Ten NFL players who have earned big paydays this offseason: Joe Burrow and Nick Bosa poised to set market
The 2022 NFL offseason was one of the most memorable offseasons in recent memory. The quarterback carousel was spinning at high speed before Deshaun Watson shut it down with his guaranteed $230 million contract, we saw a total reset in the wide receiver market – something including players like Tyreek Hill, AJ Brown and Christian Kirk, among others, benefited. of – and of course Tom Brady retired and did not retire and has now retired again. What does this time hold for us?
As happens every offseason, several players in different positions are in line to reset the market with record extensions. Below, we’ll break down 10 of the NFL players who earned big salaries this offseason.
Joey Franchise didn’t return to the Super Bowl this year, but he’s going to feel like he’s got it all when he puts pen to paper on a new contract at some point. It could come this offseason.
According to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones, Burrow and the Bengals are gearing up for a monster contract extension. The former No. 1 overall pick is on his way to becoming the league’s highest-paid quarterback by AAV. According to Over The Cap, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers is the highest paid quarterback by AAV at $50.27 million. Jones reports that this extension likely won’t be a fully guaranteed deal like Watson received from the Cleveland Browns. He says to look for a more traditional deal.
Burrow ranked second in the NFL this year in completion percentage (68.3%), fifth in passing yards (4,475) and second in passing touchdowns (35). He has established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and is worth it.
Herbert is another young quarterback who has proven himself to be a star, but many want to see him take a Burrow-esque jump in 2023. Maybe that comes with new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Herbert was second in passing yards last season (4,739) and third in completion percentage (68.2%) while going a career-best 10-7 and making his first playoff appearance playoffs. He’s a legitimate starting quarterback and the Chargers want to lock him up for years to come.
Herbert has the most all-time three-season passing yards (14,089) and the second-most all-time three-season passing touchdowns at 94, behind Dan Marino’s 98.
The Eagles went 14-1 with Hurts under center this season, and 0-2 without him. There were conversations last offseason if Hurts was really a franchise quarterback. Philly made the right call by not rushing too much and giving it up for someone like Watson.
Hurts threw for 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions in 15 games played, and also rushed for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns. Those 13 rushing scores are the second by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history behind Cam Newton. Hurts is a big reason the Eagles ended up in Super Bowl LVII, and he’s going to get a big overtime. He could be the favorite to win the MVP title next year.
Jackson is going to get paid this offseason, one way or another. Our best guess is that the Ravens end up tagging Jackson in the franchise. According to CBS Sports cap guru Joel Corry, the exclusive franchise designation will be very likely. Four of the last five times quarterbacks have been referred to as franchise players, the exclusive label has been used. This means that other teams cannot negotiate with the player. The 2019 MVP is someone the Ravens want to keep in Baltimore for years to come. We’ll see if that happens. If they don’t want to make a long-term commitment to Jackson, another team will.
The wide receiver market completely exploded last offseason, and now another player can blow the lid off it again. Jefferson is a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year. He led the NFL in catches (128), receiving yards (1,809) and was tied for 11th in receiving touchdowns (8). That 1,809 receiving yards is the sixth most by a receiver in a single season. The 4,825 receiving yards Jefferson recorded is the most receiving yards recorded in a player’s first three seasons in NFL history. Not only that, but he has the most receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2020!
Bosa has been an absolute monster over the past two seasons. After recording 15.5 sacks in 2021, he led the NFL with 18.5 quarterback strikeouts last season. In four total seasons, the former No. 2 overall pick has won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, been named All-Pro and earned three Pro Bowl offers. Bosa ranked first in QB hits last season with 48, and tied for second in tackles for loss with 19. He’s going to get paid.
How much do the Panthers love Burns? Well, they reportedly turned down a trade offer from the Los Angeles Rams that included at least two first-round picks! The former No. 16 overall pick has become a legitimate star and notched a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2022 after recording nine sacks in 2020 and 2021. He has now been named to two consecutive Pro Bowls and is seen from the Carolina forward. office as a cornerstone whose best football is ahead of him. As CBS Sports cap expert Joel Corry pointed out on Twitter in October, if two first-round picks aren’t enough for Burns, then he has to assert that he’s valuable enough to become the best passing thrower. paid from the NFL.
Simmons is at least one of the top three defensive tackles in the NFL behind Aaron Donald and Chris Jones. In 2021, he recorded 54 combined tackles, 8.5 sacks, 16 QB hits, 12 tackles for loss and six passes defended. Simmons was rewarded with second-team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl selection. There were times when he found ways to completely take over the games. The former No. 19 overall recorded three sacks in Tennessee’s playoff loss to Cincinnati, and three sacks in the first half against eventual Super Bowl champion Rams. Simmons also made the life-saving goal-line tackle against the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football” in Week 6.
Simmons battled an ankle injury in 2022 but still tied a career high with 54 combined tackles, 7.5 sacks and seven passes defended in 15 games. Simmons will soon be paid, but it remains to be seen which team will shell out the dollars.
Brown was tagged as a franchise after failing to sign an extension with the Chiefs last offseason. It was previously reported that the extended final offer was a six-year deal that contained $139 million in total salary and a signing bonus of $30.25 million. However, the structure of the deal would have made it a five-year, $95 million deal, which would have made Brown the sixth-highest-paid tackle in the NFL.
Brown was named to his fourth straight Pro Bowl this year. A 26-year-old playing a top position, he can demand a fair amount of change.
Williams said last month he wanted to sign a contract extension ahead of the offseason program. The former No. 3 overall pick is under contract next year through the fifth-year option, but the Jets likely want to lock Williams down for the future – especially given all he has accomplished in 2022. In 16 games played, Williams recorded a career-high 12 sacks, tied a career-high with 55 combined tackles, recorded 12 tackles for loss and 28 QB hits. He was a force on the inside and earned All-Pro honors as well as his first Pro Bowl bid.