and Caravel grad Darnell Savage (3 years, $21.75 million to Jacksonville).
It got us thinking about the Delaware players who have earned the most in their professional careers as team payrolls have ballooned in recent years. Here are the top 10 highest-earning athletes that attended a Delaware high school or university, taking into account only their playing salaries.
10. Nah'Shon 'Bones' Hyland
The Denver Nuggets traded the St. Georges product to the Los Angeles Clippers at last year's trade deadline for two second-round picks. Drafted 26th overall in 2021, Hyland has one year remaining on his contract before he can reach restricted free agency.
9. Chad Kuhl
Kuhl, a former Blue Hen and Middletown Cavalier, signed a minor-league deal with the Chicago White Sox in January. He debuted in 2016, three years after being selected in the ninth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
8. Bilal Nichols
A Hodgson and University of Delaware alum, Nichols was drafted by Chicago Bears in the fourth round in 2018. Nichols last month reached free agency for the second time and agreed to a 3-year, $21 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals with $14.4 million guaranteed.
7. Angelo Blackson
A Red Lion Christian grad, Blackson played in 11 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023 and recovered three fumbles. He is currently a free agent.
6. Darnell Savage
Savage, a Caravel alum, played under the fifth-year option in 2023 as a first-round selection of the Green Bay Packers in 2019. Savage last month agreed to a 3-year, $21.75 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including $12.5 million guaranteed.
5. Duron Harmon
In his 11th NFL season, Harmon played in three games for the Chicago Bears and four games for the Cleveland Browns as a safety. Harmon, who attended Caesar Rodney, won three Super Bowls with the Patriots. He is currently a free agent.
4. Donte DiVincenzo
After winning a national championship at Villanova and two state titles at Salesianum, DiVincenzo was drafted 17th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2018. Last summer, DiVincenzo signed a 4-year, $46,780,000 contract with the New York Knicks.
3. Brian O'Neill
A second-round selection in 2018, O'Neill signed a 5-year, $92.5 million contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings prior to the 2022 season. The Pittsburgh and Salesianum product has three years remaining on that deal. He earned Pro Bowl honors at right tackle in 2021.
2. Chris Godwin
Godwin is entering the third and final year of a $60 million contract. After his rookie deal expired, the former Middletown Cavalier wide receiver played one season on the franchise tag before agreeing to the extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
1. Joe Flacco
After winning the Super Bowl in 2013, Flacco signed a 6-year, $120.6 million contract to stay in Baltimore. It was at the time the richest contract in NFL history, a distinction that now belongs to Patrick Mahomes' 10-year, $503 million deal. Flacco played in five games for the Cleveland Browns last season after signing to their practice squad midseason. Last month, he agreed to a 1-year, $8.7 million deal with $4.5 million guaranteed with the Indianapolis Colts.
Brandon Holveck reports on high school sports for The News Journal. Contact him at bholveck@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: The highest earning Delaware pro athletes
