Pay up: More QB megadeals coming soon
The quarterback market continues to soar. The San Francisco 49ers have locked up Jimmy Garoppolo to a contract that, per multiple reports, will pay him $137.5 million over five years — a new record for the highest average an- nual salary in NFL history.
This deal comes six months after the Detroit Lions set the record with a five-year, $135 million contract for Matthew Stafford, which surpassed the previous high-water mark set in a five-year, $125 million deal that the Oakland Raiders gave Derek Carr last June.
Critics can proclaim that the NFL is dying, pointing to declining ratings,
protest backlash and concerns about concussions. But the salary cap continues to rise, and players — especially quarterbacks — are still getting paid at epic proportions.
Business is booming.
It’s remarkable that Garoppolo could command such a handsome payday after making seven starts in his entire career. Five of those came this year as he led San Francisco to a 5-0 finish while throwing seven touchdown passes and five interceptions, with the other two coming in 2016 as he filled in for suspended Tom Brady. His career numbers consist of a 7-0 record, 67.3% completion clip, 2,250 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 99.7 passer rating.
Garoppolo does indeed look like the real deal. He has the “it” factor. He operates well from the pocket, can extend plays with his legs and throws with anticipation. He has the confidence to make the tough passes and the mental fortitude to shrug off mistakes.
But is he really worth $27.5 million a year, ahead of Aaron Rodgers ($22 million), Cam Newton ($20.76 million), Matt Ryan ($20.75 million) — not to mention Brady (though the New England Patriots quarterback is famous for taking team-friendly deals)?
The 49ers say yes, and that’s all that matters. Garoppolo’s agent, Don Yee, sold the team on his client’s potential, and San Francisco general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan bought in after being pleased with the passer for whom they gave the Patriots a second-round pick.
Both Lynch and Shanahan understood the importance of the quarterback position and the huge challenge of finding the right fit. After seeing Garop- polo in action, they were determined not to go back to the days of scraping by with someone like C.J. Beathard or Brian Hoyer, nor did they want to start over by drafting a passer. When teams find someone like Garoppolo, they seldom let him out of the building. Now, the 49ers can continue to build and compete in an ever-changing NFC West.
But the implications of this deal extend beyond Garoppolo. This is a win for NFL quarterbacks, period.
At least six to eight teams need quarterbacks this offseason, and not all of them have the luxury of owning a high enough draft pick to select a potential Day 1 starter. Others are in win-now mode and just need a quality passer to put them over the top.
Whatever the case, there will be no shortage of teams willing to spend in March. Kirk Cousins is viewed as the top quarterback set to hit the free agent market. It was already believed that he would draw about $28 million to $30 million. Now, with the far less experienced Garoppolo having landed this deal, that projection looks more like a certainty.
Garoppolo’s payout will serve as the new floor for many negotiations. Established passers are sure to demand more, as they will point to a lengthier track record and the continually escalating salaries at the position.
Teams will pay. They have almost no other recourse. It’s the most important position in football.
And just imagine how this sets up the likes of Rodgers and Ryan, who are nearing the ends of their deals. Their squads would probably love to scramble and get something done now to save a few bucks. But their agents likely will hold off. They’ll let the free agent market — led by Cousins, Drew Brees, Sam Bradford, Case Keenum and others — shake out, and then they’ll get to work.
Garoppolo’s record won’t stand for nearly as long as Stafford’s.