NFL
What did Patrick Mahomes say about Dak Prescott’s record-breaking contract with Cowboys?
Prescott’s new deal with the Cowboys makes him the highest-paid QB in NFL history, leaving three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes way down the list.
![Prescott’s new deal with the Cowboys makes him the highest-paid QB in NFL history, leaving three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes way down the list.](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/TJFRIBLLA44CKHA46I5HR766UM.jpg?auth=4dda218573e5c1dcdc695169b46884ffdb000a5c25e33d5b83bcb1d13edad09f&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
The Dallas Cowboys made quarterback Dak Prescott the highest-paid QB in the league on Sunday when they offered him a four-year, $240 million contract. For those unfamiliar with how things work in the league, it may seem unreasonable that a quarterback who’s starting his ninth NFL season and has never earned a Super Bowl title and has won just two playoff games in his career is earning more money than all the other QBs in the league.
That includes three-time Super Bowl champion, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes is currently on a 10-year, $450 million contract, earning him an average annual salary of $45 million. In comparison, Prescott is now making an annual average salary of $60 million.
What does Mahomes think of Prescott’s earnings?
It may seem insulting for a player like Mahomes to know that not just Prescott, but several quarterbacks who have not won the titles he has, are earning much more money than him in the league. However, in the NFL, at least as far as quarterbacks are concerned, it works like this - the next in line typically earns the most. Since Cowboys owner Jerry Jones dragged his feet on getting a deal done with Prescott until the last minute, he was the next in line.
Mahomes, for his part, takes no issue with the discrepancy.
“It’s all about pushing the game forward,” Mahomes said. “The NFL is bringing in a lot of money and I want guys all around the league to be able to take care of their families for a long time because they’re playing the same way.”
Mahomes also said that he’s satisfied with his current contract and earnings, despite the fact that the market continues to be re-set, making his contract more and more outdated each time. He is currently 12th on the list of highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
“I think we do a great job of managing my money, to be able to pay me a lot of money and keep a good team around me,” said Mahomes. “I know we’ve kind of restructured it a couple of times and got the cash flow up in certain spots and certain years. It’s about having a good dialogue, good communication with the front office, with ownership. We’ve done that here. And as we’ve been able to allow me to be a highly-paid guy while at the same time build a great team around me.”
Highest-paid NFL QBs 2024 (based on average annual salary)
- Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) – $60,000,000
- Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) – $55,000,000
- Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers) – $55,000,000
- Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) – $55,000,000
- Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) – $53,100,000
- Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) – $53,000,000
- Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers) – $52,500,000
- Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) – $52,000,000
- Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) – $51,000,000
- Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals) – $46,100,000
- Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns) – $46,000,000
- Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) – $45,000,000
- Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) – $45,000,000
- Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills) – $43,005,667
- Matthew Stafford $40,000,000