The QB market in the NFL is ever-evolving. When Patrick Mahomes agreed for a 10-year contract extension in 2020, upon which he was set to draw $45 Million as annual salary, everyone thought that a truly rare and historic deal was being signed. However, things changed super quickly in just a couple of years and now, several of Patrick’s counterparts like Jalen Hurts, who recently signed a $255 Million 5-year deal, and Lamar Jackson, who got a $260 Million 5-year deal, are set to draw bigger annual salaries than him.
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For the last couple of weeks, fans have been vouching for the Chiefs quarterback to get his contract restructured since the market has grown to an unprecedented level. The argument actually makes senses as Patrick is the current Super Bowl champion. Yet, he is placed on the seventh spot when it comes to highest earning QBs(on an annual basis). Making his stance clear on the same issue, Patrick recently stated that what matters to him way more than money is winning Super Bowl titles.
Patrick Mahomes finally breaks silence on his contract extension
Lamar Jackson recently signed a whopping five-year, $260 million extension, making him the highest-paid athlete in the league. Moreover, his offer sheet had several perks compared to Mahomes’ contract. The Ravens QB is set to take home around $52 Million per season while Mahomes took home $45 million for his heroics last season.
As it turns out, despite all the hullaballoo about paying Patrick more, the champion QB has made his stance clear. He is unfazed by all the super lucrative deals other QBs are signing. Instead, he is more concerned about building a formidable side and keeping as many star players around him as possible.
“I’ve always said I worry about legacy and winning rings more than making money at this moment,” Mahomes said, per ESPN. “We see what’s going on around the league, but at the same time, I’ll never do anything that’s going to hurt us from keeping the great players around me. So it’s kind of teetering around that line,” he added.
Is Mahomes following the TB12 mindset?
No doubt, the Texas product is seeking greatness, and no one can stop him from doing so. To make this dream a reality, the quarterback is trying to keep his earnings on the back seat to give his management more breathing space. The passer recently stated that he is ready to take a comparatively lower salary because it will give the team more options to look for other prospects.
This method was followed by Patriots legend Tom Brady during his playing career. He was just taking $25 million as salary in 2021 and 2022 to allow more cap space. In the end, Brady retired with more Super Bowl titles than any single franchise in the history of the league.
Quite clearly, Mahomes is looking to follow the TB12 path which is only going to widen his fanbase. Moreover, as the Chiefs are expected to re-visit their star QB’s contract in the near future, Mahomes’ recent words would definitely give assurance to the management that the Super Bowl champion QB won’t ask for a team-destroying salary.
