NFL’s new second-highest-paid player, plus: Next QBs to cash in?

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In Week 1, Tom Brady will debut as the highest-paid broadcaster in NFL history when the Browns face the Cowboys, who beat him in his last game.

More schedule teases, ahead of tomorrow night’s full release: We’ll see Aaron Rodgers in San Fran to open Monday Night Football, and the Chiefs host the Bengals in Week 2. I can’t wait for this season.

Today’s NFL update:

💰 Jared Goff secures it
💵 Top-dollar DB
📈 Quarterback inflation
👀 32 players to watch

Another Detroit Payday: Jared Goff gets his mega-deal

Yesterday, the Lions and QB Jared Goff agreed to a four-year contract extension worth up to $212 million, with $170 million guaranteed. It makes Goff the highest-paid player in franchise history while keeping the 29-year-old in Detroit for at least the next few seasons.

Last year, Goff was second in the NFL in passing yards (4,575) and fourth in touchdown passes (30) while recording a career-high completion percentage (67.3). Most importantly, he helped the Lions win a division title for the first time in 30 years, finishing just 30 minutes short of a Super Bowl appearance.

“You’re good enough for f—ing Detroit, Jared Goff,” said Dan Campbell after the Lions’ first playoff win since 1992. Just three years prior, the Rams traded not just Goff, but also first-round picks and a third-round pick, to Detroit for Matthew Stafford.

Despite outside noise, the Lions believed in Goff. It’s paid off. Since 2021, Goff has thrown for the seventh-most yards (12,258) and eighth-most touchdowns (80) of any QB in the NFL, ranking higher than Stafford (who ranks 13th and ninth, respectively) in those categories. Stafford, 36, missed time during that stretch, but did win a Super Bowl. Is this what a win-win looks like?

Today, Goff has the NFL’s second-largest average salary (behind Joe Burrow) and joins receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and tackle Penei Sewell in the Lions’ $444M core. But Goff was the not the only player to receive a massive payday yesterday. Dianna has the story.

What Dianna’s Hearing: Meet the NFL’s highest-paid DB

Yesterday, the Buccaneers and 25-year-old safety Antoine Winfield Jr. agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $84.1M, with $45M guaranteed.

This comes after the Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on him in March, as the team and player “were too far apart” to get a deal done.

Taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Winfield earned a first-team All-Pro distinction in 2023 after leading the NFL in forced fumbles (six). As Larry Holder noted, Winfield was also the No. 1 safety and No. 2 defensive back last season in “Total Points Saved,” via Sports Info Solutions. If you’re interested in more on Winfield, this 2022 article on The Athletic covers an offseason day in his life.

Elsewhere, the Bills are signing former Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, including a $1.125 million signing bonus, per sources.

Back to you, Jacob.

How High? Quarterback inflation continues

Goff’s new deal will pay him an annual average of $53M, a number that would be 20.7 percent of this year’s $255.4 million cap.

In 1994, the NFL introduced the salary cap. Back then, the quarterback with the largest cap hit was Steve Young, whose $4.5M took up 13 percent of the 49ers’ space. Ten years later, Brett Favre’s $9.5M cap hit in 2004 covered a nearly identical percentage of Green Bay’s. In 2014, Eli Manning’s $20.4M cap hit claimed 15 percent of the Giants’ cap space.

Today, Deshaun Watson’s current 2024 cap hit is $63.7M, nearly 25 percent of the Browns’ cap. Though this will be reduced through voidable years, we could soon see over half the league’s QBs on deals worth 15-plus percent of the cap.

Yes, expect the quarterback inflation to continue. As Jeff Howe writes, a new wave of massive QB contracts is on the horizon thanks to Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa, who are seeking nine-figure deals. And Dak Prescott is amid discussions for a big-money extension.

Josh Allen could also join the mix, despite signing a six-year, $258M contract in 2021. His $43M average salary looks like a steal today, showing that it pays to pay your quarterback early. That’s called a hint, Jerry Jones …

QB pay goes deeper than the salary cap. As the above chart illustrates, teams are increasingly willing to shell out higher percentages of their caps for signal callers.
Quarterbacks can thank Patrick Mahomes, who proved you can win with a highly paid QB when he broke Young’s 1994 record for the biggest cap hit by a Super Bowl-winning QB (17.2 percent for Mahomes in 2023, 13.1 percent for Young).

If Lawrence, Love and Tagovailoa see new contracts this year, expect 19 quarterbacks making at least $30 million annually. Jeff has more on what each QB could command in this market.

32 Players to Watch: One promising sophomore

Open organized team activities (OTAs) begin this week for the Falcons and Commanders, with the remaining teams joining as early as May 20. In Mike Jones’ review of 32 players to watch at these offseason workouts, he includes Anthony Richardson.

The Colts’ second-year quarterback saw his rookie season end after just four games due to a shoulder injury. With his rehab ongoing (he resumed throwing this spring), expect him to train on the side of offseason practices as the Colts exercise caution.

“We’ll see if he can talk his way fully back into the mix by the time minicamp rolls around,” writes Mike. If not, I expect backup QB Joe Flacco to be ready.

Around the NFL

Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson was spotted participating in offseason drills on Monday. Despite a trade request and wishes for a long-term extension, it appears Hendrickson is joining Phase II of the Bengals offseason.

David Andrews, the most veteran player on the Patriots, admitted that “It’s kind of like being part of a new organization — but not,”as new HC Jerod Mayo is doing things his way. “Do your job” is out, replaced by “Process. Progress. Payoff.”

Matt Barrows spoke with 49ers director of player personnel Tariq Ahmad to get insight on every member of the team’s draft class.

Who is most important to the Chargers’ success in 2024? Daniel Popper counts down 10 through 1. No. 2, safety Derwin James: “Over three years playing in Brandon Staley’s defense, we saw James’ confidence and swagger slowly deteriorate. To me, this was the worst transgression of the Staley era.”

Alec Lewis spoke to Vikings draftee J.J. McCarthy’s private QB coach, who previously said, “The very same things that made Mike Shanahan like Jay Cutler and take him as a first-rounder are going to be some of the things people in this tree will see when [McCarthy] comes out of college.”

Sean Payton is ready for the new kickoff rules, something he calls a “completely different play.” Having Pro Bowl returner Marvin Mims Jr. was “a good reason to like” the rule. Nick Kosmider has more on the Broncos’ approach.

Jacob’s Picks

📕 Remembering Chris Mortensen, who changed how the NFL is covered. Zak Keefer shares a touching tribute. (The Athletic)

📺 Rookie minicamp highlights, shared by the NFL’s social media team. (YouTube)

🎙 Building a dynasty. A podcast covering the 15 non-QB players you’d most want to build a team around for the next three years, with Derrik Klassen and Diante Lee joining Robert Mays. (The Athletic Football Show)

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(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)