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For those of you watching, this will be the last Olympics without (flag) football. And without Patrick Mahomes, who hopes to play in 2028. I can’t wait. Today:
- 📃 Love’s record-setter
- 2️⃣ Steelers’ QB battle
- 🌶 History for Julius Peppers
Love and Tua deals, in context
In 2023, Lamar Jackson spent three months as the league’s highest-paid player ($52 million average per year). He was passed by Justin Herbert ($52.5), who was soon eclipsed by Joe Burrow’s $55 million that same year. A little over a month ago, Trevor Lawrence’s five-year deal tied him with Burrow. Last Friday, Jordan Love joined Burrow and Lawrence in the $55 million club.
Yes, your favorite quarterback will get a record-setting deal, even if he only has about half a season of high-level production, like Love. And if it doesn’t set a new record, it will be close, like what Tua Tagovailoa got from the Dolphins, also on Friday (four-year, $212 million extension with a $53.1 million average annual salary).
After an offseason full of quarterback deals, here’s where the records stand:
- Record average per year: Lawrence (June 13) and Love (July 26), at $55 million, tying Burrow
- Record signing bonus: Jordan Love’s $75 million (July 26)
- Record guaranteed: Deshaun Watson’s $230 million (2022) 🤢
- Record total value: Patrick Mahomes $450 million (2020)
And we are still waiting for the extension of Dak Prescott, the Cowboys’ 31-year-old signal caller who nearly won MVP last season. As Dianna mentioned here last week, Prescott could set a new record for average per year.
But if Prescott’s deal fails to beat the $55 million mark, this may be the first season in years that we haven’t seen a bump in record average per year pay. As the chart below shows, even the COVID-affected season’s lower salary cap saw the highest-paid QBs set a new record.
But we have been seeing the average NFL quarterback take home a bigger slice of the pie. The 10th-highest QB salary in 2018, Joe Flacco’s $22 million, covered 12.4 percent of his team’s cap. This season, Deshaun Watson’s $46 million average is projected to likewise rank 10th, but eats up 18 percent of Cleveland’s cap. Thanks to the cap, this money comes from the pockets of other players.
As every new quarterback contract breaks that 18 percent barrier, it’s worth revisiting this stat: Only one team has won the Super Bowl with a quarterback taking over 14 percent of its cap (Patrick Mahomes in 2023, at 17.2 percent). After the Packers, Dolphins and Jaguars paid their guys, I can’t help but wonder if they hurt their chances.
Speaking of quarterbacks …
What Dianna’s Hearing: The state of the Steelers’ QBs
When it comes to Mike Tomlin’s thoughts regarding a quarterback competition in Pittsburgh, let’s be clear: He never said there wasn’t one.
Going into training camp, Tomlin declared that Russell Wilson had the pole position. But that doesn’t mean third-year quarterback Justin Fields can’t win the job.
Fields is getting his opportunity with Wilson missing four consecutive practices due to a calf injury sustained while pushing a sled during the team’s conditioning test. Fields has taken first-team reps, and he has looked sharp. Has he won the job? No way. There’s still so much time, and the team wants to see plenty more of both players.
I’m told Pittsburgh expects Wilson to be back participating this week, while Fields will try to overtake him. The Steelers have today off and will return to the field for their first day of practice in full pads on Tuesday. We’ll keep you posted!
Back to you, Jacob.
Camp Intel: Kelce’s grind, Caleb’s tussle
It’s been busy in training camps across the NFL, with The Athletic’s team of beat reporters hard at work. Here’s what they’re seeing:
- Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is putting his “nose down and grinding,” working on his blocking while picking up where he and Mahomes left off at the end of 2023.
- While Giants QB Daniel Jones looks rusty, WR Malik Nabers “continues to burn defensive backs with regularity.” Nabers gives New York it’s most explosive player since fellow LSU alumni Odell Beckham Jr. was traded. Just look at this catch.👇
- You’ll wish you drafted Chargers WR Ladd McConkey on your fantasy team, as the rookie receiver has shown impressive chemistry with Justin Herbert while catching a pair of deep passes. (It wasn’t all positive for Los Angeles, as starting LT Rashawn Slater left Friday’s practice with an injury.)
- Commanders QB Jayden Daniels looked sharper as practice continued, but has mixed high-end plays with erratic showings. He’s still competing against Marcus Mariota for the starting spot, but beat reporter Ben Standig expects Daniels to win the role.
- Patriots DT Christian Barmore, one of the team’s few bright spots (who received a $92 million extension this April), was diagnosed with blood clots. There is currently no timetable for his return.
- Yes, Bears QB Caleb Williams stepped between teammates to break up a fight. His teammates love it, but C/G Ryan Bates added, “He’s got to be smarter, though, because we can’t have that. God forbid anything happens.”
Additionally, Lions LT Taylor Decker picked up a three-year, $60 million extension, his agent announced this morning.
History Maker: First Panthers’ pick in the Hall
Former Panthers DE Julius Peppers is heading to Canton to receive his gold jacket during Enshrinement Week, which starts this Thursday (for anyone considering the trip, here’s the schedule).
Joe Person’s feature on Peppers, who will become the first player drafted by the Panthers to enter the NFL’s most prestigious club, is an eye-opening story of dominance. It inspired this quick look at the first-ballot Hall of Famer’s resume:
- 17-year NFL career, with 266 career games played (sixth among all defensive players)
- Nine Pro Bowls, six All-Pro seasons and 159.5 sacks (No. 4 all time)
- Member of both the 2000s and 2010s all-decade teams
- The only player in league history with more than 100 sacks and 10 interceptions
I saw Peppers play in Buffalo once; the 6-7, 295-pound behemoth stood out amongst his massive teammates. As anyone who has seen him will attest, it’s not surprising to learn that the former UNC basketball player is the Panthers all-time leader in sacks, forced fumbles and blocked field goals.
Jacob’s Picks
📕 Baker Mayfield needed a team to believe in him. Jeff Howe has an excellent feature on the player who the Buccaneers put their faith in. (The Athletic)
📺 Julius Peppers highlights. A reminder of what the Hall of Famer brought to the field. (YouTube)
🎙 2024’s breakout players to watch. Robert Mays is joined by PFF’s Trevor Sikkema to discuss who they expect to make a leap. Keep an eye on Tank Dell, who they discuss around the 65 minute mark. (The Athletic Football Show)
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