With league-wide revenue increasing, NFL contracts are about to blow up even more. It’s the nature of the beast in a league that is seeing its financial growth surpass anything we’ve seen in North American professional sports history.
We’ve already seen a ton of huge contracts handed out during the offseason. That includes Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts becoming the highest-paid player in NFL history. The expectation now is that extensions will be the name of the game as the league prepares for its annual draft and off-season programs.
From two young quarterbacks to a stud wide receiver and the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, here’s a look at six star players in line for huge contract extensions this offseason.
Related: Highest-paid NFL players of 2023
Nick Bosa, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers
One of the truly elite all-around players in the game, the 25-year-old Bosa is making a name for himself as a generational edge guy. Last season saw Bosa record 48 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss and a league-leading 18.5 sacks. The dude actually boasts an absurd 16.4% pressure rate since entering the league back in 2019. San Francisco’s brass knows full well that it has to extend the young pass rusher.
“I feel really confident. It’s hard for me. I want things done now. I always challenge that. Why can’t we? He wants to be here, we want him. Deadlines tend to drive these things, but our track record is — we get them done.”
49ers general manager John Lynch on Nick Bosa contract talks
Any extension this offseason would end up making Bosa the highest-paid defensive player in league history. That is to say more than the $31.67 million Aaron Donald is earning annually with the Los Angeles Rams.
In fact, Bosa could get a deal that will pay him the most for a non-quarterback in NFL history. Based on their recent track record with the likes of George Kittle, Fred Warner and Deebo Samuel, expect San Francisco to ink Bosa shortly before the start of training camp.
Projected Nick Bosa contract: 5 years, $160 million with $100 million guaranteed
Justin Herbert, quarterback, Los Angeles Chargers
- Justin Herbert career stats: 68.2% completion, 14,089 yards, 102 total TD, 35 INT
“Navigating this process, we have a very good relationship with his team. I’m confident that Justin Herbert is going to be our quarterback for a long time and that we’ll make sure that we get a deal done,” Chargers head coach Brandon Staley on Herbert contract talks.
It’s no surprise that Los Angeles is looking to sign Herbert to a massive contract extension. Time is of utmost importance with the aforementioned Hurts’ extension. In today’s NFL, you’d rather set the market than be reactionary. Hurts set said market.
Despite a down 2022 season (by his standards), Herbert is a legitimate franchise quarterback. He ups the level of his offense and makes big plays when it counts. He has all the tools to be a truly elite quarterback moving forward. He’s only 25 years of age. Why wouldn’t a team want to commit to that long-term?
Projected Justin Herbert contract: 5 years, $250 million with $140 million fully guaranteed
Related: Ranking the best NFL quarterbacks of 2023
Andrew Thomas, offensive tackle, New York Giants
How good was Thomas as a third-year player protecting Daniel Jones’ blindside? The former top-four pick out of Georgia gave up a total of 21 pressures in 16 starts. Twenty-one. He also committed zero false start or holding penalties in 1,050 offensive snaps. That’s absolutely insane stuff right there.
After committing to Jones on a long-term contract, it only makes sense for general manager Joe Schoen to lock up his franchise left tackle. It should also be done in short order with the offensive tackle market having already been reset due to Laremy Tunsil’s three-year, $75 million extension with the Houston Texans.
Projected Andrew Thomas contract: 4 years, $112 million with $80 million fully guaranteed
Patrick Queen, linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
At just 23 years old, Queen is already one of the leaders of a veteran-laden Ravens defense. He’s started all 50 games over the course of his first three NFL seasons, recording 28 tackles for loss, 27 quarterbak hits, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles and three interceptions. This past season also saw Queen yield a mere 83.1 QB rating when targeted.
Despite having signed fellow linebacker Roquan Smith to a massive contract extension recently, Baltimore needs to keep this pair together for the long term. As one of the best inside linebackers in the game today, Queen will get his. The fact that this former LSU star has not yet hit his prime adds another layer to that.
Projected Patrick Queen contract: 5 years, $100 million with $50 million total guaranteed
Justin Jefferson, wide receiver, Minnesota Vikings
Forget about the $28 million Davante Adams is earning with the Las Vegas Raiders. That top-of-the-market value is going to be a thing of the past once Minnesota opts to extend the record-breaking Jefferson later in the NFL offseason.
Still only 23 years old, Jefferson boasts the league mark for most receiving yards through three seasons (4,825). To put this into perspective, two all-time greats in Randy Moss (4,163) and Jerry Rice (3,575) pale in comparison. Last season alone, Jefferson led the NFL in receptions (128) and yards (1,809). He also dropped just five of 184 targets from Kirk Cousins. The dude was like playing Madden on rookie level and he’ll be paid like it.
Projected Justin Jefferson contract: 4 years, $128 million with $85 million fully guaranteed
Related: Highest-paid NFL quarterbacks of 2023
Joe Burrow, quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals
- Joe Burrow career stats: 68.2% completion, 11,764 yards, 82 TD, 31 INT, 100.4 QB rating
Burrow is going to end up shattering the NFL quarterback market even after the Hurts’ extension.
“I have a chance to talk to people now, they’re already saying Burrow is going to get 55., Joe Burrow is going to get $55 million, he might get $60 (million) by the time this all ends up,” report on Burrow’s potential contract.
It’s hard to find a fault in this preface. All the 26-year-old Burrow has done after a record-breaking career at LSU is lead the Bengals from irrelevance to championship contention. Cincinnati will be seen in that light as long as he’s under center in Ohio.
When it comes to players such as Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and a select few others, it’s about even more than what we see on the football field. Put it this way. The Bengals’ franchise value was set at $2 billion immediately before they selected Burrow in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Forbes’ latest estimation has them at $3 billion. This is not a coincidence.
Joe Burrow projected contract: 5 years, $285 million with $200 million fully guaranteed
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