Caleb Harris
The Detroit Lions rewarded Jared Goff for his career renaissance this week, signing the quarterback to a record $212 million franchise extension that makes him the second highest paid signal caller in the game, behind only Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals. But Goff likely won’t be the last big-name quarterback to land a lucrative deal before 2024. NFL season, with several others set for new contracts of their own.
Who’s next to get paid below the center? Here are the top candidates, with pros and cons of big-money early extensions from the team’s perspective:
The contract: Instead of exercising a fifth-year option on Love’s rookie contract before 2023, the Packers signed the quarterback to a one-year, $13.5 million extension last May. That contract expires after 2024, meaning Love is on track to hit free agency after this season.
Pros of an extension: Like Aaron Rodgers before him, the 2020 first-round draft pick appeared to benefit from a period of watching and waiting to begin his career. His 2023 debut as Rodgers’ full-time successor got off to an uneven start, but the Utah State product finished as one of the NFL’s most dazzling gunslingers, netting 4,100 passing yards and 30 touchdowns while guiding Green Bay to a surprise run in the playoffs. He has a borderline arm in the top 10, and his production should only increase as his young supporting cast continues to grow. At just 25 years old, it’s hard not to imagine him as the long-term face of the franchise.
Cons of an extension: The Packers thrived late in 2023 by relying on a slew of new, cheap weapons, so throwing big money at Love could intensify the pressure to find discounted help. Most importantly, Love’s reliable playing sample size is still very small: In 18 career starts, he has overseen a 9-9 record, and it has only really been since the second half of 2023 that he has been considered a dynamic starter. . A lucrative extension would clearly be a bet on what he can still become, rather than a reward for what he’s already proven.
The verdict: He’s not going anywhere. The Packers brass was surprisingly candid in early 2023, admitting uncertainty about Love’s long-term future at Lambeau, but he looked every bit a Rodgers or Brett Favre-style playmaker during his first year in charge, and the club has already invested both in its development. In truth, Love may prefer to play 2024 and take advantage of 2025 free agency in extension negotiations, but either way, it’s hard to imagine the Packers allowing their next star quarterback to slip away.
The contract: Tagovailoa will be roughly the 15th-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL in 2024 thanks to a fifth-year option exercised by Miami last offseason, but his rookie contract will expire after the season.
Pros of an extension: It’s quite simple: When healthy and operating in current head coach Mike McDaniel’s system, Tagovailoa has been one of the most efficient and dynamic passers in the league. After a quiet start to his career under a previous regime, the Alabama product repeatedly overcame injuries to grow in both confidence and accuracy on the field, displaying MVP-level production in consecutive seasons. In addition to his video game-like aerial marks, Tagovailoa has also been a consistent winner, recording six consecutive winning records as a starting quarterback dating back to his college days.
Cons of an extension: If Brock Purdy’s elite status is questioned due to his setup with the San Francisco 49ers, it’s only fair to take down Tagovailoa, who has less impact with his legs and also benefits from a vaunted scheme and quick supporting cast. Other major concerns: Tagovailoa’s star numbers have yet to translate into year-end results, he has been noticeably less effective when forced to go off-script, and his injury history is so severe that he has admitted to retiring in 2022.
The verdict: It’s a matter of if, not when, the Dolphins lock him up. One could argue that Miami would be better served using 2024 as a final test for Tua, who will enter his third year with McDaniel, but every day you don’t reach a deal with the quarterback the price potentially skyrockets. Tagovailoa has demonstrated enough growth in a short period of time with the current regime to warrant its support, even if broader issues remain.
The contract: The No. 1 pick in the 2021 draft, Lawrence is technically under contract through 2025 thanks to the Jaguars exercising his fifth-year option this offseason. But after completing three seasons in the NFL, he is now eligible for a new contract, and both he and Jacksonville have publicly expressed interest in an early extension.
Pros of an extension: Financially speaking, if the Jaguars have even a slight inclination to secure him long-term, the time for a deal is now, considering it will save the club money in the future and potentially free up more immediate salary cap space. On the field, Lawrence also showed glimpses of an MVP type, overcoming a dysfunctional rookie-year setup to guide a second-year playoff run and twice-best 4,000 yards passing. At just 24 years old, with prototypical size and arm talent, he theoretically still has a lot of room to grow.
Cons of an extension: Even allowing for the poor circumstances under which his career began, Lawrence has been quite uneven for a former No. 1 pick, enduring alternating stints even under current head coach Doug Pederson. He already has up to 60 career comebacks in 50 games. Those numbers could equalize with better protection and playmaking, but heading into Year 4, Lawrence registers more as a high-upside wild card than a proven steady hand.
The verdict: The Jaguars don’t to need extend Lawrence before 2024, and if there is any front office willing to test the patience of the fan base here, it could very well be this one, led by general manager Trent Baalke. But then again, sooner usually means better when it comes to quarterback negotiations; that way, even if the deal falls through, you can work your way out of it. Lawrence will be in Jacksonville one way or another.
The contract: Prescott and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year, $160 million extension ahead of 2021 free agency, but that deal is set to expire after the 2024 season. would be signed this offseason, the two sides were unable to engage in meaningful negotiations, putting the ninth-year veteran on track to hit the 2025 market.
Pros of an extension: On paper, a new deal for Prescott would theoretically free up short-term cash for Dallas to build around the quarterback, capitalizing on team owner Jerry Jones’ oft-derided and rehashed promise to go “all in” on the title race. Prescott himself is also one of the most established signal-callers in franchise history, guiding five different playoff runs, earning three Pro Bowl nods and three times surpassing 30 touchdown passes as an experienced and respected captain. At age 30, in 2023, he even deserved MVP consideration for his explosive performance.
Cons of an extension: The Cowboys are at a crossroads, with head coach Mike McCarthy also under pressure. Extending Prescott would essentially be a duplication of the current setup. And while his regular season production was rarely lacking, Prescott’s prolific numbers didn’t exactly translate to the biggest stages; in eight years as a starter, he’s gone 2-5 in the playoffs, with just one postseason win in the past half-decade. He has also missed significant time due to injury in two of his last four seasons.
The verdict: Prescott isn’t going anywhere now. But his future beyond this season appears genuinely uncertain. It wouldn’t be crazy for the Cowboys to make a last-minute deal with their longtime quarterback, perhaps in an effort to take some of the pressure off in 2024. But that would go against everything Jones has suggested regarding their approach to this season. . The bet here is that Dallas lets Prescott stick to his current deal, going “all in” to force the Prescott-McCarthy duo to bring home — or at least whiff — significant hardware.
