There is no question that the most important player on the field in the National Football League is the quarterback. It is a QB-driven league, and each time one signs a new contract, they become the temporary highest-paid player of all time.
For an example of this scenario, Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals are the highest-paid players in the NFL. Neither has won a Super Bowl, and both represent a sizable percentage of their team’s salary cap.
“There has certainly been discussion within the league among certain owners about even the idea of a quarterback cap, that at some point you don’t want quarterback numbers to go over a certain percentage of your salary cap,”
Tom Pelissero – NFL Network
What Is The Current Salary Cap In The NFL?
The salary cap for the 2024-25 NFL season will be set at $255.4 million. With the current model, starting quarterbacks are expected to take up roughly one-fifth of the yearly budget for each team.
With contracts rising with each signing, QBs will continue to eat up a larger percentage of the pie, forcing franchises to pay other positions lower salaries. Once quarterbacks enter their second and third contracts, teams don’t have the ability to surround them with quality veterans or extend existing role players.
Can The Owners Do Anything About It?
There have been recent discussions by league ownership on the issue of a salary cap for quarterbacks, but optimism is not high on its installation. While most franchises already have a high-priced QB on their roster, most of them are satisfied with their investment and have sights set on a championship in the near future.
Only a few teams have experienced buyer’s remorse, and spending a few extra dollars for an advantage is something all owners would entertain.
Other Models That Should Be Explored
There are existing models in other leagues that could be explored. The NBA has max contracts where players cannot earn more than 35% of the team’s salary cap for a given season.
Perhaps the position could be removed from the cap equation altogether. Let the $255 million be dedicated to the remainder of the roster while QBs are paid by dollars outside that cap. Costs would continue to rise for quarterbacks, but at least the remainder of the league would be fairly compensated.
It is probably too late for owners to convert to a merit-based pay system, but base salaries with incentives for each accomplishment could keep things under control.
