Comparing Patrick Mahomes’ extension with other long-term NFL contracts

Conclusions

In comparison, Patrick Mahomes’ new contract dwarfs these other record-setting deals. However, Mahomes’ deal also comes 16 years after the last massive contract. A lot has changed in the NFL since these other elite quarterbacks signed their deals and, in today’s context, Mahomes’ deal is quite similar to the deals these former players earned during their careers.

Regardless, after examining these other long-term deals, it’s clear they don’t often work out. Each of these quarterbacks faced major adversity shortly after signing their contracts with the exception of Favre, who still had his own set of problems.

Drew Bledsoe only played two more games for the Patriots after signing his record contract. Donovan McNabb suffered an injury the season after signing his deal that affected his rushing ability for the rest of his career. Michael Vick ran into trouble with the law from his involvement in a dog fighting ring just three years after signing his contract.

The only quarterback to have a successful season after earning a long-term deal was Brett Favre. However, Favre faced his own adversity through a Vicodin addiction and personal losses throughout his career.

But Patrick Mahomes is far different than these other elite quarterbacks. The only quarterback with a resumé quite as impressive as Mahomes before earning a mega-deal was Brett Favre, who had three MVP awards under his belt. But Favre won these awards while he was 26, 27, and 28. Mahomes, on the other hand, won the MVP award, a Super Bowl, and Super Bowl MVP, all before turning 25.

Mahomes is truly a different type of elite talent. He’s something that the NFL has never seen and, in just the short time he’s been in the league, he’s already become the face of the NFL. While Mahomes will obviously regress at some point, it’s doubtful he’ll regress enough to make the Chiefs even remotely regret signing him to this contract. The NFL is much different now than it was during any of these other contracts, and Mahomes is a much different quarterback.