When Russell Wilson gave the Seahawks a deadline for the two sides to reach an agreement on a contract extension heading into the 2019 NFL season, there was little doubt that the 30-year-old would become the league's highest-paid quarterback. The questions were about timing, and whether Wilson would succeed in forcing Seattle's hand. He did, to the tune of four years and $140 million with $107 million guaranteed.
In the wake of Wilson's new contract are similar questions about the QBs who are next in line to receive extensions. For example, there is little doubt that the Eagles will give Carson Wentz a deal that rivals, if not surpasses, that of Wilson. The questions, again, are about the timing.
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In addition to Wentz, Dak Prescott of the Cowboys, Cam Newton and the Panthers and Jared Goff of the Rams are a handful of names who could soon make headlines with new deals. For now, though, only Wentz is projected to potentially top Wilson as the NFL's highest-paid player. And if Wentz does indeed take that title, he might hold it for a long time; longer than the previous title-holders, at least.
Since June of 2016, when Andrew Luck got his contract extension from the Colts that paid him an average annual salary of $24.6 million, eight different QBs have been able to call themselves the highest-paid player in the league. Derek Carr bumped Luck to No. 2 a year later, in 2017. Then Matthew Stafford was the man. Then Jimmy Garoppolo. Then Kirk Cousins. Then Matt Ryan. Then Aaron Rodgers. Now Wilson.
Here are the QBs who are next in line to receive contract extensions.
Carson Wentz, Eagles
- Age: 26
- Years left on contract: 1 (pending fifth-year option)
The amount of years left on Wentz’s current deal technically will jump to two when the Eagles exercise his fifth-year option, but the team reportedly is motivated to get its franchise QB signed to a long-term contract extension as soon as possible, potentially as early as this spring. When that happens, there’s a good chance Wentz will jump Wilson as the NFL's new highest-paid player in terms of average annual salary.
All of which makes sense for a passer who has proven to be among the best in the league when healthy. Any hesitation on the part of the Eagles would be the product of those last couple words: "when healthy." Wentz has missed eight games over the last two seasons and has not yet recovered fully from the stress fracture in his back that ended his 2018 season early.
Wentz will cost the Eagles roughly $8.5 million against the salary cap this season, an amount that would change in the presence of a new deal.
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
- Age: 25
- Years left on contract: 1
Because Prescott was not a first-round draft pick, the Cowboys do not have a decision to make on an option year — just a decision on how much to pay the QB to whom they claim they are committed. Prescott, considering his average annual salary of $680,848 as a fourth-round draft pick, has been arguably the NFL's biggest bargain of a player at any position considering his contributions in Dallas over the last three years.
That's about to change. Prescott, who is in line for a contract extension anytime before the 2019 season begins, has a market value projection of $23.8 million in average annual salary, according to Spotrac. Should he reach such a deal with the Cowboys, he would be the ninth highest-paid QB (and player) in the league.
Which seems fair for a player who currently ranks 51st among QBs and 941st among all players, yet already has two Pro Bowl appearances in three seasons. Prescott will get paid soon. The only question: How much is Dallas willing to pay?
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
- Age: 37
- Years left on contract: 1
For better or for worse, the Steelers over the last few months have made clear their continued commitment to their six-time Pro Bowl- and two-time Super Bowl-winning QB. There is little doubt that Roethlisberger will be in Pittsburgh after 2019, the final year of his current contract. The questions are around the amount of time he has left and the amount of money the Steelers are willing to pay him.
General manager Kevin Colbert said last month that the team and the QB were "in negotiations" for an extension this year, which makes sense. Such a deal likely would provide the Steelers some immediate salary cap relief — Roethlisberger will count for $23.2 million against Pittsburgh’s cap this year — and keep him in place for at least one more season.
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Cam Newton, Panthers
- Age: 29
- Years left on contract: 2
Newton is in a similar situation to that of Wentz in terms of recovering from an injury that potentially could impact his earnings, as the Panthers QB is working back from offseason shoulder surgery. The 29-year-old Newton, though, will be looking for this third and likely final long-term NFL contract.
Carolina does not need to act now on an extension for Newton. The QB has two years remaining on the deal he signed in 2015, right before his MVP season that led to a Panthers Super Bowl appearance. Any kind of deal in the near future likely would be a restructure for salary cap relief. Newton will count for $23.2 million against Carolina’s cap in 2019 and $21.1 million against its cap in 2020.
The Panthers, though, could get a jump on extending their soon-to-be-30 QB in an effort to lock him into place for what’s left of his prime years in the NFL. That is, of course, as long as they trust that Newton’s shoulder will heal fully and properly.
Philip Rivers, Chargers
- Age: 37
- Years left on contract: 1
Unlike Rivers' fellow first-round QBs from the 2004 NFL Draft, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning (and, sure, J.P. Losman), the Chargers passer has shown little drop-off at age 37. That consistency, plus LA’s status as a title contender going into 2019, means Rivers is a strong candidate for an extension/restructure, likely for at least one additional year beyond the coming season.
And with that new deal, Rivers should re-rank among the NFL's highest-paid players. Spotrac projects a deal that includes $26.7 million in average annual salary, which would place Rivers sixth among QBs. He is currently 14th among QBs.
Jared Goff, Rams
- Age: 24
- Years left on contract: 1 (pending fifth-year option)
The only difference between the contract situations of Wentz and Goff, the second and first picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, respectively, is that unlike the Eagles with their QB, the Rams are not outwardly motivated to extend Goff as soon as possible. LA general manager Les Snead recently said such a deal is “not on (his) mind at all," actually. The Rams are expected to pick up Goff’s fifth-year option for 2020, for what it’s worth.
So the Rams have time. While Spotrac currently projects a Goff deal to come in at an average annual salary of $28.6 million, which would make him the NFL's third highest-paid QB, some of the names mentioned above likely will get their deals before Goff receives his. That means the price tag on the Rams QB is likely to climb.
There is only one way LA can keep the price relatively low on Goff, barring unforeseen developments like an injury or a drop-off in his play: Pay him now. Which, unless Snead is fibbing in his public comments, is not happening.
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Jameis Winston, Buccaneers
- Age: 25
- Years left on contract: 1
We have reached the top passers from the 2015 NFL Draft class, oddly, after those from the 2016 NFL Draft class. That's because both Winston and Marcus Mariota failed to earn long-term contract extensions prior to their teams exercising their fifth-year options for 2019. Now both are entering “prove-it” seasons that will dictate the terms of their next deals.
The good news for Winston is the fresh pairing with new Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians, who many believe has the ability to squeeze from the QB the production Tampa Bay has been missing over the last four seasons. If Winston plays well enough, the current projection from Spotrac — a deal worth $22.6 million in average annual salary — will be the baseline for a new contract. If he struggles again in 2019, that number might be best-case scenario.
Marcus Mariota, Titans
- Age: 25
- Years left on contract: 1
Mariota seems to have more job security with the Titans than Winston has with the Buccaneers, but the Tennessee QB is in the same boat in terms of needing to produce more in order to maximize his earnings. Mariota is projected to earn a similar deal to that of Winston in terms of average annual salary, but he is more likely to get additional years on the end of his deal, potentially up to five.
Such a deal would place Mariota among the 10 highest-paid QBs, but again, that's before the Wentzs and Prescotts of the world get their extensions.
Eli Manning, Giants
- Age: 37
- Years left on contract: 1
Yes, technically Manning is in the same boat as Roethlisberger in terms of his eligibility for an extension. But the Giants are not as motivated — publicly, at least — to lock in the QB beyond 2019.
Unless he retires, Manning will get one more NFL contract. He just might not get it in New York.