The NFL is about to experience a major spike when it comes to the quarterback market... Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield put pen to paper on a three-year, $165 million contract extension on Tuesday, putting him in the same conversation as the three (really eight) most highly-paid players in the entire sport, per Spotrac. Highest AAV in NFL (2026)1.
Patrick Mahomes (KC), $63.1 million2. Dak Prescott (DAL), $60 millionT-3. Baker Mayfield (TB), $55 millionT-3.
Matthew Stafford (LAR), $55 millionT-3. Jordan Love (GB), $55 millionT-3. Trevor Lawrence (JAX), $55 millionT-3.
Joe Burrow (CIN), $55 millionT-3. Josh Allen (BUF), $55 million It's safe to assume that list will not only continue to change in the coming seasons, but we could see some of those numbers double. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer put the pieces together following the latest big-money quarterback extension and came to the conclusion that the next wave of extensions could skyrocket those average annual values.
"I'd be surprised if it wasn't over $70M APY on the 2024 draft QBs," Breer wrote on X on Tuesday. "Josh Allen/Patrick Mahomes could be valued at 9-figure average on new-money APY basis. And Dak Prescott's deal, which had a $60M new-money APY, is now 2 years old—and will be 3 offseasons old in the spring." Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye were the No. 1, 2, and 3 picks, respectively, in the 2024 NFL Draft -- that means there will soon be three different guys vying to be the highest-paid player in team sports. $70 million might end up being the low end, which will in turn increase the numbers for established guys looking for their next deal.
Mahomes, Allen, Burrow, Lamar Jackson, etc... It's time to start pocket watching, folks.
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