Quarterback market sees a furious week
The NFL’s quarterback carousel spun quickly over the last week, with 14 noteworthy QBs signing new contracts.
At least five, and as many as 10, could be starters in Week 1. The contracts tell the story of how much teams believe in them and how the quarterbacks are ranked among the 32 teams.
Let’s take a look at the top signings, from the richest contract on down:
Daniel Jones, Giants, four years, maximum $195 million, with two years, $82 million guaranteed: The Giants made Jones the seventh-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL at $40 million per year before incentives, tying him with Matthew Stafford and Dak Prescott. The last two years are nonguaranteed, but Jones will make $82 million over the first two.
The Giants surely don’t view Jones as the seventh-best quarterback, but it seems they have learned their lesson from not triggering his fifth-year option last year. It wasn’t necessarily the wrong decision, but it made Jones’ long-term status with the Giants a distraction throughout the season.
It seems they were willing to overpay Jones to celebrate finding a successor to Eli Manning and squash the notion that they don’t believe in Jones. Plus, the Giants can still get out of the deal in two years.
Derek Carr, Saints, four years, maximum $150 million, with two years, $60 million guaranteed: Carr will make about the same money this year that he was supposed to in Las Vegas ($30 million compared with $33 million), and he got two years of job security, plus a no-trade clause. For the Saints, they don’t have much of a shot at the top draft prospects with the 29th and 40th picks. Carr may not be elite, but he provides stability after two years of wandering with Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton.
Geno Smith, Seahawks, three years, maximum $105 million, with one year, $27.5 million guaranteed: The Seahawks rewarded Smith’s breakout 2022 season with a significant payday, but they can release him after this coming season with little financial penalty. The contract also is heavy on performance incentives (nearly 30%).
The contract won’t preclude the Seahawks from drafting a quarterback, but I’d be surprised if they used the No. 5 pick on one after giving Smith a big check and re-signing Drew Lock. Drafting a quarterback in the middle rounds makes more sense.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Raiders, three years, maximum $77.25 million, with two years, $33.75 million guaranteed: Jimmy G got a decent payday despite his concerning injury history. The contract is the same for all three years — $22.5 million in salary and $3.25 million in bonuses and incentives. The first 1 ½ years are fully guaranteed — $22.5 million in 2023, and an $11.25 million roster bonus next March. That guaranteed bonus increases the likelihood that Garoppolo lasts a second season in Las Vegas.
Jacoby Brissett, Commanders, one year, maximum $10 million, with $7.5 million guaranteed: There is a big jump in contracts between Garoppolo and Brissett, even though Brissett is in line to start in Washington, with Sam Howell as his only competition.
Taylor Heinicke, Falcons, two years, maximum $20 million, with one year, $6.32 million guaranteed: The Falcons claim to really like Desmond Ridder, but last year’s third-round pick started just four games and only threw for 177 yards per game. Heinicke, who compiled a 12-11-1 record the last two years in Washington, gives the Falcons decent insurance.
Andy Dalton, Panthers, two years, maximum $17 million, with two years, $8 million guaranteed: The Panthers traded multiple first- and second-rounders to get the No. 1 pick in the draft and their future quarterback but also signed Dalton to be the veteran mentor and potential early-season starter.
Jarrett Stidham, Broncos, two years, maximum $14 million, with two years, $5 million guaranteed: He turned his two-game audition with the Raiders at the end of last season into a decent payday to be Russell Wilson’s backup.
Sam Darnold, 49ers, one year, maximum $11 million, with $3.5 million guaranteed: With Brock Purdy several months away from returning from elbow surgery and Trey Lance still not 100% after a significant ankle injury, the 49ers need Darnold just to get through offseason practices. Darnold played decently for the Panthers last year, and with $6.5 million in performance incentives the 49ers are acknowledging that Darnold could play a lot this year.
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers,
one year, maximum $9.5 million, with $4 million guaranteed: The Buccaneers are in salary-cap jail with Brady’s $35 million dead-cap charge and only have Kyle Trask on the roster, so Mayfield was the cheap, experienced option they need.
Mike White, Dolphins, two years, maximum $16 million, with one year, $4.5 million guaranteed: He has only started seven NFL games, but the Dolphins clearly liked what they saw to make White the primary backup to Tua Tagovailoa.
Marcus Mariota, Eagles, one year, maximum $5 million plus incentives: Thought he might be in play for the Cardinals, who need a quarterback while Kyler Murray returns from ACL surgery. Instead, Mariota signs up to be Jalen Hurts’ backup, giving the Eagles two mobile quarterbacks.
Case Keenum, Texans, two years, maximum $8.25 million, with two years, $4 million guaranteed: The Texans will almost certainly draft a quarterback at No. 2, and they have a decent backup option in Davis Mills, but clearly wanted a veteran such as Keenum to mentor their rookie.
Gardner Minshew, Colts, one year, $3.5 million plus incentives: The Colts will have Sam Ehlinger and potentially Nick Foles in 2023, but Minshew’s signing signals that they aren’t confident in this year’s draft.