Kyler Murray became the latest quarterback to receive a massive contract, agreeing to a five-year, $230.5 million deal that makes him the second-highest-paid player in the NFL in terms of average annual value. Murray’s total contract amount is the third-highest in the NFL, while his $160 million guaranteed contract is the second-highest in NFL history.
While Murray’s deal didn’t reset the market the way Deshaun Watson’s $230 million fully guaranteed deal did earlier this year, it did set a barometer of what franchise quarterbacks will be looking for in the coming months. There are plenty of quarterbacks who are ready to cash in on massive contracts, either before this season or next offseason.
Which quarterbacks are in line for that franchise-altering extension? With Murray signed, sealed and delivered, these are the quarterbacks to watch for a new contract in the coming months.
Lamar Jackson
Jackson is the franchise quarterback from the 2018 draft class yet to sign a long-term extension, playing his fifth-year option with the Baltimore Ravens for $23.016 million. Josh Allen signed him (same draft class as Jackson) at $43,005,667 per season in 2020 (which is currently the fifth-highest-paying contract in the NFL).
Jackson is expected to command a much higher salary thanks to the Watson and Murray deals this offseason, relying on himself for a top-three salary. All Baltimore has done is win since Jackson became the starting quarterback in Week 11 of the 2018 season, as the Ravens are 37-12 during that stretch. Jackson is also the first quarterback in NFL history to reach 35 regular season wins before the age of 25.
Jackson has completed 64.2% of his passes for 9,880 yards with 83 touchdowns to 31 interceptions (98.0 rating) since he became the Ravens’ starter, while rushing for 3,564 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. He is the fastest quarterback in league history to reach 5,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards (35 games), and his 10 100-yard rushing games are tied with Michael Vick for the most in league history. the league.
Whether the Ravens pay Jackson remains to be determined, but a massive contract is looming. Perhaps that mega deal will arrive in the next few weeks.
Justin Herbert
The talented quarterbacks of the 2020 draft class are entering their third season, which means the countdown is on for their massive extensions. Herbert is a record-breaking quarterback after his first two seasons, so it’s a matter of “when” the Los Angeles Chargers and Herbert agree to a long-term deal.
Herbert has the most completions (839), passing yards (9,350) and passing touchdowns (69) in the first two career seasons in league history, as well as being the first quarterback to throw more than 30 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons, arguably the best start for any quarterback.
The amount Herbert will get will likely reset the market, but he admitted to CBS Sports that he and the Chargers “haven’t discussed anything” regarding an extension.
“I love being drafted here and being able to play here,” Herbert said in June. “I think we’re doing everything right. I believe in the staff, in all the teammates, in the front office. So all I can do is hope for the best. It’s out of my control, but I’ll keep playing football.” . .”
Joe Burrow
Like Herbert, Burrow is in line for a massive extension entering his third year in the league. The bigger question will be whether Herbert or Burrow signs first and sets the precedent for the other.
Burrow established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the game a year after coming off ACL surgery. He completed a league-high 70.4% of his passes for 4,611 yards with 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for a 108.4 passer rating last season. Burrow also led the NFL in yards per attempt (8.9) despite being sacked a league-high 51 times in the regular season. He led the NFL in touchdown passes of more than 30 yards in 2021 (15), seven more than Tom Brady (who was second). When he was pressed, Burrow ranked first in the league in completion percentage (61%), yards per attempt (8.6) and quarterback rating (92.4).
Another massive season and a deep playoff run for Burrow may lead him to become the highest-paid quarterback in football. Burrow only needs 4,500 passing yards to become the first player in NFL history to record at least that many in two of his first three seasons, more incentive for him to have a big season in 2022.
Tom Brady
Easy to forget Brady is in line for a new contract of his own, as the seven-time Super Bowl champion is set to hit free agency this offseason. Brady retired this offseason, only to reverse the decision 40 days later and play the final year of his contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Will Brady re-sign with Tampa Bay or test the waters of free agency again? Brady has been linked to the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers in the past, but there will be other teams interested in his services if he decides to play in 2023.
Brady, who earns $25 million a year, is currently the 14th highest-paid quarterback in the league. Even if Brady accepts a discount in free agency, he’ll almost certainly get a raise next offseason if he decides to play.
Brady had one of his best seasons as a passer at the age of 44, becoming the first player since Peyton Manning in 2013, and only the third player since 1991 (Drew Brees is the other, in 2008), to lead the league. in completions (485), attempts (719), yard passes (5,316) and touchdown passes (43). There’s no sign Brady’s game is slowing down, and he can prove it once again in 2022.
Russell Wilson
Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos this offseason to be their franchise quarterback, with two years and $51 million remaining on a four-year, $140 million deal he signed in 2019. A salary increase with the Broncos is coming, as Wilson is ninth among NFL Players in terms of average annual value ($35 million per season).
Wilson, one of four quarterbacks with a passer rating greater than 100, has 113 career wins in his first 10 seasons in the league, the most by any quarterback in NFL history (including playoffs). His 317 touchdown passes through 10 seasons trail only Peyton Manning (327) for the most in league history (including playoffs).
Before his finger injury last season, Wilson led the NFL in yards per attempt (9.6), touchdown-to-interception ratio (10-1) and passer rating (125.3). He completed 64.8% of his passes for 3,113 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 103.1 passer rating in 2021, his last season with the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson is the only quarterback with a 100+ passer rating in each of the past four seasons.
A new contract approaches Wilson. Like Herbert, it’s about “when” Wilson gets the deal from him.
Jalen hurts
Hurts is the wild card in the 2020 draft class in terms of getting a massive extension, specifically because he has only made 19 career starts for him in his two seasons. The Philadelphia Eagles are committed to Hurts for 2022, but his future as a franchise quarterback remains to be determined.
Hurts completed 61.3% of his passes for 3,144 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions for an 87.2 rating last season, and is just the second quarterback in Eagles history to throw for 3,000 yards and rush for 750 yards. in a season, and the eighth to reach those numbers in NFL history. This was his first season as a full-time starting quarterback.
The only player in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in his first 20 starts, Hurts has proven that he is capable of being a starting quarterback in the NFL. The Eagles put the pieces on offense around Hurts to be successful in 2022, giving them a much better read on whether he deserves a contract extension beyond the 2023 season.
Tua Tagovailoa
Like Hurts, Tagovailoa needs to improve his game on the field if the Miami Dolphins want to ensure he is their quarterback for years to come. Unlike Hurts, Tagovailoa has a fifth-year option on his rookie deal that the Dolphins can exercise for 2024.
Miami gave Tagovailoa all the skill position players he needs to take his game to the next level. Whether the offensive line is better is the ultimate question mark over Tagovailoa’s future. The source of his offensive inconsistency in 2021, Miami ranked 30th in the league in rushing (92.2 yards per game) and 31st in yards per carry (3.5 yards per carry). The Dolphins had three offensive linemen who allowed more than 45 pressures last year in Liam Eichenberg (62), Jesse Davis (57) and Austin Jackson (49), all ranked in the top 10 for most pressures allowed in the league. .
Tagovailoa completed 67.8% of his passes for 2,653 yards with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions despite constant pressure on his face, and is 13-8 as the starting quarterback despite having three offensive coordinators coaching him in his two seasons.
This is the make-or-break season for Tagovailoa. If he has a big third season, a massive contract extension may be next on the docket.
