Top 15 QB salaries in NFL after Tua Tagovailoa extension

July 27, 2024

There’s a big difference in feeling sorry for multimillionaires and understanding they may not be getting paid what they deserve. Dak Prescott has made a ridiculous sum of money, well deserved money, over the course of his eight-year career. But in the NFL, there is an ecosystem of being able to re-negotiate deals when they’ve been outplayed that is countered by all 32 clubs willingness to cancel contracts of players who underperform.

Prescott is actually not in either boat. He has played through 75% of his current, signed ahead of the 2021 season, and has exuded the performances expected of him when he signed for an average of $40 million a season. Now entering the final year of his deal, one that he negotiated to include both a no-trade and a no-franchise tag clause, it behooves the club to extend him rather than let him hit free agency.

Fans don’t know what each side is looking for, but clearly Prescott wants to get top of the market money and guarantees and likely on a shorter deal that allows him to cash in once again and the team wants… well, who knows.

The team could want a long deal to try and delay a potential next negotiation. Or the team, unhappy with their inability to advance in the playoffs could want a short deal to avoid locking in a leader who hasn’t delivered the desired Super Bowl.

And while the two sides dance, the rest of the quarterbacks in the league are securing deals that keep pushing Prescott further and further down the list of top salaries at the position and providing him with even more data points to support his argument.

The most recent point was added on Friday, when the Miami Dolphins inked Tua Tagovailoa to his new deal, the most expensive four-year extension in league history, as it’s been announced. Tagovailoa has serious injury concerns with a history of violent concussions, so the guarantee and incentive structure will be telling when it’s released, but on the surface his deal averages $53 million a season.

Tagovailoa is now the third quarterback who most would consider inferior to Prescott to have signed for an average salary of $53 million or more this offseason.

Here’s a look at the top 15 current quarterback salaries, which doesn’t include Green Bay’s Jordan Love, who is holding in and expects to sign a new deal any moment and join this list. All contract details are courtesy of OverTheCap and ties in average salary are broken by total guaranteed money.

1

Bengals Joe Burrow

Sep 18, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $55 million
Contract Ends: 2030
Fully Guaranteed: $146.5 million

2

Jaguars Trevor Lawrence

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) gets up after a late second quarter sack on Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16). The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Dallas Cowboys at TIAA Bank Field Sunday, December 18, 2022. The Jaguars trailed 21 to 7 at the half. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]

Jki 121822 Bs Jaguars Vs C 11

Average Salary: $55 million
Contract Ends: 2031
Fully Guaranteed: $142 million

3

Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa

Dec 31, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $53.1 million
Contract Ends: 2028
Fully Guaranteed: $ unknown ($167 million in total guarantees)

4

Lions Jared Goff

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 23: Micah Parsons #11 of the Dallas Cowboys tackles Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Average Salary: $53 million
Contract Ends: 2029
Fully Guaranteed: $113 million+

5

Chargers Justin Herbert

Sep 19, 2021; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass while pressured by Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) during the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $52.5 million
Contract Ends: 2030
Fully Guaranteed: $133 million+

6

Ravens Lamar Jackson

Sep 24, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) reacts when a fourth down play is reviewed on the jumbotron during overt time against the Indianapolis Colts at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $52 million
Contract Ends: 2028
Fully Guaranteed: $135 million

7

Eagles Jalen Hurts

Dec 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) fumbles as he is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $51 million
Contract Ends: 2029
Fully Guaranteed: $110 million

8

Cardinals Kyler Murray

Jan 2, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is hit as he throws a pass in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $46.1 million
Contract Ends: 2029
Fully Guaranteed: $103.3 million

9

Browns Deshaun Watson

Nov 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) walks to the sidelines during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $46 million
Contract Ends: 2027
Fully Guaranteed: $230 million

10

Falcons Kirk Cousins

Jul 25, 2024; Buford, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) talks to the media on the first day of training camp at Falcons Training Camp. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $45 million
Contract Ends: 2028
Fully Guaranteed: $90 million

11

Chiefs Patrick Mahomes

Nov 7, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $45 million
Contract Ends: 2032
Fully Guaranteed: $63 million+

12

Bills Josh Allen

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 17: Damone Clark #33 of the Dallas Cowboys tackles Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)

Average Salary: $43 million
Contract Ends: 2029
Fully Guaranteed: $100 million

13

Rams Matthew Stafford

Oct 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $40 million
Contract Ends: 2027
Fully Guaranteed: $63 million

14

Cowboys Dak Prescott

Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) reacts after a play against the Green Bay Packers during the second half for the 2024 NFC wild card game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $40 million
Contract Ends: 2025
Fully Guaranteed: $95 million

15

Giants Daniel Jones

Sep 10, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Average Salary: $40 million
Contract Ends: 2027
Fully Guaranteed: $81 million

Cowboys Dak Prescott, runner-up MVP, down to 14th in QB average salary