While the Chicago Bears take the field with a quarterback who is still on his rookie contract, it’s fun to watch the ridiculously large sums of money that established signal callers are receiving.
The NFL has a new highest-paid quarterback, and it might not be who you would expect:
Matt Ryan has agreed to a 5 year extension with @AtlantaFalcons that makes him first $30 mill per year QB w $100 mill guaranteed, per league and team sources.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) May 3, 2018
The Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan have agreed to a new deal, one that averages $30 million per season and includes $100 million guaranteed. This agreement comes just before Ryan’s previous deal was set to expire. Ryan would have been a free agent after the 2018 season. Instead, the 2016 NFL MVP signs a deal to stay in Atlanta – one that will surpass the three-year, $84 million pact Kirk Cousins received from the Minnesota Vikings during free agency.
And to think, Aaron Rodgers could have been that guy first. Instead, the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback is left waiting. For how long? Well, his new general manager believes it won’t be that much longer.
“Both sides are working towards it and we’re confident we’ll come to an agreement soon,” said first-year GM Brian Gutekunst, via Pro Football Talk.
It’s been an odd offseason for Rodgers, but it could end with him becoming the NFL’s highest player at some point before the regular season begins.
Rodgers watched the team part ways with his long-time position coach early in the offseason without his blessing. Then the team waived goodbye to Jordy Nelson, a long-time Bears-killer and one of Rodgers’ favorite targets. There were even reports of Rodgers being “frustrated” by these decisions, but he was quick to jump on board and “trust the process.” And now, he has seen two fellow NFC quarterbacks leap-frog him on the list of the league’s highest-paid players.
Surely, Rodgers’ day will come. But until then, he still has two years and $21 million guaranteed on his contract. I suppose that will suffice until a new deal comes together.