Why Jalen Hurts extension could be influenced by Patrick Mahomes deal
By nbutler
History suggests teams that end up breaking the bank to pay their quarterback big money tend to have a hard time building a Super Bowl contender that allows them to continue the success they enjoyed before making the decision to do so. Jalen Hurts enjoyed a season as QB1 of the Philadelphia Eagles that proved, once and for all, that he is a legitimate top-five quarterback and an MVP-level player. With the Daniel Jones extension done, the market for the quarterbacks who are looking to be paid this offseason continues to shift. Hurts could command an average salary of 45$-50$ million per year. The question is this. What will his deal look like when done?
Hurts could wind up signing a similarly structured contract to what we have seen Tom Brady ink during his time in New England. He could go the Patrick Mahomes route. He could also break the bank (and no one would blame him if he tried to do so).
Eagles vice president/general manager Howie Roseman is a salary cap wizard. Who knows? Maybe he acquired powers via a deal with the devil. Maybe he rides a wavelength similar to what we saw in the 2011 film Limitless and he’s using 100% of his brain’s capability. Whatever the case may be, no one doubts Roseman will do what is necessary to construct a deal that will pay Hurts fairly and allow this organization some flexibility to be competitive in free agency and continue to build a contender.
So, will Jalen Hurts sign a team-friendly deal or not? The truth is no one knows, but his decision could be influenced by studying Patrick Mahomes’ deal.
During the summer of 2020, Patrick Mahomes signed a ten-year extension worth up to 503$ million. That included $477 million with another $26 million in potential bonuses. Believe it or not, with his contract’s construction, the money is spread in a manner that allows the Kansas City Chiefs to restructure his new deal yearly so he can make much of his money by way of a bonus structure.
Things seem to be working. In 2020, the Chiefs qualified for another Super Bowl. In 2021, they played in yet another AFC Championship Game. This past season, they won their second Super Bowl in four seasons. Despite the healthy sum, Mahome’s deal hasn’t prevented K.C. from winning.
While Mahomes is widely regarded as the best quarterback in the National Football League, no one would deny that Jalen Hurts outplayed him in the Super Bowl. Jalen definitely has the potential to be in the top-three quarterbacks in professional football for years to come.
The Eagles’ offense will remain top-tier and could improve if Hurts takes another step. He’s a scary talent to opposing defensive coordinators. There are theories that he may have to carry the team at times this season and that the Eagles’ defense will be suspect. Still, despite the changes, sometimes great offensive production can be viewed as a defensive strategy. That strategy has led to a lot of wins, for the Eagles and other teams. Don’t be shocked if you see a few shootouts that the Birds finish as the victors.
The Eagles have a great opportunity to become the next dynasty. Jalen Hurts an his price tag will have a lot to do with whether or not Philadelphia becomes one. QB1 is well-known as a team guy. Winning is at the top of his list of priorities. At the end of the day, it’s about the team and winning football games.
The hard work that he has put in has paid off. The intangibles and the ambition have proven to be just as important as his throwing motion. During his first full season as a starter, he took his lumps and got smacked around by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his first playoff appearance.
Something clicked then. Hurts decided he didn’t want to endure that type of loss again. Then, he tasted defeat in Super Bowl LVII like Mahomes tasted disappointment two years prior. Hurts takes every moment as a learning experience, and his study of the reigning MVP could lead to a similar theory.
Many hope Jalen Hurts will ‘take one for the team’. NFL insiders and league executives believe that he might do exactly that. Time will tell what happens. While future wins could hinge on QB1’s price ta, we won’t know how things will turn out until the deal is announced. A hometown discount i.e. team-friendly deal could help alleviate the concerns of future ‘cap hell’. If Hurts wants to be successful, and we all know he does, taking one for the team may be the best option.. for now, but with an ever-increasing cap, who knows how the wind might blow.
