Bethesda, Md.- Today the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) released the player salaries for spring 2026. This is one of our favorite holidays at Burgundy Wave. Let’s break down the 2026 Colorado Rapids player salaries:
| Name | Base Salary | Guaranteed Compensation |
| Paxten Aaronson | $2,000,000 | $2,228,063 |
| Rafael Navarro Leal | $1,392,000 | $1,449,600 |
| Rob Holding | $1,200,000 | $1,200,000 |
| Zack Steffen | $1,100,000 | $1,100,000 |
| Hamzat Ojediran | $800,000 | $881,667 |
| Reggie Cannon | $750,000 | $841,500 |
| Darren Yapi | $795,000.00 | $820,000 |
| Alexis Manyoma | $654,000.00 | $711,750 |
| Connor Ronan | $510,000 | $562,400 |
| Theodore Ku-DiPietro | $500,000 | $556,000 |
| Miguel Navarro | $498,000 | $548,781 |
| Josh Atencio | $462,500 | $462,500 |
| Ian Murphy | $400,000 | $447,500 |
| Keegan Rosenberry | $300,000 | $300,000 |
| Lucas Herrington | $200,004 | $235,004 |
| Dante Sealy | $150,000 | $168,022 |
| Nicolas Hansen | $160,000 | $160,000 |
| Kosi Thompson | $140,000 | $145,260 |
| Noah Cobb | $130,000.04 | $130,000.04 |
| Jackson Travis | $125,000 | $127,500 |
| Bryce Jamison | $113,400 | $125,866 |
| Kimani Stewart-Baynes | $115,000 | $116,000 |
| Adam Beaudry | $113,400 | $115,900 |
| Ali Fadal | $113,400 | $113,400 |
| Wayne Frederick | $113,400 | $113,400 |
| Georgi Minoungou | $113,400 | $113,400 |
| Alex Harris | $88,025 | $90,025 |
| Mamadou Billo Diop | $88,025 | $88,025 |
| Donavan Phillip | $88,025 | $88,025 |
| Sydney Wathuta | $88,025 | $88,025 |
Firstly, the Rapids have a payroll of $14.1 million which ranks 26th of out 30 MLS teams. That’s down from $15.5 mill and 22nd last fall but our regular readers will know this doesn’t tell the full story. Colorado has shed some big contracts in Kévin Cabral and Andreas Maxsø. Outside of Hamzat Ojediran, all their new acquisitions came on the cheap salary wise.
Big salaries and new information:
Paxten Aaronson is now the second highest paid player in club history at just over $2.2 million, behind only Tim Howard ($2.48 mill in 2019). Rafa Navarro has been fantastic value as the team’s other DP at almost $1.5 million.
Highlighting a player new to MLS, Hamzat Ojediran is on big money at $882K. He has been excellent at the holding midfielder position, prime Jeff Larentowicz at times. If he keeps this up, he’s worth every penny, including the reported $3 million transfer fee.
The other big news here is Darren Yapi is making $820,000, having just signed a three-season extension last week. That’s $705K more than his Homegrown salary of $115K last year. It’s on the higher end of what we’d speculated his salary would be. Still, he’s on pace for 15 goal contributions in 2026. Like Ojediran, he’s been worth it so far.
A cheaper and better defense, and still . . .
One of the talking points last year was about how expensive the backline was. Rob Holding ($1.2 mill) and Zack Steffen ($1.1 mill) are still here and have had up and down moments in 2026. The defense this year is improved and much cheaper. Jackson Travis at $128K has come into his own. Miguel Navarro on loan from Talleres is on $549K is a bit expensive given he’s been a backup to Travis but isn’t making much more than he did previously in MLS. Kosi Thompson on $145K has been good value as well.
Lucas Herrington is a bargain wonderkid on $235K. He’s been one of the best players on the team. If he does anything at the World Cup, he might be gone this year.
One of the downsides of the kids emerging on the backline is veterans on bigger salaries on the bench. Reggie Cannon hasn’t been healthy and is 6th in total comp at $842K. Ian Murphy is fourth on the center back depth chart and making $448K. That’s not breaking the bank but he’d have value within the league if Colorado wanted $500K in GAM come the summer.
Captain Keegan Rosenberry is down from $400K in 2025 to $300K. No complaints given he’s taken a back seat at right back. He and Josh Atencio, $463K, have established a safe floor at their positions. Though if there is a weakness in the starting lineup right now, it’s Atencio for me. Connor Ronan has been hurt this year and is on $562K. Not dead weight, but like Cannon, it’s a lot of money for a player who has been hurt and is getting older. Like Murphy, I think there’d be value if they wanted to move him to a better situation and get market value in the summer.
Matt Wells’ winger corp. is big transfer, reasonable wages:
For as much transfer money as Colorado Rapids have spent on wingers, the salaries aren’t expensive. Georgi Minoungou and Dante Sealy were both acquired for around $2 mill in total assets. They’re both making under $200K.
Alexis Manyoma is 8th in guaranteed comp on $712K. There’s four games left before Colorado has to make a decision on the purchase option July 21. BW has reported that purchase option is over $2 mill. Can the Rapids really afford $6 mill in acquisition costs for one position. Manyoma hasn’t been a starter over Yapi, Minoungou, or Sealy. I thing he’s going back to Estudiantes.
Ted Ku-DiPietro on $556K is another one of these players who is promising and young, but hasn’t delivered and been injured. Like Murphy, he’s not limiting the Rapids financially. But there’s a scenario where the FO flips him and spends that salary at a position where they have less depth like defensive midfielder.
As usual, the Rapids have several exciting prospects that don’t cost a lot that would be great value if they do what Yapi or Travis have done. Nico Hansen is on $160K as the backup keeper on his recent contract extension. Good player, good value. Noah Cobb as the third center back on $130K is another. Wayne Frederick II is having a breakout season and is still on his rookie deal.
Other observations:
Even with all the recent transfer spend going back to Navarro in 2024, the Rapids are still a bottom 10 team in MLS when it comes to net spend. They’ve shown no track record of spending big to get a big name that helps them on and off the field. There’s plenty of examples of teams who do that to their detriment. Looking at you, Atlanta and San Diego.
This is a team that is trying to outperform their budget constraints with analytics, youth development, and their new manager. Meanwhile, Messi is on $28.3 mill and that accounts for the gap between Inter Miami and LAFC as the two highest spenders in the league.
Some other Rapids related news: Djordje Mihailovic is on $2.8 mill on his new contract with Toronto FC. We still don’t know Sam Vines’ Houston Dynamo salary. The MLSPA reported $912,500, which is his 2026 guaranteed comp from his Rapids contract. We don’t know how much Houston is paying him. It could be the senior minimum of $104,000. Vines is signed through 2027 so we’ll find out next year. I would be surprised if it’s more than $300,000.
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Spencer Baldwin 
Eamon Shaw 