2023 NFL Season: Three players who can reset their markets
There are a few players who have the potential to reset their position markets with record-breaking contract extensions in the 2023 NFL season. The big number that players seem to want to hit on contracts is the average annual value (AAV) of said contract.
That’s typically what’s used to compare the big-time deals that teams hand out to their stars. There are a few positions in the NFL right now that may see a fresh deal reset the position’s market.
Even the less valuable positions like inside linebacker and safety will have market-resetting contracts. Whether these players get extended now or a month from now, let’s dive into who could reset their market with a massive contract extension in the 2023 NFL season.
2023 NFL Season: Three players who can reset their markets
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are likely discussing the parameters of a massive contract extension for the fourth-year QB, who was taken with the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of LSU.
Burrow is the second best quarterback in the NFL and is one of the only QBs who can go toe to toe with Patrick Mahomes. He led the Bengals on a shocking Super Bowl run in 2021 and is surely going to win a ring or two during his career.
The Burrow-Mahomes rivalry might be this generation’s Manning-Brady rivarly. Burrow will likely surpass Jalen Hurts’ recent contract extension in terms of AAV.
Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson is on a torrid, Hall of Fame pace to begin his career. It’s truly insane how productive he’s been. He’s objectively the best WR in the NFL by a mile and I’m not sure that’ll change for the next five years.
Catching passes from Kirk Cousins, who is wildly efficient himself, is also a huge boost. The current WR leader in terms of AAV on a contract is Tyreek Hill at $30 million per season. I’d expect Justin Jefferson to hit $32 million per season on a new deal that would likely be four or five years long.
Jefferson may also be a legitimate candidate to hit 2,000 receiving yards in a season as well. Could that come in the 2023 NFL season?
Nick Bosa, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers
Nick Bosa is insane at football. He just one his first of probably multiple Defensive Player of the Year Awards and is set enter his fifth season in the NFL already. He’s got 43.0 sacks through four seasons and had an 18.5 sack season in 2022, along with 19 tackles for loss and a whopping 48 QB hits.
Bosa plays with his hand in the dirt but will be paid like a stand-up EDGE rusher. The current AAV leader at this position is TJ Watt, who makes a hair over $28 million per season. A four year deal worth $120 million or five year deal worth $150 million seems about right for Bosa, who might just be getting started in the 2023 NFL season.