Mahomes, Cousins and Mariota, principal characters in ‘Quarterback’ on Netflix: how much are they paid?

Having been released to rave reviews, Netflix’s ‘Quarterback’ is quickly racking up the viewership numbers with fans already calling for a second season. With that in mind, here’s a look at just what the quarterback’s role is and why the position is so critical to the game we all love.

What does a quarterback do?

If you ask Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning, who also happens to be the executive producer of Netflix’s new docuseries ‘Quarterback’, he will tell you that, “You have to know everybody else’s job just as well as your own.” Indeed, as the player who receives the snap at the start of every play, the QB is both judge and jury so to speak. Aside from knowing what each teammate is doing on any given play, the man in the middle also has to be aware of all plays that could potentially be called. From analyzing what the opposing defense is doing on every play, to what they aren’t and that’s before they get the ball in their hands.

Once that occurs, quarterbacks are now charged with moving the ball downfield as quickly as possible either by dishing it to a running back, passing to a receiver, or rushing for yards themselves, all the while doing their best to avoid turning the ball over by fumble or interception. Then, there’s off the field responsibilities as well i.e., QBs are expected to lead the locker room, while essentially taking on the role of face of the franchise. Truthfully the buck starts and stops with them. Needless to say, they are well compensated for their troubles, but how much are we talking?

A look at Cousins, Mahomes & Mariota the stars of ‘Quarterback’

As you probably know by now, ‘Quarterback follows the lives of three quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota. That’s to say, fans will get a look into what makes each of these men tick from both a sporting and personal point of view. To be clear, the series marks the first time that the NFL has allowed their quarterbacks to wear microphones for each and every game of the season. Where Mahomes specifically is concerned, the Chiefs star has since spoken at length about the journey he took during filming, which included the crew being present at family gatherings, as well as the culmination of the season, a Super Bowl win against the Philadelphia Eagles. Other notable highlights will be Cousins’ infamous comeback, as well as Mariota claiming the coveted starting spot with the Atlanta Falcons. As for what each man earns, we’ll be covering their salaries alone but keep in mind these guys normally earn tons in endorsements as well.

Kirk Cousins

The comeback kid. Last season, Cousins signed a 1 year, $35,000,000 contract with the Minnesota Vikings, including a $25,000,000 signing bonus, and $35,000,000 guaranteed. What that means is that in 2023 Cousins will earn a base salary of $10,000,000 and a restructure bonus of $20,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $20,250,000 and a dead cap value of $48,750,000.

Patrick Mahomes

As you probably know, Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, $450,000,000 contract with the Kansas City Chiefs is the biggest in league history. It includes a $10,000,000 signing bonus, $141,481,905 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $45,000,000. In keeping with this, Mahomes will earn a base salary of $5,500,000 in 2023, a roster bonus of $22,400,000, a restructure bonus of $12,000,000 and a workout bonus of $550,000, while carrying a cap hit of $39,693,381 and a dead cap value of $134,330,143.

Marcus Mariota

Having proven his worth in Atlanta, Marcus Mariota recently signed a 1 year, $5,000,000 contract with Super Bowl runner-up, the Philadelphia Eagles. It included a $3,835,000 signing bonus, $5,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $5,000,000. In 2023, Mariota will earn a base salary of $1,165,000 and a signing bonus of $3,835,000, while carrying a cap hit of $1,932,000 and a dead cap value of $5,000,000.

*All figures provided by Spotrac*