The 5 highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL

NFL quarterbacks are among the highest paid athletes in the entire world. As the most important position in football, the pay reflects the immense pressure these guys are put under. Philadelphia Eagles fans are familiar with this concept. They saw their signal caller, Jalen Hurts, emerge from a backup in 2020 to an MVP-caliber player last season.

Hurts' superb 2022 season nearly brought Philly its second Vince Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. They narrowly lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, but no one should be disappointed .

Instead, the team and fans can say they finally found their next franchise quarterback. As a result, on April 17, 2023, he signed a five-year $255 million contract extension. Where does this rank among highest paid quarterbacks for 2023?

1. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers ($52.5 million)

The latest quarterback to cash in is Justin Herbert. On July 25th, he inked a five-year extension worth over $262 million. That made him the highest-paid quarterback in the league. Herbert was drafted sixth overall in 2020 (Oregon), and the hope is he can elevate the L.A. Chargers to become one of the better teams in the AFC.

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens ($52 million)

Lamar Jackson's negotiations seemingly went on forever, but when his number hit, it hit big. Despite missing five games in 2022 and representing himself without an agent, he signed a five-year deal worth $260 million on April 27th to upstage a deal Jalen Hurts signed ten days earlier.

3. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles ($51 million)

Philly's quarterback continues to elevate his game year after year. Following the heartbreaking Super Bowl loss, his franchise rewarded him with a five-year contract that will pay him an average of $51 million per year. Hurts will be just 25 years old when the season starts, so he has plenty of time to prove himself as one of the game's best.

4. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos ($49 million)

Following a successful ten-year career for the Seattle Seahawks, one that included a Super Bowl title, Russell Wilson garnered serious interest during the 2022 offseason. He was ultimately traded to the Denver Broncos and signed a five-year contract worth up to $245 million. His play in 2022 didn't live up to the hype, but he has four more years remaining on the deal. We'll see what happens.

5. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals ($46.1 million)

Just a few years ago, Kyler Murray looked like he was going to be a superstar quarterback. He landed on consecutive Pro Bowl rosters and helped guide the Arizona Cardinals to a playoff berth in 2021. As a result, he was awarded a five-year $230.5 million contract in June 2022. Injuries plagued him last season, but he looks to get back to where he was in 2023.

Just outside the top five are some more big names including NFC East rivals Dak Prescott and Daniel Jones.

• Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns ($46 million)
• Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs ($45 million)
• Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills ($43 million)
• Matthew Stafford, Los Angles Rams ($40 million)
• Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys ($40 million)
• Daniel Jones, New York Giants ($40 million)

Who will land the next major deal? We may not have to wait long to see the answer.

Check out some of these other Eagles stories as well.