Something has to give. (QB Salaries)

[DandyDon52]

The QB market needs a reset, and the phrase "this is the going market rate" or something similar needs to be buried. Just because it a certain QBs time for a contract doesn't mean he gets paid top tier money i.e. Carr, Cousins n Garrapollo.

I don't think the Cowboys can afford Dak, at this point...they should've paid years ago if they wanted him. Now it's get what you can for him or not a team built around him that can win.

the phrase "this is the going market rate
Just because it a certain QBs time for a contract doesn't mean he gets paid top tier money.....this is insane isnt it?
It throws out the how good is this guy, and how much can we afford to pay him thoughts.
This is something agents have created, and the stupid billionaire owners have allowed to happen , because these teams are their toys,
And I think they like many fans fall in love with some of their top players, and they cant stand the idea of a player they love playing for another team,
so they pay some ridiculous amount to keep that player they love.
Jerry was in love with Romo,Witten, and with Dez, and he over valued them, and now it is elliot, jaylon,lawrence, lamb,Cooper, and yeah Dakkkkk!

Other owners do the same thing, fall in love with certain players, and they pay them big money even though many fans can see they are not worth it.

So the only way to end this , is for GM's and owners to just stop paying their star players based on the market rate. if that player goes elsewhere so be it.
The situation with dak is this whole scenario which has been going on awhile, and dak and france are working it to max out what he gets.

So will Jerry cave , or will he say no
I am not doing this, that is up to him.
Can cowboys get by without dak?
Sure they can get by without any 1 player, and at some point dak is going to leave or retire, they will have to find
another qb then, so why not just do it now and set a standard for other stupid owners.

 

[LittleD]

None of this makes sense. They had that defense last year WITHOUT PAYING THE QUARTERBACK.

Tampa's defense isn't what you're making it out to be. They get torched if KC is healthy on the OL

Jerry has to overpay to even get a good defensive player to come to Dallas these days. Until we get a great defense, Dak is wasted money, and we are going to keep losing to better teams.
Hardly any players want to come to Dallas or stay in Dallas these days.

 

[JonesBoys]

I have been critical of NFL GM’s emphasis on QB salaries and perceived “market value.” Right now Mahomes is probably at the top of the pecking order in terms of QBs. His salary averages $45m per year. That’s too much, but at least he is the best in the game.

Let’s say you bring in a journeyman QB placeholder to pair with a draft pick as a bridge to the future. What is the journeyman QB worth?

I would argue if he can’t get you to the SB—- not much. Why pay even half of what Mahomes is being paid, if the QB can’t deliver you a championship?

I have been saying for a long time that NFL coaches were looking for a specific type of player instead of the best football player. Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Drew Brees, Baker Mayfield....none of them (and others) fit the historical QB prototype.

Now that teams are looking outside the standard cookie cutter QB they are starting to find more viable QBs.

Back to salary—-Dak may get paid $40m per year but he is no where nearly as good as Mahomes. I wouldn’t pay Dak more than $35M —-and if he wanted more than that—-I would be looking for a new QB.

Dak can get you to a SB but man, he looked very pedestrian at times, especially against better competition. It’s arguable that he’s not even a top 10QB.

I would like to have Dak playing QB for us for the next 5 years. But $40m per year is stupid money, and I hope the Cowboys dig in and don’t pay it, if that is what Dak as asking for. Flip Dak for picks and move on.

I agree. I’m not buying into the market dictates you pay Dak that much. Sorry, I’m drafting a QB. What have they done with Dak? Now he’s going to eat up that much cap space and we should expect better results?

 

[Doomsday101]

I wouldn't pay more than the 30 mill Dak isn't even worth. Russell Wilson is worth his contract, Dak is probably worth 22-25 no where near 40.

cap and contracts are not some fixed scale, it is constantly moving. 22 mill with 2 years would put Dak at the bottom pay for a starting QB. As for the 40 mill within 2 years that will not even be top pay as the cap continues to grow and new FA QB hit the market. Looking at current contracts as some fixed pay scale is not reality

 

[Future]

Jerry has to overpay to even get a good defensive player to come to Dallas these days. Until we get a great defense, Dak is wasted money, and we are going to keep losing to better teams.
Hardly any players want to come to Dallas or stay in Dallas these days.

There is no truth to this lol

 

[CouchCoach]

Justin Hebert will reset the market four years from now. He is the best young QB in the league.

LAC won't let it get to 4 years, they'll try to get it done early. DAL tried but they couldn't come to terms.

The contracts of Allen, Jackson, Mayfield, Murray and Herbert will probably all top whatever Prescott gets.

We're all focused on now and France and Prescott are looking forward. You can bet every good agent has the chart projecting where the QB salaries are heads and where they'll top in for each year. When Rodgers did his deal, he was at the top, where is he now? Unhappy according to reports. And I think they saw this coming and that's why they spent their 1st on Love.

The greatest thing any team can have is a good QB in his 1st contract. The Cowboys had that and squandered it. I believe they have the offense to go back to that well in this draft. Doesn't have to be Lawrence or even Wilson to have a season like Prescott had in his rookie season but they must address this defense. WR's that run routes like the Cowboys 3 WR's can help a young rookie QB a hell of a lot.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I wouldn't pay more than the 30 mill Dak isn't even worth. Russell Wilson is worth his contract, Dak is probably worth 22-25 no where near 40.

what does 30 get you in Dak, that 40 doesn't? if he is not worth it, then why even consider 30!!!! it makes zero sense.....

Russell wilson got his contract 3 years ago, and he hit 35M average....that was three years ago...market has moved.

Dak is clearly a top 10 QB. if you don't think he is the answer, 20, 22, 30 make zero sense...your stance should be I don't want him at all...and that's fine....

you just sound like you are unhappy about NFL QB values and just whining about Dak as a result

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

Justin Hebert will reset the market four years from now. He is the best young QB in the league.

if he pans out...we will wait and see. Wentz was good too his first year, his second year they talked MVP...look at him now.

so lets put the annointing oil away. for now, in immediate future, Jackson, Allen will push it to 45, and 3 years or perhaps 2 years from now wilson will push to 50 similar to mahomes......

 

[Jarv]

You made a very good argument for not paying Dak more than $35 mil, which I agree, but you lost all credibility when you said Dak is no where near Mahomes or even in the Top 10 best QBs. That's a bunch of bunk, and everyone knows that. Dak is definitely Top 5 - 7 and is pretty good compared to Mahomes. The film and stats don't lie.

Since Dak is being reported to have passed up on $30 mil back in 2018... $35 mil back in 2019... and now demanding between $40 - $45 to become the 2nd highest paid player ever after Mahomes, it is clear Dak is all about the money. He has the audacity to claim he deserves respect? Pfft!

Jerry needs to put the non-exclusive franchise tag on Dak IMMEDIATELY and allow other teams to bid on Dak. If no one offers $35 mil or higher, you have the option to keep Dak at $35 mil or less per year. If someone offers him more, let them have Dak... as long as they compensate the Cowboys with two 1st round picks. From there, Jerry could decide to bring in a veteran QB for much cheaper while drafting another QB for the future. Heck, maybe trade a 2nd and a conditional 4th for Russell Wilson and pick up his remaining much cheaper contract for now.

As for Dak, he can go skate for his ridiculous overpaid riches somewhere else. Your greed lost me, Dak!!!!

Wow, we are finally agreeing about Dak!

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

the phrase "this is the going market rate
Just because it a certain QBs time for a contract doesn't mean he gets paid top tier money.....this is insane isnt it?
It throws out the how good is this guy, and how much can we afford to pay him thoughts.
This is something agents have created, and the stupid billionaire owners have allowed to happen , because these teams are their toys,
And I think they like many fans fall in love with some of their top players, and they cant stand the idea of a player they love playing for another team,
so they pay some ridiculous amount to keep that player they love.
Jerry was in love with Romo,Witten, and with Dez, and he over valued them, and now it is elliot, jaylon,lawrence, lamb,Cooper, and yeah Dakkkkk!

Other owners do the same thing, fall in love with certain players, and they pay them big money even though many fans can see they are not worth it.

So the only way to end this , is for GM's and owners to just stop paying their star players based on the market rate. if that player goes elsewhere so be it.
The situation with dak is this whole scenario which has been going on awhile, and dak and france are working it to max out what he gets.

So will Jerry cave , or will he say no
I am not doing this, that is up to him.
Can cowboys get by without dak?
Sure they can get by without any 1 player, and at some point dak is going to leave or retire, they will have to find
another qb then, so why not just do it now and set a standard for other stupid owners.

respectfully I disagree. its not what the agents created. they can't do that on their own. its the owner that pay them too. mid level QBs like Bridgewater are getting paid in mid 20s. Fitzpatrick on his 7th (or is it 8th) team got almost 6M. Grapolo got 27M a few years ago.....so its obvious the market has moved.......

and yes, the cap is considered. the good GMs, owners, take cap into account, how they can manipulate it and how they can fit certain players under the cap.....

Jerry's judgement has always been in question. Jerry plays GM of a fantasy football....two years ago, he was fantasizing we are going to make a run at it and caved in and gave Zeke the largest RB contract. why? I would have told him to sit out. don't get paid, then either traded him or then drafted a RB. they are the easiest type of position to find and they pay immediate dividends. no team should ever extend a RB for crazy money... He caved in and let his personal feelings get in the way and gave Jaylon Club Foot Smith and made him top 5 RB..... not sure why? then he now wants to play hardball with a clearly a top 10 QB.....why? either let the guy walk and go find your next QB or sign him.....OK, you say we don't want to over pay!....overpay by how much? 3 or 4M...is that really going to screw everything up? if he is your QB, then pay, move on and figure out your next moves....if he is not and you are not sure, then why even bother.

and your statement, GM/Owner stop paying star players based on market rate, made zero sense....its the market rate because GM/Owners paid. if they don't and it moves down, that would become the new market rate.....there is no agency setting the market rate!!!! its the negotiations and contracts that determine it....

unfortunately its a QB driven league. the easiest/cheapest path to the superbowl is through a QB.....it will cost heck of a lot more if you don't have one...

 

[Starforever]

France, knows that the Cowboys can afford the money, so he and Dak, are willing to wait for Dallas to cave. If he plays this year on the tag, and plays decent; someone will be willing to pay him on next year, and the Cowboys will start from scratch. In business, only the strong will survive. Any player receiving a large contracts, means nothing to the team overall. Players come an go, but the money continues to flow. If they lose Dak, they will bring in someone else that needs to be paid. If that player performs at a high level, they will be back at the bargaining table. Mahomes, is not worth his contract, but the Chiefs are willing to pay him. Dak, wanting to be paid, is not why this team has stunk it up, for the last quarter century. Paying him, will not add to any poor play, by the team. There have been good players on this team, but the coaching staff did not know how to use them. The only constant during the past 25 years, has been Mr. Jones. Coaches and players, have come and gone during his tenure, but nary glimpse of a championship.

 

[Sandyf]

While statistically your prediction may have merit one never knows as Dak himself could be used as an example wherein Dallas hit on a 4th round drafted QB....much like NE hit on 6th rounder Brady.....so while again statistically there is some merit you never know what could happen in free agency or in the draft so you can't simply give Dak what he wants based solely on the 'fear' of what may or may not happen.

As a NavyVet, I do agree although just the thought of reliving the late 90s into 2010s scares the living HE?? out of me. I like the idea of drafting a QB every year and I guess Newman might make sense in the 3rd or 4th round if available but just reviewing history for QBs from 2008 to 2017 is just gruesome. Will Dak take us to a Super Bowl, who really knows and that's not rhetorical. The cap is going to go way up over the next few years and even $45 million a year average will look like a bargain. Sure "fear" is something we should overcome and six tours in Vietnam sure helped me with that although not sure how we survived. For me, I would rather be 9-7 to 11-5 every year than 6-10 and having to draft a QB high every year.

 

[Starforever]

None of this makes sense. They had that defense last year WITHOUT PAYING THE QUARTERBACK.

Tampa's defense isn't what you're making it out to be. They get torched if KC is healthy on the OL

Great point. Dak's salary, has had no effect on the abysmal team that we currently support.

 

[Creeper]

Do people realize Mahomes will not see $45 million in a single season until he is 7 years into his contract? In 2021 he will get $22 million from the Chiefs including a $21 million roster bonus. Next year he will get $29.5 with a $27.4 roster bonus. Average salary is actually a myth. Mahomes' salary will not exceed $2.5 million until 2027 with the exception of 2023 when he will get $5.5 million. His contract is mostly roster bonuses. So IF he stays with the Chiefs until 2032 he will average $45 million a year.

The problem with Dak is if he wants a 3 year deal, he has to be willing to take less money. Mahomes's average yearly compensation over 3 years is $34.2 million which includes his $10 million signing bonus. Mahomes will average $35.1 million over 4 years and $36.5 million over 5 years. The Cowboys reportedly offered Dak $35 million over 5 years which even by Mahomes's standard is a very fair contract.

So when you look at it this way, who is being unreasonable, Jerry or Dak?

 

[38 Special]

At one point in time Stafford was the highest paid QB in the NFL. Maybe for a month or so, but he was. Was he the best? Not by a long shot. It’s the nature of the game.

Good thing it was a 5 year contract!

 

[38 Special]

Do people realize Mahomes will not see $45 million in a single season until he is 7 years into his contract? In 2021 he will get $22 million from the Chiefs including a $21 million roster bonus. Next year he will get $29.5 with a $27.4 roster bonus. Average salary is actually a myth. Mahomes' salary will not exceed $2.5 million until 2027 with the exception of 2023 when he will get $5.5 million. His contract is mostly roster bonuses. So IF he stays with the Chiefs until 2032 he will average $45 million a year.

The problem with Dak is if he wants a 3 year deal, he has to be willing to take less money. Mahomes's average yearly compensation over 3 years is $34.2 million which includes his $10 million signing bonus. Mahomes will average $35.1 million over 4 years and $36.5 million over 5 years. The Cowboys reportedly offered Dak $35 million over 5 years which even by Mahomes's standard is a very fair contract.

So when you look at it this way, who is being unreasonable, Jerry or Dak?

That’s a great point.

The Mahomes contract is so long that it is basically two contracts. With his pay being at $35M over four years, even matching that with Dak feels like a stretch. $35M for 5 is starting to look reasonable.

 

[Zekeats]

cap and contracts are not some fixed scale, it is constantly moving. 22 mill with 2 years would put Dak at the bottom pay for a starting QB. As for the 40 mill within 2 years that will not even be top pay as the cap continues to grow and new FA QB hit the market. Looking at current contracts as some fixed pay scale is not reality

Understood, but he's not worth what he's asking for and it's apparent that ownership agrees.

 

[Verdict]

cap and contracts are not some fixed scale, it is constantly moving. 22 mill with 2 years would put Dak at the bottom pay for a starting QB. As for the 40 mill within 2 years that will not even be top pay as the cap continues to grow and new FA QB hit the market. Looking at current contracts as some fixed pay scale is not reality

That’s a bit of a fallacy. While that has been what has happened in the past that does not mean that it’s a good idea to pay your QB as a top 2 or 3 QB when he is probably between 8 and 15 range, just because it’s “his turn”.

 

[Verdict]

Do people realize Mahomes will not see $45 million in a single season until he is 7 years into his contract? In 2021 he will get $22 million from the Chiefs including a $21 million roster bonus. Next year he will get $29.5 with a $27.4 roster bonus. Average salary is actually a myth. Mahomes' salary will not exceed $2.5 million until 2027 with the exception of 2023 when he will get $5.5 million. His contract is mostly roster bonuses. So IF he stays with the Chiefs until 2032 he will average $45 million a year.

The problem with Dak is if he wants a 3 year deal, he has to be willing to take less money. Mahomes's average yearly compensation over 3 years is $34.2 million which includes his $10 million signing bonus. Mahomes will average $35.1 million over 4 years and $36.5 million over 5 years. The Cowboys reportedly offered Dak $35 million over 5 years which even by Mahomes's standard is a very fair contract.

So when you look at it this way, who is being unreasonable, Jerry or Dak?

Very good post. Puts it in perspective.

 

[Doomsday101]

Understood, but he's not worth what he's asking for and it's apparent that ownership agrees.

If we want to go down that rabbit hole I don't think any player is worth these price tags but it is the NFL and these are the market value. As for exactly what he is looking for? I have yet to see a contract signed so until then everything is speculation I would also add using these avg pay we all post including myself is not exactly how these contracts work, how the deal is structured and how it pays out on a year to year basis tends to be different than an overall avg of the salary. Not to mention all these contract have out years in them. Dak is only doing what every player does when they hit FA