The Eagles Make Jalen Hurts Highest Paid Player In NFL History
The news we have all been waiting for this off-season is Jalen Hurts signing with the Eagles. We knew it was coming, and we knew it would be for a lot of money. Both of those things came out to be very true. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have finally agreed to a deal, and it is a big one. Per Ian Rapoport, the Eagles and Hurts agreed to a 5-year extension, worth $255 Million, with $179.3 of that guaranteed. Making him the highest-paid player in NFL History.
[Source: Ian Rapoport]
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— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 17, 2023
The #Eagles and Jalen Hurts agreed to terms on a 5-year, $255M contract extension that makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.@AgentNicoleLynn did the deal, which includes $179.304M in guarantees and a no-trade clause. pic.twitter.com/UNzVumGgoA
That is a per-year average of $51 million. $35.8 of which will be guaranteed. How that money will be split up between the 5 years is not yet known. Knowing Howie, there will be dummy years pushing some of that money into the future past those 5 seasons.
Though as we know, every time one player becomes the highest paid anything, it is not long until someone tops it. Being the first team to pay their QB is likely a good thing for the Eagles, even if it seems like a lot of money now. Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert are also up for an extension, and they could each easily top this figure. We have also seen what happens if you put the deal off like the Ravens did with Lamar Jackson.
Jalen Hurts played like an MVP last season. He may have even won it had he not gotten hurt late in the season. You could argue he outplayed Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, even though the Eagles lost. And now the Eagles will have him around, leading their team, for a long time. It will just cost them a lot to keep him here. No matter what cap tricks Howie pulls out, there is no hiding that much money. With how he played last season though, and how beloved he is by his teammates, it is worth it.