5 QBs Resetting the NFL Salary Market: Mahomes Loses Top Spot

Hurts, Jackson, Herbert, Burrow Surpass Patrick Mahomes as Highest-Paid QBs

NFL's Salary Cap Climb Fuels Record-Setting Contracts

The NFL's salary landscape has undergone a major shift, with five quarterbacks now eclipsing Patrick Mahomes as the league's highest-paid players.

According to Forbes, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow have all dethroned Mahomes, who held the top spot with a 10-year, $450 million deal signed in 2023.

The surge in quarterback salaries reflects the increasing importance of the position and the ever-climbing salary cap, which has allowed teams to offer record-setting contracts.

• Hurts: $76 million per year
• Jackson: $75 million per year
• Herbert: $74 million per year
• Burrow: $73.6 million per year
• Mahomes: $73 million per year

While Mahomes may have lost his top spot, he remains one of the league's highest-paid and most valuable players.

The salary cap is projected to continue rising in the coming years, leading to even larger contracts for top NFL players.