According to a stunning report, the NFL is grappling with the escalating cost of quarterback contracts, which are reaching record-setting amounts even for relatively unproven players.
According to NFL Media, team owners have privately discussed the possibility of implementing a separate salary cap specifically for quarterbacks.
Tom Pelissero elaborated on “The Rich Eisen Show,” stating that owners are considering a cap to prevent quarterback salaries from exceeding a certain percentage of the overall team salary cap.
For example, Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals, who signed a contract extension in 2023, earns an average of $55 million per year.
This figure represents nearly 25% of the Bengals’ annual salary cap, leaving just 75% for the rest of the team’s roster.
One proposed solution is to adopt a model similar to the NBA’s system, which includes “max” and “supermax” contracts.
These restrictions limit the number of players a team can sign to a maximum dollar amount and cap the percentage of the salary cap that can be allocated to top-tier contracts.
However, Pelissero noted that this idea has not gained significant traction among NFL owners.
One reason is that many teams have already invested heavily in their quarterbacks, contributing to the soaring market value for the position.
The dilemma for NFL teams is whether to commit to increasingly expensive deals for quarterbacks who may not have proven their worth.
Opting not to sign a quarterback to a high-cost contract is easier said than done, given the risks associated with finding and developing a new quarterback.
A complete reset at the quarterback position is a significant gamble.
However, if owners are genuinely concerned about dedicating too much of their salary cap to a single player, it may be time for some teams to diverge from the norm and seek more cost-effective alternatives under center.
But again, that’s much easier said than done – especially when talking about the single-most important position in all of sports.
What are your thoughts on the report?
The salary cap keeps going up and up – which means all contracts (except for running backs) keep going up and up as well.
It’s only a matter of time before we have a quarterback ink a deal that will see him earn an average annual salary of $60+ million per year.
Should there be a “cap” on quarterback contracts? … Or would that be a terrible idea???