Top 10 Largest Deals Signed By s Quarterback in NFL History

The NFL rewards the players in its most prestigious position with endorsements, fame, and seemingly endless amounts of money. 

It often seems like a new multiple-figure quarterback contract comes about every week. And as league revenue increases, these numbers are also going to keep increasing.

Many of the league’s top-earning quarterbacks have greatly influenced NFL betting and have also changed the shape of the NFL for good. With the 2022 season quickly approaching, it’s a great time to take a look at the largest quarterback deals that have occurred in the off-season in recent years.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Contract: 10 years, $450 million ($63.08 million guaranteed)

Salary: $45 million

Mahomes laps the field thanks to the huge 10-year deal he signed with the Chiefs before the 2020-2021 football season. He was the consensus best quarterback in the NFL league aged 24 after winning the championship. He earned so much in this deal that he managed to become a minority stakeholder in the Kansas City Royals.

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Contract: 4 years, $200 million ($153 million guaranteed)

Salary: $50 million 

The future Hall of Famer agreed to the largest quarterback contract in NFL history with an estimated $50 million annual salary with an impressive $153 million guaranteed. The quarterback is worth every single penny. 

3. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Contract: 5 years, $230.5 million ($160 million guaranteed)

Salary: $46.1 million AAV

There was some debate about whether the Cardinals would be willing to commit to signing Kyler Murray. However, in 2022, the team stepped up to ensure the franchise quarterback remained. The contract carries a total of $6.1 million AAV which puts him slightly ahead of Deshaun Watson. His fully guaranteed contract is unlike that of any other QB. 

4. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns 

Contract: 5 years, $230 million ($230 million guaranteed)

Salary: $46 million (in 2022)

Only months after signing a lucrative deal with the Texans, Watson requested a trade. He was dealt to the Cleveland Browns in an impressive blockbuster trade. At only 26 years old, Watson remains one of the greatest QB talents in the NFL. Depending on the outcome of a potential suspension, Watson should return to the field in 2022.

5. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Contract: 6 years, $258.03 million ($100 million guaranteed)

Salary: $43 million

The Bills were met with a little bit of apprehension after taking on Allen with the seventh overall pick during the 2018 NFL Draft. He later developed into one of the greatest quarterbacks in the entire league! As a result of his success, Allen went on to sign this massive deal back in August 2021. 

6. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders

Contract: 3 years, $121.5 million ($24.9 million guaranteed) 

Salary: $40.5 million average annual salary

Carr’s extension with the Raiders runs through to the 2025 season and includes an elusive no-trade clause, showing the Raiders’ full commitment to having him on the team. The deal puts Carr a little bit over the threshold for overall quarterback negotiations – which stands at a figure of around $40 million.

7. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Contract: 4 years, $160 million ($135 million guaranteed)

Salary: $40 million

The Rams didn’t need to wait very long for their big trade for Stafford to begin paying off. This is because he led the team to an impressive Super Bowl victory during his first year with the Rams. After 12 impressive seasons in Detroit, his four-year, $160 million extension with the Rams covers him through to the 2026 season.

8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Contract: 4 years, $160 million ($95 million guaranteed)

Salary: $40 million

Dak Prescott had to wait until the third day of the 2016 NFL Draft to hear his name called. The wait was more than worth it and he quickly became an elite QB for the Cowboys. He signed a huge $160 million contract extension with the Cowboys in the last offseason despite suffering a horrendous ankle injury the season before. 

9. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

Contract: 4 years, $140 million ($70 million guaranteed)

Signing Bonus: $65 million

Salary: $35 million

The best word to describe this contract? Shocking. Since appearing on the scene in 2012, he has established himself as one of the better QBs in the modern NFL. This blockbuster trade saw Russell traded from Seattle to the contending team of the Broncos after major struggles last season.

10. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Contract: 2 years, $66 million ($31 million guaranteed)

Salary: $35 million 

Many considered this recent deal as overpaying but with the NFL QB market constantly resetting itself, this is no longer the case. Minnesota has re-committed itself to Cousins for an additional two seasons with his contract now extending through to 2023.

Summary

These are the top ten largest deals signed by a quarterback in recent history. Many of these deals have occurred within the last couple of years as player rewards and overall pay have increased to astronomical levels. Now, it’s perfectly normal for an annual QB salary to range over $40 million!

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