Is the NFL QB market getting out of hand or is the class of 2020 just that good? The top quarterbacks from the 2020 NFL Draft class have secured eye opening extensions in less than 16 months. Five QBs have collectively surpassed $1.2 billion in salary. The latest deals included Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love joining the ranks of high-paid quarterbacks. Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert, Love, and Tagovalioa have a combined 139- 97-1 regular season record. Hurts and Burrow each have made it to the playoffs. Tagovalioa has led the Dolphins to back playoff appearances, Love won beat the Cowboys in his playoff debut, while Herbert lost his only appearance.
Photo Cred: First Sportz
Joe Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick was the first to sign a big contract with a historic five-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. His deal was worth $275 million with a $40 million signing bonus. It became the richest contract for a quarterback at that time. Shortly the Los Angeles Chargers extended a five-year, $262.5 million contract to Justin Herbert. He was the No. 6 pick. Of all the quarterbacks he has the least success with a 30-32 record and playoff lost in one appearance. It begs the question are quarterbacks being overvalued based on the position or are they really that good?
Jalen Hurts was selected 53rd overall in the second round, he was the first of the elite 2020 group to receive a major extension. The Philadelphia Eagles rewarded Hurts with a five-year, $255 million contract after he led the team to a Super Bowl appearance. After a down year some were worried the Eagles jumped the gun on paying Hurts a big contract.
The recent extensions for Tagovailoa and Love cap off a series of high-profile contracts that highlight the significant investments teams are making in their young quarterbacks. Tagovailoa to new 4-year, $212M contract extension. In 2022, he became the youngest NFL quarterback to lead the league in passer rating (105.5) since Dan Marino in 1984. Green Bay is signing Love to a four-year, $220 million contract extension that puts him in a tie for the highest-paid player in NFL history.
Photo Cred: Clutch Points
History has shown us that QBs make that make a little less tend to win championships. Only three of the top 10 paid QBs have made the Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes makes $45 million a year. Mahomes is ranked 11th. It shows how the QB market has skyrocked in just a few years.
