Projecting Next Wave of QB Contract Extensions After Brock Purdy's 49ers Deal

Eleven NFL players now make more than $50 million per year. 

That’s the case after the San Francisco 49ers signed quarterback Brock Purdy to a five-year, $265 million contract extension late last week. 

Both Purdy and Josh Allen joined the $50-million-a-year club this offseason, not too long after Dak Prescott, Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jared Goff signed deals to qualify in 2024 (Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts are charter members from 2023).

Of course, all of those guys have something in common. They make a living throwing footballs. 

Which young quarterbacks are next to hit the jackpot following Purdy’s deal? Let’s take stock. 

Salary information courtesy of Spotrac

C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

The 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is one season behind Purdy. And although Stroud struggled quite a bit as a sophomore, even a soft rebound in his third year should be enough to earn an extension that not only exceeds Purdy’s deal but potentially even makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history. 

Stroud was THAT good as a rookie, and nothing indicates the Texans don’t plan to build around him for years to come. Scheme and protection issues and injuries were big factors in 2024, and the team has at least made significant changes this offseason. 

Now, the Texans have a fifth-year team option that wasn’t available to the 49ers. This could linger like Jackson’s second contract in Baltimore or Tagovailoa’s second deal with the Dolphins, but Burrow, Lawrence, Herbert and Hurts all signed after Year 3, and the odds still greatly favor Stroud striking gold in 2026. 

Contract Prediction: 5 years, $300 million with $240 million guaranteed (signed next offseason)

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

We then have to leap to the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, who is two years behind Purdy and one behind Stroud but on the same track following a historically awesome and memorable debut campaign as a No. 2 overall pick. 

It’s possible Daniels will experience a sophomore slump like Stroud, but even if that were to happen, he’d have room to bounce back and earn a mega contract following Year 3—just as Purdy, Burrow, Lawrence, Herbert and Hurts did and Stroud likely will. 

It’s pretty tough to predict the value of an extension two years out, but the 24-year-old Daniels is on a very similar path as Stroud but arguably with more support. Let’s get bold. 

Contract Prediction: 5 years, $310 million with $250 million guaranteed (signed in 2027 offseason)

On the Verge of a Lull?

AP Photo/Derik Hamilton, File

Because so many emerging star quarterbacks have secured bags recently, and because most veterans are locked in for many years to come, the next “wave” could very well be limited to just the two quarterbacks above in the next two years (if that, as there’s still a chance one or both fall off). 

What could change that? There’s a decent chance promising 2024 rookies Bo Nix and Drake Maye join the fray for monster 2027 extensions, and you certainly can’t count out top ‘24 draft pick Caleb Williams. But the jury is still very much out on all of those first-round picks, and even more so on the unproven Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy. 

It really only made sense to include the top performer from that class for now, especially as we’re still at least a couple years away from seeing any of those guys get paid. 

Fellow Stroud draft class members Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson can’t be counted out for 2026, but it’s really hard to imagine either doing enough in 2025 to suddenly land elite money next offseason. Even if either player emerges, they’d likely have to wait for 2027. The reward for a strong showing this year would likely be limited to having their fifth-year options exercised in ‘26. 

A potential wild card is Justin Fields, who is on his third roster in three years but could be a breakout player as a well-supported starter with the Jets this season. Fields clearly hasn’t cut it thus far in his career, but he’s a uniquely talented former first-round pick on a fresh two-year deal. If he suddenly explodes in '25, it’s possible the Jets could decide to pay up. 

That’s a far-fetched scenario, though, and the issue is there aren’t many vets left to strike gold. 

Now, the “waves” might actually be the same old guys re-upping for more riches. Allen’s new big-money deal came out of nowhere, with four years still remaining on his previous contract. So you might want to keep an eye on Jackson, who is also slated to hit free agency in 2028. 

Tagovailoa, Love, Goff, Hurts and Kyler Murray are under contract through that ‘28 season, but there’s really no reason to expect big movement with any of them soon.

The waves won’t stop coming so long as the quarterback supply and demand is what it is, and so long as the market keeps escalating with the salary cap. That said, they might be a little less emphatic in the years to come.