Last year was a wild ride for NFL quarterbacks and their contracts. Four different players set new salary records in 2023, with names like Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and finally, Joe Burrow, who topped them all with a massive deal from the Cincinnati Bengals.
Burrow’s contract was a jaw-dropper, totaling $275 million over five years, averaging $55 million annually. With incentives, it could even reach $281.25 million, with a hefty $219.01 million guaranteed. Talk about a game-changer!
Looking ahead to 2024, there’s a lot of buzz about who’s going to cash in next. At the center of it all is Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, heading into his contract year with all eyes on him. Despite a shaky playoff performance, Prescott’s got serious leverage, with a cap hit of $59.455 million, second only to Deshaun Watson.
Over in Detroit, Jared Goff’s been turning heads with the Lions. He led them to their first division title in three decades and even made it to the NFC Championship game. Safe to say, he’s proven himself beyond his Rams days.
Then there’s Baker Mayfield, who had a real comeback season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After signing a short-term deal to prove himself, Mayfield lit up the field in both regular season and playoffs, making a strong case for a big payday.
And don’t forget about Kirk Cousins in Minnesota or Tua Tagovailoa in Miami. They’re both on the radar for potentially lucrative extensions, too.
Oh, and let’s not overlook Jordan Love in Green Bay. With Aaron Rodgers out of the picture, Love stepped up big time in his first full season as a starter, putting himself in line for a major payday.
As we gear up for the 2024 season, the quarterback market is heating up, and it’s anyone’s guess who’ll be the next to score big.
