Reportedly, when the 2023 NFL season starts, Mahomes will be the most paid player in the league.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2022 NFL MVP and soon-to-be sixth-year starter is known for setting the bar for quarterback play on the field. According to a rumor by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, he will soon do the same for quarterback contracts. When Mahomes agreed to a 12-year contract three years ago, the highest average yearly salary for a quarterback increased by around $10 million to $45 million.
Additionally, Mahomes is currently $7 million less than the highest-paid player in the league with the recent contract extensions of Baltimore Ravens signal-caller Lamar Jackson and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who both established new market standards. Before the 2023 season begins, Mahomes is predicted by Florio to reclaim his title as the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback and athlete.
Mahomes established a record the previous season for the most percentage of a team’s pay cap that the starting quarterback occupied. Following the Chiefs’ victory in Super Bowl LIV, Mahomes, still on his rookie deal, only accounted for 2.38 percent of the salary cap. Finding a balance between giving Mahomes a fair market salary and giving general manager Brett Veach freedom will be crucial for the Chiefs’ overall roster construction, especially with two Super Bowl victories under his belt already.
