The massive contract extension given to Josh Allen by the Buffalo Bills is fantastic news for anyone whose listed job title is NFL quarterback.
$150 million guaranteed is obviously generational wealth and Allen got this after only three seasons in the league.
That immediately signals to guys like Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, Justin Fields, and Zach Wilson that the money is there.
The next task is proving worthy of such an extension.
Josh Allen has signed a 6-year contract extension worth $258 million, per @AdamSchefter
QB1 just got PAID 💰🤑 pic.twitter.com/vSaMsfIjNd
— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) August 6, 2021
The Money Is There
Teams are willing to use a huge chunk of their salary cap on a competent starting quarterback.
Even someone like Kirk Cousins, who is above-average at best, is getting paid top dollar.
Teams know how hard it is to find a reliable option at the position so when they do, they lock him up on a new deal.
The NFL is also continuing to build in value, meaning the salary cap will go up.
Someone like Lawrence is already poised for a record extension in three years if he can just make the Jacksonville Jaguars a winning team.
Teams know the eventual payment that comes with a first-round quarterback and hope that they will in fact hand out such a big deal, because it means everything has gone great since draft night.
How To Get There
Allen provided a template for a massive extension.
Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson seeing that Josh Allen contract 👀 pic.twitter.com/7La5QJX0lD
— PFF (@PFF) August 6, 2021
Patrick Mahomes did as well, but he looks like a generational talent so it is tough to use him for normal comparison purposes.
Allen showed up in 2018 and started 11 games.
He only threw 10 touchdowns and had 12 interceptions.
His completion percentage was at 52.8 percent and plenty of fans in Buffalo were left wondering if a mistake had been made.
But the front office stuck to the plan and Allen put up MVP-like numbers in 2020.
He threw for 4,544 yards and 37 touchdowns to help his Bills reach the AFC Championship Game.
Getting so close to the Super Bowl provided the organization hope that Allen will only continue to improve as time goes on.
Thus, the big contract to show they value him.
It is obvious that not every single quarterback can reach the Super Bowl in any given year, or even ever.
Yet getting close and providing hope will lead front offices to chase that glory with a big payday.
The Kansas City Chiefs proved that if the young star can actually win it all, the chase is on again with an open checkbook.
There is no telling what kind of money Lawrence, Fields, Lance, or Wilson can get if they even reach the NFL success level of Allen in a few years.
The payday in waiting should be enough to motivate just about anyone to show up at the facility early every day and strive for greatness.
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