It only took Jalen Hurts three seasons and being an NFL MVP candidate in 2022 to land him the richest contract in league history.
Jalen Hurts has far exceeded all of the Philadelphia Eagles’ expectations after being taken late in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In just three years, the 24-year-old has gone from prospect, to newbie starting quarterback, to one of the best signal-callers in the game. It is a stunning ascension that the NFC East champions are rewarding early before the MVP candidate can ever get near NFL free agency.
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On Mondy morning, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter was one of the first to report that Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles have finalized a long-rumored contract extension that is the biggest in league history.
“Eagles and Jalen Hurts reached agreement on a five-year, $255 million extension, including $179.304 million guaranteed, per source. Hurts becomes the highest-paid player in NFL history.”
– Adam Schefter
Jalen Hurts stats (2022): 4,461 total yards, 335 total TD, 6 INT, 101.5 rating
There have been rumblings for weeks that the Eagles and Hurts’ representation were in negotiations on a long-term extension that will keep him in Philadelphia through the rest of the decade. What is most notable about the deal is the $179 million in guaranteed money. It is a head-turner, obviously, because of the massive amount but also because it means that Deshaun Watson is still the only player to land a completely guaranteed long-term contract from an NFL team in the modern era.
The record-breaking deal that surpasses Watson’s in total potential money, and has a greater annual average than the deal Aaron Rodgers signed in 2022 is sure to help set the market this offseason. Cincinnati Bengals franchise QB Joe Burrow is also expected to get an extension in the coming months and this will now certainly set the starting point for that pact.
Also of note, is the influence the contract could have on negotiations between Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. If neither Hurts nor Burrow land completely guaranteed deals, it could further hurt Jackson’s leverage to get the guarantees he reportedly wants.
Jalen Hurts led the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl earlier this year and just fell short in a highly competitive tilt against 2022 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. This past season he earned his first Pro Bowl honors and was a finalist for the most valuable players award.