With his third regular season complete, Josh Allen is now eligible for what stands to be a monster extension. Despite an uncertain salary cap future, the Bills may be ready to check this key item off their to-do list this year.
The Bills are expected to approach Allen about an extension in the spring or summer, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link). Although a cap reduction is expected to occur for just the second time, Allen sits in prime position to become one of the highest-paid American athletes.
Allen’s 2020 season changed his career trajectory. The Bills saw their quarterback morph from an erratic passer into an MVP candidate, giving the franchise a true cornerstone quarterback for the first time since Jim Kelly‘s retirement. And after Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson finalized extensions last year, a new market emerged for superstar quarterbacks.
Allen has not been as consistent as the two 2017 draftees, but his dominant 2020 season — 45 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards accounted for — and value to the Bills will point to a deal that eclipses Watson’s $39MM-per-year contract. That pact serves as the ceiling for traditional NFL accords, with Mahomes’ $45MM-AAV deal remaining an outlier due to its 10-year length. As far as traditional QB contracts go, Watson is the only player earning more than $35MM annually.
With the 24-year-old passer under team control through 2022 — via the fifth-year option the Bills will exercise by May — the team will have some time to complete this process. But finalizing an extension in 2021 would stand to save the franchise some money, given where the quarterback market could be headed as the NFL’s long-term cap growth becomes a clearer reality.
id wait unless he’s not going to demand being paid as if each year he’ll put up 2020 numbers. I say this as someone who has watched Wentz since his extention.
Agreed. Either get paid based on all your years (preferred) or wait until next year (could get pricey).
the thing is if he wants to get paid like he’ll put up 2020 numbers every year then doing it again only makes the team more sure that its likely. as far as I’m concerned its dangerous to immediately throw money at the guy when he’s under contract for two more years anyway. he’s not going anywhere.
The difference here is that Howie extended Wentz knowing he had an OL that was regressing and in decline while the Bills will be extending Allen after having upgraded their OL ensuring he has good support around him.
The main difference is Carson Wentz is an injury prone, minimal armed, west coast style QB. He shouldn’t have ever been paid that much. Josh Allen is on a completely different planet in every way when comparing him to Carson Wentz.
Seems premature, unless they are trying to lock him up for a discount. 1 great season and 2 average at best seasons, not close to Watson or mahomes at this point
and that’s my point. if he takes a AAV near his average production’s value or even a bit higher, you pull the trigger, but if he wants an AAV equal to his 2020 production its a foolish move.
QB prices are absurd now anyway… See if he repeats 69% of his Completions again. Even the I’d probably go Franchise tag 2x. May end up being cheaper. So you’ll have him for 7 years. Can’t win with him in 7 years it’s unlikely to happen.
As a Bills, and huge Allen, fan, I hope he’s the type to take a little less to help the team grow lol.
Do whatever Brady did
When he played 4 the Pats