The most common metric for comparing contracts is the so-called “new money” average. There are other ways to compare and contrast player deals.
For Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, the new average money of $55 million beats the current record of $52.5 million, set earlier this year by Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. Which barely beats Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s $52 million. Which barely beats Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ $51 million cap hit.
Being paid $45 million (which was the record three years ago) is the best quarterback in football, Patrick Mahomes.
Consider some other differences between Burrow’s deal and other quarterback contracts, according to a source with knowledge of the various details.
Burrow’s injury guarantee upon signing is $219 million. That number is: $93 million more than Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, $77.528 million more than Mahomes, $69 million more than Bills quarterback Josh Allen, $59 million more than Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, $39 million more than Hurts. , $34 million more than Jackson, and $25.27 million more than Herbert.
Burrow’s deal has a full guarantee at signing of $146.51 million. That’s $83.4 million more than Mahomes, $51.5 million more than Prescott, $46.5 million more than Allen, $43.2 million more than Murray, $36.5 million more than Hurts, and $12.7 million more. More than Herbert, and $11.5 million more than Jackson.
Burrow’s full guarantee by March of 2025 (the third year of the deal) is $55.7 million more than Prescott, $48.56 million more than Murray, $41.76 million more than Allen, $40.27 million more than Mahomes, and 24 $45 million more than Hurts, $24.02 million more than Herbert.
It is the best deal signed by any player in NFL history to date. And yes, it will eventually be surpassed. At some point, if Burrow continues to play as well as he has, he will set another high mark for all quarterbacks in the NFL.
