Who’s the best quarterback in the NFL today? That’s a rhetorical question. The only realistic answer is Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. He’s won two of the past four Super Bowls and, at 27, won’t be tapering off in talent any time soon.
Yet, amazingly, Mahomes isn’t the highest-paid or even the second-highest-paid QB in the NFL today. One could argue, despite Mahomes being signed to a ten-year, $450 million contract, that he’s one of the most underpaid players in the NFL right now.
The reason is, winning a Super Bowl is nearly invaluable, and Mahomes has already accomplished this feat twice in just five seasons as a starter. His value cannot be measured.
While Mahomes currently sits as the seventh-highest-paid QB in the NFL, his placement outside of the top five isn’t expected to last. In fact, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Mahomes will likely reset the QB market before Week 1 of the 2023 season kicks off.
This should come as no surprise, as the Chiefs look to do right by their franchise icon. Yet, negotiating a contract that recognizes Mahomes as the NFL’s highest-paid player of all-time comes with some difficulties.
Obviously, the actual dollar amount is astonishing, but we’re instead referring to the fact that both Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Los Angeles’ Justin Herbert are also likely looking at their first NFL contract extensions this offseason. Chances are, the Chiefs will want to wait for both teams to lock in their face of the franchise before re-negotiating with Mahomes, just to ensure the two-time MVP stays on top of the game with the largest contract in NFL history.
For reference, the recently signed contract by 2018 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson at five years, $260 million, or $52M per season, currently leads all other players. Expect Mahomes’ figure to come in even higher than the Baltimore Ravens’ dual-threat superstar. For now, Mahomes is signed through 2031, or his age-36 season. But we could soon see a slight adjustment to his original agreement. One that allows Mahomes to break a new NFL record, once again.
Related: Highest paid NFL players in 2023: NFL salaries by position, highest-paid NFL stars