Bills' Josh Allen: 'I've Got No Problem' with My Contract amid Growing NFL QB Deals
August 20, 2024
In the years since the Buffalo Bills signed star quarterback Josh Allen to a six-year, $258 million contract, the quarterback market has ballooned, to the point that Allen's $43 million in average annual salary ranks just 13th at the position.
That means that Allen is substantially underpaid at this point, though he isn't looking for a raise just yet, as he told reporters Tuesday:
Nick Veronica @NickVeronicaJosh Allen was asked if he feels underpaid.<br><br>His contract ranks 13th among QBs in average value & 11th in total guarantees.<br><br>But his answer was insightful.<br><br>"I've got no problem with where I'm at right now. I had my day a couple years ago and I'm sure someday I'll have it again." <a href="https://t.co/GNd3Y0tcMX">pic.twitter.com/GNd3Y0tcMX</a>
"Listen, everyone is going to have their day," he said. "I'm happy that everyone is getting what they're worth, right? I think as the game progresses and guys keep getting paid, the market is the market. And I've got no problem with where I am at (financially) right now. I had my day a couple years ago, and I'm sure I'll have it again, you know? But I think the main thing is the main thing, and that's playing football to the best of my ability, and everything else will take care of itself."
Allen, 28, is a two-time Pro Bowler who has led the Bills to the playoffs in five straight seasons. Here are a few of the quarterbacks currently above him in average annual salary:
- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: $55 million per year, one Pro Bowl, one playoff appearance.
- Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers: $55 million per year, no Pro Bowls, one playoff appearance.
- Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins: $53.1 million per year, one Pro Bowl, one playoff appearance.
- Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: $46.1 million per year, two Pro Bowls, one playoff appearance.
And that's not to mention players like Jared Goff or Kirk Cousins, who have their fair share of playoff appearances and Pro Bowl selections but aren't nearly as dynamic as Allen.
Last season, the Bills' superstar threw for 4,306 yards, 28 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, completing 66.5 percent of his passes, while also rushing for 524 yards and another 15 scores.
Turnovers have been a problem, no doubt, but Allen is one of the five best quarterbacks in football, with at least 4,000 passing yards in four straight seasons, 30 or more touchdowns in three of the past four campaigns and 500 or more rushing yards in five of his six NFL seasons.
His current deal takes him through the 2028 campaign—and the Bills had to make major roster moves this offseason to escape salary cap hell, which included Allen restructuring his own deal—so a raise isn't in the cards at the moment.
But an extension will come at some point, and the market has dictated it will be an incredibly lucrative one.
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