The Kansas City Chiefs signed Patrick Mahomes to a 10-year, $450 million contract back in 2020, which made him the highest-paid player in the NFL. Is he due another raise?
When the Chiefs signed Patrick Mahomes to a record-setting contract which made him the highest-paid player in NFL history — good for a half-million dollars — he received generational wealth. Like, a lot of it.
So, why would KC want to give Mahomes a raise in the midst of a dynasty?
Mahomes is no longer the highest-paid player in the NFL annually, as quarterback AAV's have surpassed his in recent years. Lamar Jackson, for one, just signed a contract which will pay him $52 million per year. The Chiefs won't have that, as Mahomes is the best quarterback in football for a reason. He ought to be paid like the best QB in the NFL.
Chiefs to pay Patrick Mahomes yet again
Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk:
"Chiefs G.M. Brett Veach already has vowed to address the Mahomes deal after more quarterback contracts are completed. While Veach didn't delve into any specifics, here's what reasonably should be expected, based on our conversations with folks aware of the dynamics of the situation…Expect Mahomes, before the season begins, to once again be the highest-paid player in league history."
While Mahomes will deservedly receive more cash, it's unclear exactly how that will work. A large signing bonus is a possibility because it would allow the Chiefs to avoid being hamstrung to a large quarterback contract. As Veach has seen around the league, having a QB taking up the majority of cap space is not a recipe for success.
Like Tom Brady before him, Mahomes is hoping "to strike the balance of fair compensation with leaving enough cash behind," per Florio. That's not easy, but if anyone can circumvent the salary cap rules, it's a front office executive like Veach.
