Now, even an inconsistent quarterback like Lawrence received a contract with an average annual value of $55 million. But in reality, the Jaguars will likely view that deal as a bargain in the coming years as quarterback salaries continue to escalate. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa is in line for a new deal, while Houston’s C.J. Stroud will no doubt be cashing in when he’s eligible down the road.
“It does give some people pause, but it’s also a reflection that the quarterback market, like the salary cap, is going to continue to go up,” Pelissero added. “So, the longer you wait, the higher these numbers are probably going to be, absent some team convincing a player to take a sub-market deal, which is really hard to do in 2024.”
According to the web site Spotrac, the top 16 contracts based on average annual salary belong to quarterbacks and the top 11 based on total money do as well. Those numbers will only rise as more deals are done in the coming seasons, which is why the owners are likely discussing alternatives.
But the idea of capping quarterbacks seems unrealistic. First, it’s hard to separate players based on position in a league that fosters teamwork above all. And the logistics would seem tough to navigate as well. Would the quarterbacks be capped in terms of percentage of the current cap, or would it be completely separate from the rest of the team altogether?
If it’s the latter, then that would represent an even bigger advantage for the team’s lucky enough to have elite quarterbacks. One drawback of having a truly worthy franchise quarterback, as minor as it may be, is the percentage of cap space he takes up. It can be difficult to pay high-end talent to surround those quarterbacks, which can help level the playing field.