Since Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year extension during the 2020 offseason, the quarterback market has skyrocketed. However, despite QBs now commanding well contracts well past the $50MM-per-year place, none of the other early- and mid-2020s extension recipients have followed the three-time Super Bowl champion in terms of contract length. Though, one of Mahomes’ top rivals has come closest.
Josh Allen signed a six-year, $258MM extension in summer 2021. The superstar Bills QB is the only non-Mahomes passer to have signed for more than five years since the Chiefs icon’s pact was finalized. The market has caught up with Allen, who was the NFL’s second-highest-paid passer when he signed the deal. He has since dropped to No. 13 on that list, with a Dak Prescott extension poised to further move the Buffalo franchise centerpiece down.
The Bills still have Allen signed through the 2028 season; his six-year re-up covers eight seasons in total due to the new years beginning after the dual threat’s fifth-year option season. Although less accomplished passers have since inked better contracts, the Bills do not yet have to worry about their starter forcing the issue.
“Listen, everyone’s going to have their day. I’m happy that everyone’s getting what they’re worth, right?” Allen said, via WIVB’s Jonah Bronstein. “And I think that as the game progresses and guys keep getting paid, the market is the market. I’ve got no problem with where I’m at right now. I had my day a couple years ago, and I’m sure someday I’ll have it again.”
This offseason brought four updates to the NFL’s expanding $50MM-per-year club. Jared Goff, Tua Tagovailoa, Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love each inked extensions worth between $53MM and $55MM per year. This came after the record-setting $30.6MM cap spike. Allen signed his deal during an offseason in which the cap decreased — due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on 2020 attendance — for just the second time. The other prominent passer from Allen’s draft class, Lamar Jackson, waited until 2023 to sign a new deal. Jackson’s $51MM-per-year deal effectively started the $50MM-AAV group, even though Aaron Rodgers — on a contract soon reworked — technically reached that point first.
Mahomes, who is still signed through 2031, is not part of the $50MM-per-year contingent. But the Chiefs adjusted the two-time MVP’s contract following last year’s round of QB extensions. The Chiefs moved money around in Mahomes’ contract, which now includes guarantees through the 2025 season. Allen’s contract features a fully guaranteed 2025 base salary ($14MM), but this is a situation to monitor.
Like Jackson, Allen may see his run-game usage impact his career longevity. Only Jackson and Cam Newton have logged more carries through six seasons among QBs than Allen, who has totaled 657. Although the Wyoming alum is only 28, it will be interesting to see if this component brings he and the team together on an adjustment in the not-too-distant future.
While Allen’s contract does not provide any leverage, he can certainly bring the Bills to the table at just about any point due to his importance to the team. For now, however, the Bills have arguably the biggest bargain — among non-rookie deals — in the NFL.
I love Josh Allen.
Pretty down to earth attitude. Nice to see.
I’m not a Bill’s fan BUT it’s great to see a player honoring his contract! Old school the way it should be! Kudos to JA!
lol. Let’s see how much he honors that contract after Dak gets silly money next year. Forcing the issue this year equals 50-something million. Simply waiting one year will easily make him a 60-something million average. He’s not dumb.
“Getting what they are worth” is a bit of an untruth. Where I live, a 2 bed, 1 bath that’s under 1000 square feet, built before WW2 goes for around a million dollars. Just because people are willing to pay it doesn’t mean it’s actually worth that much, objectively speaking. Regardless, it’s nice to see someone who isn’t a selfish spoiled brat once in a while.
If you consider how much revenue he drives for the people who pay him, then he’s absolutely worth more.
And in due time, he’ll receive more. The media making this an issue (player not unhappy he’s not making even more money) is what gives them such a bad name
He also plays for a team that just dramatically reset the roster in a clear move to transition toward the next team built around him. They have the second most dead money in football this year (no one was going to top Denver) and a tricky cap situation. He knows he’s not going anywhere and knows they’re committed to him.
To me that dramatic reset you speak of would indicate the front office believes the championship window has closed and a regression in Buffalo is about to take place. A regression of significant size or duration might not enhance Allen’s future market value to the degree he expects. Allen cashing in now while all the crazy money is being tossed around wouldn’t be a terrible idea. The future can be unpredictable and sooner or later the bubble is going to burst on the insane salaries being paid.
It’s not a bubble, at least not for the best quarterbacks. League revenues and the salary cap are much higher than ever. If they add another game, that will only be more true. I think people have enough common sense to notice that Allen is an inner circle elite QB as long as he stays healthy, even if his numbers or the team’s performance dip slightly with a roster in transition. I think it’s less about the window closing and more about churning out some players who are expensive and on the wrong side of 30 while eating their vegetables when it comes to the salary cap.
The NFL owners are already looking for ways to separate the QB salaries from the existing cap structure and they wouldn’t be doing that if they didn’t believe they are dealing with a bubble that is getting out of control.
A Bills reset will look a lot like a Chiefs reset, especially when the coaches and GM still need that ring.
Josh Allen rocks! Buffalo boy here, wouldn’t trade him for anyone. Not even Mahomes! He’s so perfect for Buffalo, he fits the city like a glove. And vice versa. We love him!
Must be waiting to see what they have in Ben DiNucci first…