Russell Wilson will be staying in Seattle for a long while after working out a mega-contract with the Seahawks. Through Spotrac.com, a look at the current contracts of some of the top quarterbacks.
20. Tom Brady
The New England Patriots’ great is heading into the final year of his current deal. The two-year contract is collectively worth $30 million. Of course, Tom Brady has been quite flexible when it comes to reworking his contracts to help the Patriots add strength and players to their roster.
19. Sam Darnold
Hard to believe the Jets’ second-year QB has an overall richer deal than Tom Brady, but he does … for now. His rookie deal was for $30.247M, which translates to about $7.5 million per season until he could become a free agent in 2023.
18. Baker Mayfield
By virtue of being the No. 1 overall pick, as opposed to Darnold who went third, Mayfield has a slightly richer deal. The Cleveland Browns signed the former Oklahoma star to a contract that calls for $32.6 million over its length. Like Darnold, he could become a free agent in 2023. That doesn’t prevent the Browns from reworking the deal sometime prior to its conclusion.
17. Drew Brees
Like Brady, Drew Brees is on a two-year contract that expires after the upcoming season. The overall value is $50 million for a nice split of $25 million per.
16. Joe Flacco
The Denver Broncos’ new quarterback brings with him a contract that was worked out with the Baltimore Ravens. The three-year deal is worth more than $66 million. Flacco, who is 34, would not be looking at free agency until 2022.
15. Philip Rivers
The longtime Chargers great is in the final season of a four-year deal worth $83.25 million. That translates to $20.8M per season. Will be interesting to see how Rivers’ free agency plays out in 2020.
14. Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins turned down more money from the New York Jets to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. His first season in purple was full of potholes and speed bumps. The $84 million man has a three-year deal that would leave him a free agent in the summer of 2021.
13. Eli Manning
Hard to imagine a QB who takes more grief and is appreciated less by his team’s fans than Eli Manning. At least Giants brass supports their quarterback, who is in the final season of a four-year contract worth $84 million.
12. Ben Roethlisberger
At age 37, Ben Roethlisberger is heading into the final season of a four-year contract worth $87.4 million. That’s a lot of dough to offset the criticism and dysfunction gripping the Steelers’ organization.
11. Nick Foles
Nick Foles has traded the greener pastures of Philadelphia for Jacksonville. The Jaguars are hoping the QB with the magic playoff touch can right a tilted and struggling ship. They gave Foles a four-year contract worth $88 million. That’s a lot of faith to put in a “backup QB.”
10. Alex Smith
Alex Smith is on the sidelines after a horrific leg injury suffered in 2018. One of the more consistent quarterbacks around, Smith is working on a four-year contract worth $94 million. He’s 34 and wouldn’t be a free agent until 2023. The bigger question is will he regain his health and be able to return to Washington. Money can’t buy health so let’s hope his recuperation is swift and successful.
9. Andy Dalton
The Bengals have a new coach in Zac Taylor. They still have Andy Dalton under contract as their quarterback. His six-year, $96 million deal runs until the summer of 2021. Will be interesting to see if the new regime sticks with the old quarterback or looks to the future … quickly.
8. Cam Newton
Cam Newton is a big man with a big contract. He’s playing on a five-year, $103.8 million deal that runs until the summer of 2021. Newton would be looking at a second mega-deal when that time comes. Will it be with Carolina or will they split and will the former Auburn star wind up elsewhere?
7. Andrew Luck
Andrew Luck shook the doubters in a big way in 2018. After missing the previous season, the Indianapolis Colts’ QB was dominant again. At 29, he’s playing through a five-year, $122.9 million contract that runs through the 2021 season.
6. Derek Carr
The Raiders have struggled and flopped. Jon Gruden is the savior who is supposed to turn the team around. Will he stick with Derek Carr, who is in the midst of a five-year, $125 million contract? Carr is guaranteed better than $70 million. Hard to imagine he will be guaranteed the starting job if things don’t get brighter for Oakland — soon.
5. Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers got a sweet and rich deal from the Green Bay Packers. He is playing on a four-year contract worth $134 million. The guarantees are around $98.7M. Rodgers is currently 35 and is locked in until the summer of 2024.
4. Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford hasn’t delivered the Detroit Lions to the promised land. However, the Lions have faith in the former Georgia star to the tune of a five-year, $135M contract that runs through the 2022 season. Stafford is guaranteed $92M. Imagine his value if the Lions somehow won a Super Bowl? Or a playoff game!
3. Jimmy Garoppolo
The San Francisco 49ers have to hope that Jimmy Garoppolo gets healthy and stays healthy when he returns for 2019. They are heavily invested in the quarterback to the tune of five years and $137.5M. Garoppolo is guaranteed $74M in the contract that would expire after the 2022 season.
2. Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson set a deadline for the Seahawks and they responded with a sweet new contract. The terms are four years for $140M with “practical guarantees” of $107M. He’s locked in now until the summer of 2024.
1. Matt Ryan
The total value of the contract for the Atlanta Falcons’ QB tops Russell Wilson’s. Ryan has a five-year deal for $150 million, which equates to a tidy $30 million per season. He is locked in until after the 2023 season. Of course, Wilson’s new deal is richer per season but Ryan won’t be struggling or begrudge his fellow QB.
