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.
