It’s the one-year anniversary of Patrick Mahomes’ record-setting contract

Every quarterback will eventually become expensive—that is, if he’s worth keeping.

On Monday, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed first overall selection Trevor Lawrence to his rookie contract, a four-year deal worth up to $36.8 million. While that’s an expensive signing for a rookie, it still pales in comparison to what Lawrence is likely to make on his next deal, and it’s a nice memory for Chiefs Kingdom to remember the days when Mahomes was making only what he was slotted to pull in as a former No. 10 overall selection himself.

We’re used to Patrick Mahomes setting records, but it’s been one full year since the K.C. Chiefs quarterback also set one off the field with a 10-year contract worth up to $503 million. Just like that, the largest contract ever given out in American sports history belonged to Mahomes. It was mammoth news and it officially gave the Chiefs a rudder for a ship sailing toward the Super Bowl for the next decade.

Patrick Mahomes record-setting contract was the best deal ever.

With the deal, Mahomes was not only able gain significant security with the finances, but he also included a no-trade clause which gives him control and leverage throughout the deal—not that the Chiefs would ever want to unload him (although look at the Packers with Aaron Rodgers now and I guess we’ve all learned to never say never). It also includes over $140 million in injury guarantees.

Side note: Even Mahomes deal cannot touch Lionel Messi, who was given over $670 million for just a four-year deal from FC Barcelona. Yeah, that’s an average salary of 4x what Mahomes will make in an average year on this deal.

For their investment, the Chiefs are already adjusting to life with Mahomes, which means being perched atop the NFL’s pecking order. With Mahomes under center, the Chiefs will be annual favorites to win the Super Bowl and should skate through the AFC West for years to come. They’ve already won five division titles in a row, have hosted three consecutive AFC championships, and played in successive Super Bowls. Such is life with Mahomes as the offensive captain.

Mahomes not only puts fans in the seats, but he also generates serious dollars when it comes to merchandise sales. Mahomes and Tom Brady have been jostling for the top spots for years, and knowing Mahomes is under center means the Chiefs can likely lean a predictable income of merch sales for the next decade as well. How does that supplement the actual contract? It’s hard to say without being inside Arrowhead, but the numbers have to be staggering.

It should also be noted that Mahomes is pretty much a model citizen in K.C. He’s become a minority owner of the Royals, has turned the corner as a family man, and he’s a community hero to everyone in the region.

Mahomes will play out this season on the last year of his rookie deal with a paltry cap hit of $7.43 million. Next year, his cap hit will jump to just under what Trevor Lawrence will make over the next four years. From there, he will eclipse it by nearly $10 million with an annual sum that will settle in the $45M range.

While quarterbacks get expensive, very, very few of them are worth money or commitment of this sort. It might cost the Chiefs, but there’s zero doubt they’d have it any other way. As expensive as Mahomes is going to get, he’s generating much, much greater return for the franchise.