Albert Breer's Takeaways: Rising QB Salaries Has Forced NFL Teams To Be Creative With Contracts
QB contracts: Patrick Mahomes's and Josh Allen's deals are examples that quarterback pay has gone well beyond where we mark it in the “new money” analysis. Dak Prescott remains the leader when it comes to conventionally done contracts with the deal he signed at $60 million per year in new money in September 2024. That is seen as the last standard-bearer for the next wave of quarterbacks to be rewarded so handsomely.
The Mahomes and Allen negotiations: These deals were unconventional, with the Deshaun Watson deal of 2022 as a starting point. Watson's five-year, $230 million accord with the Browns was a historic one, and Allen's six-year, $330,003,150 deal with the Bills was a two-year, $200.45 million extension by new-money analysis.
The Mahomes deal: The Chiefs' Mahomes deal, worth $504.75 million over eight years, was a two-year, $239.05 million extension by new-money match.
Implications: Quarterbacks are treated differently contractually, and the first four years of guarantees are crucial. The top 10 contracts by the four-year cash flow in NFL history are dominated by quarterbacks.
Future QB contracts: With the 2024 draft quarterbacks eligible for their second contracts, the bar for pay is likely to rise further.
The Aiyuk situation: Brandon Aiyuk's actions voided his guarantees, and the Niners can now walk away without responsibility for any of it.
Ragnow's retirement: Frank Ragnow's short-lived comeback showed his dedication and the challenges of returning from injury.
New grass 'pitches': The effort to install top-shelf natural surfaces at NFL stadiums, like SoFi Stadium, demonstrates the feasibility of grass for NFL teams.
Aldon Smith's legacy: Aldon Smith's potential was immense, but his struggles with DUI and other issues led to a tragic end.
