Winners and losers from the Jalen Hurts extension
On Monday, the Eagles and Jalen Hurts agreed to a record contract extension. Who would be the big winners and losers from this deal? This extension should make a few select people happy.
Some others might not like it, though. Jalen Hurts was the first QB from the 2020 NFL Draft class to get a mega extension, and more should be on the way this offseason and next. The deal is for five years and $255 million that includes $179 million guaranteed.
This makes him the highest paid player in NFL history among average annual value, which comes in at $51 million per year.
Based on the projected aftermath from this contract, who are the biggest winners and losers from the deal?
Winners and losers from the Jalen Hurts extension
Winners: Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert
The next two quarterbacks who should be in line for massive contract extensions this offseason are Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert, the first and third quarterbacks to come off the board back in 2020. Joe Burrow is clearly the better player who has had more success in the NFL, but Herbert is the more talented athlete and thrower of the football.
Both of their franchises are extremely lucky to have each player, and the starting negotiation points for each of their deals should start at Jalen Hurts’ number and should only go up from there.
Loser: Lamar Jackson
Rumors that Lamar Jackson wants a fully guaranteed deal took a hit with Jalen Hurts’ deal. Jackson has spent the last chunk of the prior two seasons on the sideline with injuries, and I’d argue that Hurts is the better QB at this point.
There’s about $75 million in Jalen Hurts’ contract extension that isn’t guaranteed. Over the five year period of the deal, that’s roughly $15 million per season not guaranteed.
For Jackson, if he still desires a deal like Deshaun Watson signed, he might be officially out of luck at this point.
Winner: Howie Roseman
Howie Roseman has effectively kept the main core of the Eagles’ starting lineup from 2020. This includes getting new deals for Darius Slay. James Bradberry, Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and now Jalen Hurts.
He’s a magician that never runs out of tricks and he now has his franchise QB locked up for the long-term in an incredible situation. Roseman should have this team built to make another Super Bowl run in 2023.
Loser: Carson Wentz
When Jalen Hurts was drafted back in 2020, it seemed a bit odd in the moment, but it’s clearly worked out for the Eagles. Wentz crashed and burned in 2020, was shipped off to the Indianapolis Colts, and Hurts then took over.
And he didn’t look back. Sure, Wentz has a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles and Hurts doesn’t, but the NFL and sports in general is a “what have you done for me lately” business, and Hurts’ success and new contract extension has likely made quite a few people forget about the Carson Wentz era.