It’s no secret that for a team to succeed in the NFL, it has to have a talented quarterback manning the offense. And since the position has risen more in prominence, so does the price tag that comes along with it. As a result, Owners are now discussing what to do with the salary cap as the cost of signing quarterbacks is becoming high.
The skyrocketing value of top NFL quarterbacks shows no signs of slowing down. As the league’s most crucial position, teams are willing to invest extraordinary sums to lock up any quarterback they deem worthy, driven by a shortage of pro-ready prospects.
The league’s ever-increasing salary cap has enabled this trend, with the baseline for elite QB extensions now approaching $200 million in total value and $50 million in average annual pay. Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes may soon surpass even those lofty figures, while Cleveland Browns’ Deshaun Watson’s guarantees could remain the new standard.
Collectively, the league’s top 10 quarterbacks are set to earn over $2.3 billion on their current deals. Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow now leads the way, earning $55 million per year from the Bengals, one of five signal-callers making north of $50 million annually. Mahomes’ recent restructure has raised his annual haul to $52.65 million, a figure expected to rise further when he renegotiates in 2026.
As the quarterback remains the NFL’s most precious commodity, teams will continue breaking the bank to retain their franchise cornerstones, solidifying the position’s place atop the league’s financial hierarchy.
NFL Team Owners Discuss Salary Cap Amid Rising Quarterback Costs in the League
Due to the rising costs of quarterbacks in the NFL, team owners reportedly discussed the position’s salary cap. In an article posted on Bleacher Report, Timothy Rapp quotes NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on what these owners have discussed.
“NFL quarterback contracts have continued to increase in a major way over recent years, especially for stars at the position, consistently taking up more of an NFL team’s salary-cap room.
Whether that trend should continue, however, has become a topic of debate within NFL circles.
“There has certainly been discussion within the league among certain owners about even the idea of a quarterback cap, that at some point you don’t want quarterback numbers to go over a certain percentage of your salary cap,” NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said Tuesday during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (6:10 mark). “To my knowledge, that hasn’t really gained traction, in part because so many teams have paid their quarterbacks,” Rapp wrote.
As it stands, most of the top contracts in the NFL right now belong to quarterbacks. These include Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence, Burrow, and Justin Herbert, among others.
It remains to be seen whether the salary cap will be increased or it’ll remain the same. With the way QBs are performing for their teams, there’s no doubt the value of these guys will just become more important.
For More Of My Content
For More Of My Content Follow me on Twitter at @BeatKit22. You may also reach out to me personally at kitguinhawa@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and NFL news, click here!