The NFL quarterback pay scale is moving along very quickly, and we’re likely three or four years away from having a signal-caller make upwards of $100 million per season. When Howie Roseman signed Jalen Hurts to a five-year, $255 million deal, it was thought to have been a team-friendly deal, and the assumption was that it would become a bargain signing once players like Trevor Lawrence, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert signed their new deals.
Since Hurts signed his deal, five quarterbacks have signed contracts worth $53 million per season or more, and a new standard was set after Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love signed massive contract extensions on Friday.
Tagovailoa started things off when he and the Dolphins agreed to a four-year, $212.4 million extension, the largest in franchise history, his agency told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
The $53.1 million average annual value of the contract briefly placed Tagovailoa third among the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks, behind the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence and Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, before the Green Bay Packers and Jordan Love reached an agreement on a deal hours later that matched Lawrence and Burrow at $55 million in average per year.
Love’s new deal is a four-year, $220 million contract that keeps him tied to Green Bay until 2028.
The $55 million average per year matches Lawrence and Burrow for the highest in league history. The deal, negotiated by David Mulugheta and Andrew Kessler of Athletes First, also includes a record $75 million signing bonus and $155 million in new full guarantees.
With those two moves now official, here are the ten highest-paid signal callers in the NFL based on average per season via Over The Cap.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their football game on Sunday, December 17, 2023, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay Wis. Tampa Bay defeated Green Bay 34-20.
Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) eyes Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) while he runs a route in the fourth quarter during a Week 9 NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
Oct 22, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill (not pictured) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff scrambles during a play against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024.
Jul 26, 2023; Costa Mesa, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws the ball as quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier watches during training camp at Jack Hammett Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 17: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball to Justice Hill #43 during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images)
May 30, 2024; Philadelphia, PA, USA;Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws the ball at practice at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) snaps the ball Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
$46. 1 million per season
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 12: Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
Dec 10, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass as Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd (56) defends during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
