Patrick Mahomes deserves every penny of his massive NFL contract.
Whether Dak Prescott does is already up for debate.
Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys stunned the NFL on Sunday by giving Prescott a record-setting four-year, $240 million contract extension, which averages a stunning $60 million a year.
With the 2024 NFL season already having kicked off via a monster match up between Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs and Lamar Jackson‘s Baltimore Ravens, the quarterback position is more important than ever — and some of the biggest stars are paid like it.
Other deals might leave an NFL fan with a shaking head, though, as teams overpay unproven talent in the desperate search for franchise QBs.
Here are the top-10 paid quarterbacks in the NFL, based off total contract value.
Who’s making too much and who deserves extra cash?
Let the debates begin.
10. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
The most controversial QB on the list also might be the most overpaid.
Watson is 1-2 in the playoffs and has often been off the field with Cleveland, due to injuries and suspension.
The former Clemson star is a three-time Pro Bowler and spent the 2018-20 seasons as one of the most promising field generals in the game.
Watson was a dual threat on the field and a rising star in the community.
But the QB drafted two spots behind Mahomes in 2017 hasn’t been the same since off-field accusations derailed his career.
Watson needs a strong start to the 2024 season to get back on track and make his contract worth the huge payday for the Browns.
10
Contract: $230m total, $46m AAV
9. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Murray’s NFL career was also in limbo entering the midway point of the 2023 campaign.`
In college, the 5ft 10in QB bounced from Texas A&M to Oklahoma.
But Murray’s speed and arm helped make him the No. 1 overall pick of the NFL Draft in 2019.
Since then, the Texas native has alternately wowed and disappointed.
Murray hasn’t won a playoff game and missed Arizona’s initial nine games in 2023.
With head coaching and front office changes, there are questions about Murray’s long-term standing with the Cardinals.
There’s no doubt that he’s being paid like one of the NFL’s best and priciest QBs.
Murray is also making $500,000 overall more than Watson, which is pennies when hundreds of millions are involved.
10
Contract: $230.5m total, $46.1m AAV
8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
After an offseason filled with constant contract drama, the richest sports franchise in the world kicked off a new NFL season by paying its franchise quarterback.
The Cowboys handed Prescott a massive four-year, $240 million contract extension.
Prescott is a three-time Pro Bowler and statistically one of the best field generals in the league.
But the 31-year-old QB is just 2-5 in the playoffs and there are looming questions about his ability to lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl victory.
10
Contract: $240 m total, $60m AAV (NFL record)
7. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
If Hurts reaches the Super Bowl again, he will be underpaid.
He was already overlooked in the NFL Draft, falling all the way to No. 53 in 2020 and initially sitting on the bench in Philadelphia.
Hurts has been an ideal solution for the Eagles after they moved on from Carson Wentz.
The former Alabama and Oklahoma college QB is tough, plays hurt and has quickly endeared himself to the hard-to-please Philly faithful.
Hurts was the best QB on the field for the majority of Super Bowl LVII.
He’s now paid like one of the best leaders in the game and will deserve more if the Eagles keep winning big.
10
Contract: $255m total, $51m AAV
6. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen is unquestionably the Bills’ franchise QB.
But will he carry Buffalo where Jim Kelly couldn’t reach?
Kelly made four Super Bowls during the Bills’ glory days in the 1990s.
Allen has impressed since entering the NFL in 2018 as a risky No. 7 overall pick out of Wyoming, which isn’t famous for producing Super Bowl winners.
He’s already reached the playoffs in five seasons and Buffalo entered the 2023 campaign as a serious AFC contender again.
But there’s still another level that Allen can reach and he must get there if he’s going to eventually replace Kelly as the best QB in Bills history.
10
Contract: $258m total, $43m AAV
5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
The biggest contract controversy of the 2023 offseason was answered with one of the biggest contracts in the NFL.
Serving as his own spokesman, Jackson helped negotiate a monster deal that rightfully paid him as one of the best QBs in the sport.
Jackson has already won two MVPs and he’s become the face of the Ravens, despite not being picked until the final selection (No. 32) during the first round in 2018.
Since then, Action Jackson has changed the way the QB position is played and has turned “dual threat” into an asset instead of a hindrance.
He now has Derrick Henry to help carry the weight.
10
Contract: $260m total, $52m AAV
4. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert is making more than Jackson, which says everything about the sometimes over-inflated value of NFL QB contracts.
There’s no doubt that Herbert is good.
But at the midway point of the 2023 season, the Chargers QB had only made one Pro Bowl and barely had a winning record as a starter.
Still, Herbert has a cannon for an arm and he’s exceeded expectations since becoming the No. 6 overall pick in 2020 out of Oregon.
He just needs to win a few big playoff games to justify more than $260m in promised cash.
Maybe new head coach Jim Harbaugh can get the best out of Herbert in the pros after leaving Michigan behind.
10
Contract: $262m total, $52m AAV
Tied-2. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Seeing Lawrence’s name this high on the list might stun some NFL fans.
He’s undoubtedly talented and has long-term franchise QB potential.
But Lawrence still hasn’t delivered on his college Clemson hype and the Jaguars disappointed last season.
Through 50 NFL games, the No. 1 overall pick in 2021 is only 20-30 as a starter.
He’s also completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 11,770 yards, 58 touchdowns and 39 interceptions, while finishing seventh in MVP voting in 2022.
Now, Lawrence plays in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, with C.J. Stroud leading the Houston Texans in the AFC South.
10
Contract: $275m total, $55m AAV
T-2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
No one tops Joe Cool when it comes to AAV.
The modern face of the Bengals is averaging a whopping $55m a year, which is tied with Lawrence and Love for the most in the NFL, and set a new record when Burrow signed his life-changing contract in September 2023.
The deal featured a $40m signing bonus and more than $146m guaranteed at signing.
After leading LSU to a perfect season, the former Ohio high school star became the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Burrow has already been to the Super Bowl and has become one of the main AFC rivals for Mahomes.
10
Contract: $275m total, $55m AAV
1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
The next Tom Brady is being paid more than Brady ever was.
Mahomes has the largest total QB contract in the NFL, even though his contract became more team friendly when the three-time Super Bowl winner restructured his deal.
Mahomes gave Kansas City $21.6 million in salary cap space for the start of the 2024 league season.
The three-time Super Bowl champion has been promised $450m for 10 years, which means that Mahomes is likely a Chief for life.
Mahomes has made six Pro Bowls, been selected to two All-Pro teams and won three Super Bowl MVPs.
It’s an impressive résumé for a QB who was doubted coming out of college, lasted until the 10th pick of the 2017 draft, and could have played Major League Baseball.
Mahomes has been Showtime for the Chiefs.
He’s changed the future of the NFL and there’s a reason Kansas City has already promised Mahomes almost half a billion dollars.
Contract: $450m total, $45m AAV
