Comparing NFL QBs pay, reg season and playoff success

[Bobhaze]

With the Dak Prescott contract negations in full force, the discussion among some Cowboys fans about Dak being overrated and/or overpaid could use some context.

For the sake of brevity, I’m going to list current NFL starting QBs that are on post rookie contract deals, what they are paid in annual salary for the upcoming season, what their reg season record is as a starter and how many playoff wins and championships they have won. In other words, these are the QBs teams have chosen to spend big bucks on.

QB. Yearly Salary. Reg season record. Playoff record. SB wins

• Russell Wilson $35 million. 75-36-1. 8-5. 1
• Ben Roethilisberger $34 million. 144-69-1. 13-8. 1
• Aaron Rodgers. $33.5 mil. 100-57-1. 9-7. 1
• Matt Ryan. $30 mil. 102-72. 4-6. 0
• Kirk Cousins. $28 mil. 34-37-2. 0-1. 0
• Jimmy Garoppolo. $27.5 mil 8-2. 0-0. 0
• Matt Stafford. $27 million. 66-75. 0-3. 0
• Drew Brees. $25 million. 155-108. 8-7. 1
• Derek Carr. $25 million. 32-46. 0-0. 0
• Andrew Luck. $24.6 mil. 53-33. 4-4. 0
• Alex Smith. $23.5 mil. 94-66-1. 2-5. 0
• Joe Flacco. $22 million. 96-67. 10-5 1
• Nick Foles. $22 million. 26-18. 4-2. 1
• Eli Manning. $21 million. 116-114. 8-4. 2
• Cam Newton. $21 million. 68-53-1. 3-4. 0
• Jameis Winston. $20.9 mil. 21-33. 0-0. 0
• Marcus Mariota. $20.9 mil. 27-28. 0-0. 0
• Phillip Rivers $20.8 mil. 118-90. 5-6. 0
• Andy Dalton $16 million. 68-50 0-4. 0
• Tom Brady. $15 million. 207-60. 30-10. 6

Tom Brady is clearly the best QB in performance but also clearly the outlier here. He chooses to take a lesser salary for cap purposes.

Here are Dak’s numbers so far compared to the guys above:
Reg season record: 32-16
Playoff record: 1-2

Compared to guys like Stafford, Garoppolo, Cousins, and Carr, Dak has already surpassed them.

The most important context to keep in mind is this: ALL of these NFL teams that are paying most of these QBs big bucks NOT based on performance, but more so based on what they perceive as POTENTIAL to take them to a championship. It’s perceived value.

Comparing Dak to most guys on this list making above $20 million per year, he will definitely get paid market value. And if Dallas chose not to pay him, the line would immediately form with other teams wanting to get him.

Like it or not, Dak’s name is about to be added to this list and it will certainly be in the range of $25-32 million.

 

[HungryLion]

With the Dak Prescott contract negations in full force, the discussion among some Cowboys fans about Dak being overrated and/or overpaid could use some context.

For the sake of brevity, I’m going to list current NFL starting QBs that are on post rookie contract deals, what they are paid in annual salary for the upcoming season, what their reg season record is as a starter and how many playoff wins and championships they have won. In other words, these are the QBs teams have chosen to spend big bucks on.

QB. Yearly Salary. Reg season record. Playoff record. SB wins
Russell Wilson $35 million. 75-36-1. 8-5. 1
Ben Roethilisberger $34 million. 144-69-1. 13-8. 1
Aaron Rodgers. $33.5 mil. 100-57-1. 9-7. 1
Matt Ryan. $30 mil. 102-72. 4-6. 0
Kirk Cousins. $28 mil. 34-37-2. 0-1. 0
Jimmy Garoppolo. $27.5 mil 8-2. 0-0. 0
Matt Stafford. $27 million. 66-75. 0-3. 0
Drew Brees. $25 million. 155-108. 8-7. 1
Derek Carr. $25 million. 32-46. 0-0. 0
Andrew Luck. $24.6 mil. 53-33. 4-4. 0
Alex Smith. $23.5 mil. 94-66-1. 2-5. 0
Joe Flacco. $22 million. 96-67. 10-5 1
Nick Foles. $22 million. 26-18. 4-2. 1
Eli Manning. $21 million. 116-114. 8-4. 2
Cam Newton. $21 million. 68-53-1. 3-4. 0
Jameis Winston. $20.9 mil. 21-33. 0-0. 0
Marcus Mariota. $20.9 mil. 27-28. 0-0. 0
Phillip Rivers $20.8 mil. 118-90. 5-6. 0
Andy Dalton $16 million. 68-50 0-4. 0
Tom Brady. $15 million. 207-60. 30-10. 6

Tom Brady is clearly the best QB in performance but also clearly the outlier here. He chooses to take a lesser salary for cap purposes.

Here are Dak’s numbers so far compared to the guys above:
Reg season record: 32-16
Playoff record: 1-2

Compared to guys like Stafford, Garoppolo, Cousins, and Carr, Dak has already surpassed them.

The most important context to keep in mind is this: ALL of these NFL teams that are paying most of these QBs big bucks NOT based on performance, but more so based on what they perceive as POTENTIAL to take them to a championship. It’s perceived value.

Comparing Dak to most guys on this list making above $20 million per year, he will definitely get paid market value. And if Dallas chose not to pay him, the line would immediately form with other teams wanting to get him.

Like it or not, Dak’s name is about to be added to this list and it will certainly be in the range of $25-32 million.

Appreciate your time and effort. Good post.

I would do backflips If the cowboys can get Dak for 25 mill. That would be a deal.

I think 30 is probably more realistic.

 

[Pompey-Cowboy]

Pretty sure the FO already know what they are gonna pay Dak.

It will be an amount that has nothing to do with what any of us say on any of these many threads.

 

[Bobhaze]

I hope Cowboys fans notice how many NFL teams throw big amounts of cash at guys that have done less than Dak. Derek Carr? Kirk Cousins? Jimmy Garoppolo? The Bucs are paying Jameis Winston over 20 mil a year and he’s never even had a winning season.

 

[Jake]

With the Dak Prescott contract negations in full force, the discussion among some Cowboys fans about Dak being overrated and/or overpaid could use some context.

Tom Brady is clearly the best QB in performance but also clearly the outlier here. He chooses to take a lesser salary for cap purposes.

It's an easy choice when your wife is worth $400 million.

 

[Fletch]

With the Dak Prescott contract negations in full force, the discussion among some Cowboys fans about Dak being overrated and/or overpaid could use some context.

For the sake of brevity, I’m going to list current NFL starting QBs that are on post rookie contract deals, what they are paid in annual salary for the upcoming season, what their reg season record is as a starter and how many playoff wins and championships they have won. In other words, these are the QBs teams have chosen to spend big bucks on.

QB. Yearly Salary. Reg season record. Playoff record. SB wins

• Russell Wilson $35 million. 75-36-1. 8-5. 1
• Ben Roethilisberger $34 million. 144-69-1. 13-8. 1
• Aaron Rodgers. $33.5 mil. 100-57-1. 9-7. 1
• Matt Ryan. $30 mil. 102-72. 4-6. 0
• Kirk Cousins. $28 mil. 34-37-2. 0-1. 0
• Jimmy Garoppolo. $27.5 mil 8-2. 0-0. 0
• Matt Stafford. $27 million. 66-75. 0-3. 0
• Drew Brees. $25 million. 155-108. 8-7. 1
• Derek Carr. $25 million. 32-46. 0-0. 0
• Andrew Luck. $24.6 mil. 53-33. 4-4. 0
• Alex Smith. $23.5 mil. 94-66-1. 2-5. 0
• Joe Flacco. $22 million. 96-67. 10-5 1
• Nick Foles. $22 million. 26-18. 4-2. 1
• Eli Manning. $21 million. 116-114. 8-4. 2
• Cam Newton. $21 million. 68-53-1. 3-4. 0
• Jameis Winston. $20.9 mil. 21-33. 0-0. 0
• Marcus Mariota. $20.9 mil. 27-28. 0-0. 0
• Phillip Rivers $20.8 mil. 118-90. 5-6. 0
• Andy Dalton $16 million. 68-50 0-4. 0
• Tom Brady. $15 million. 207-60. 30-10. 6

Tom Brady is clearly the best QB in performance but also clearly the outlier here. He chooses to take a lesser salary for cap purposes.

Here are Dak’s numbers so far compared to the guys above:
Reg season record: 32-16
Playoff record: 1-2

Compared to guys like Stafford, Garoppolo, Cousins, and Carr, Dak has already surpassed them.

The most important context to keep in mind is this: ALL of these NFL teams that are paying most of these QBs big bucks NOT based on performance, but more so based on what they perceive as POTENTIAL to take them to a championship. It’s perceived value.

Comparing Dak to most guys on this list making above $20 million per year, he will definitely get paid market value. And if Dallas chose not to pay him, the line would immediately form with other teams wanting to get him.

Like it or not, Dak’s name is about to be added to this list and it will certainly be in the range of $25-32 million.

It was being said that the Pats organization were paying Tom Brady’s company for bogus services, and in return, Tom was taking less pay from the Patriots because it was being paid back through his own business.

 

[Bobhaze]

Some funny stats from the QB pay numbers....

• Jimmy G has won a whopping 8 games as a starter. That means he has been paid be over $3 mil per win.
• Kirk Cousins is the 5th highest paid QB yet has had only one winning season and never won a single playoff game.
• Eli M is only two games above .500 as a starter in reg season
• Nick Foles has less reg season wins than Dak.

 

[Hennessy_King]

It's an easy choice when your wife is worth $400 million.

It's an easier choice when you circumvent the cap by opening up your tb12 training facility a 3 minute walk away from the patriots facility.

 

[pacboyX]

It was being said that the Pats organization were paying Tom Brady’s company for bogus services, and in return, Tom was taking less pay from the Patriots because it was being paid back through his own business.

Exactly like you don’t think there are other avenues to get somebody money. Especially when you have such a close relationship with someone.

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

DeMarcus Lawrence is getting 21 million a year so I really expect Dak to get somewhere around 28. Wins matter most in the NFL.

 

[GhostOfPelluer]

With the Dak Prescott contract negations in full force, the discussion among some Cowboys fans about Dak being overrated and/or overpaid could use some context.

For the sake of brevity, I’m going to list current NFL starting QBs that are on post rookie contract deals, what they are paid in annual salary for the upcoming season, what their reg season record is as a starter and how many playoff wins and championships they have won. In other words, these are the QBs teams have chosen to spend big bucks on.

QB. Yearly Salary. Reg season record. Playoff record. SB wins

• Russell Wilson $35 million. 75-36-1. 8-5. 1
• Ben Roethilisberger $34 million. 144-69-1. 13-8. 1
• Aaron Rodgers. $33.5 mil. 100-57-1. 9-7. 1
• Matt Ryan. $30 mil. 102-72. 4-6. 0
• Kirk Cousins. $28 mil. 34-37-2. 0-1. 0
• Jimmy Garoppolo. $27.5 mil 8-2. 0-0. 0
• Matt Stafford. $27 million. 66-75. 0-3. 0
• Drew Brees. $25 million. 155-108. 8-7. 1
• Derek Carr. $25 million. 32-46. 0-0. 0
• Andrew Luck. $24.6 mil. 53-33. 4-4. 0
• Alex Smith. $23.5 mil. 94-66-1. 2-5. 0
• Joe Flacco. $22 million. 96-67. 10-5 1
• Nick Foles. $22 million. 26-18. 4-2. 1
• Eli Manning. $21 million. 116-114. 8-4. 2
• Cam Newton. $21 million. 68-53-1. 3-4. 0
• Jameis Winston. $20.9 mil. 21-33. 0-0. 0
• Marcus Mariota. $20.9 mil. 27-28. 0-0. 0
• Phillip Rivers $20.8 mil. 118-90. 5-6. 0
• Andy Dalton $16 million. 68-50 0-4. 0
• Tom Brady. $15 million. 207-60. 30-10. 6

Tom Brady is clearly the best QB in performance but also clearly the outlier here. He chooses to take a lesser salary for cap purposes.

Here are Dak’s numbers so far compared to the guys above:
Reg season record: 32-16
Playoff record: 1-2

Compared to guys like Stafford, Garoppolo, Cousins, and Carr, Dak has already surpassed them.

The most important context to keep in mind is this: ALL of these NFL teams that are paying most of these QBs big bucks NOT based on performance, but more so based on what they perceive as POTENTIAL to take them to a championship. It’s perceived value.

Comparing Dak to most guys on this list making above $20 million per year, he will definitely get paid market value. And if Dallas chose not to pay him, the line would immediately form with other teams wanting to get him.

Like it or not, Dak’s name is about to be added to this list and it will certainly be in the range of $25-32 million.

Love the logical, analytical approach taken here. It's much better than an eye test and explains where the market rate is coming from. Nice. I see him slating in alongside Matt Ryan without too much consternation.

 

[jazzcat22]

DeMarcus Lawrence is getting 21 million a year so I really expect Dak to get somewhere around 28. Wins matter most in the NFL.

Sounds about right.
Probably the range of the 1st offer, 28 and the counter offer was 32. Gussying only though.
or could have been 26 and countered at 32

 

[Bobhaze]

Other amazing QB stats that jumped out at me:

• Tom Brady has won 30 playoff games- that’s 22 more wins than Jimmy G has regular season wins.
• How bad is Jameis Winston? If the Buccaneers go 14-2 this year with him as starter, his record as a starter will be 35-35. LOL!
• Kirk Cousins has 34 wins in 74 reg season starts; Dak has 32 wins in 48 reg season starts.
• Big Ben has started 214 games as QB; Jimmy Garoppolo has started 10 games.
• Joe Flacco and Alex Smith have almost identical salaries and reg season wins. But Flacco has won 10 playoff games compared to 2 for Alex Smith.

 

[Diehardblues]

With the Dak Prescott contract negations in full force, the discussion among some Cowboys fans about Dak being overrated and/or overpaid could use some context.

For the sake of brevity, I’m going to list current NFL starting QBs that are on post rookie contract deals, what they are paid in annual salary for the upcoming season, what their reg season record is as a starter and how many playoff wins and championships they have won. In other words, these are the QBs teams have chosen to spend big bucks on.

QB. Yearly Salary. Reg season record. Playoff record. SB wins

• Russell Wilson $35 million. 75-36-1. 8-5. 1
• Ben Roethilisberger $34 million. 144-69-1. 13-8. 1
• Aaron Rodgers. $33.5 mil. 100-57-1. 9-7. 1
• Matt Ryan. $30 mil. 102-72. 4-6. 0
• Kirk Cousins. $28 mil. 34-37-2. 0-1. 0
• Jimmy Garoppolo. $27.5 mil 8-2. 0-0. 0
• Matt Stafford. $27 million. 66-75. 0-3. 0
• Drew Brees. $25 million. 155-108. 8-7. 1
• Derek Carr. $25 million. 32-46. 0-0. 0
• Andrew Luck. $24.6 mil. 53-33. 4-4. 0
• Alex Smith. $23.5 mil. 94-66-1. 2-5. 0
• Joe Flacco. $22 million. 96-67. 10-5 1
• Nick Foles. $22 million. 26-18. 4-2. 1
• Eli Manning. $21 million. 116-114. 8-4. 2
• Cam Newton. $21 million. 68-53-1. 3-4. 0
• Jameis Winston. $20.9 mil. 21-33. 0-0. 0
• Marcus Mariota. $20.9 mil. 27-28. 0-0. 0
• Phillip Rivers $20.8 mil. 118-90. 5-6. 0
• Andy Dalton $16 million. 68-50 0-4. 0
• Tom Brady. $15 million. 207-60. 30-10. 6

Tom Brady is clearly the best QB in performance but also clearly the outlier here. He chooses to take a lesser salary for cap purposes.

Here are Dak’s numbers so far compared to the guys above:
Reg season record: 32-16
Playoff record: 1-2

Compared to guys like Stafford, Garoppolo, Cousins, and Carr, Dak has already surpassed them.

The most important context to keep in mind is this: ALL of these NFL teams that are paying most of these QBs big bucks NOT based on performance, but more so based on what they perceive as POTENTIAL to take them to a championship. It’s perceived value.

Comparing Dak to most guys on this list making above $20 million per year, he will definitely get paid market value. And if Dallas chose not to pay him, the line would immediately form with other teams wanting to get him.

Like it or not, Dak’s name is about to be added to this list and it will certainly be in the range of $25-32 million.

And if it’s that high it will be too much for his talent level at this time. I’d feel much more comfortable with a salary in the neighborhood of 17-21 million for 3 years. If he surpassed our expectations in next couple years then we can open up the checkbook.

 

[Diehardblues]

Other amazing QB stats that jumped out at me:

• Tom Brady has won 30 playoff games- that’s 22 more wins than Jimmy G has regular season wins.
• How bad is Jameis Winston? If the Buccaneers go 14-2 this year with him as starter, his record as a starter will be 35-35. LOL!
• Kirk Cousins has 34 wins in 74 reg season starts; Dak has 32 wins in 48 reg season starts.
• Big Ben has started 214 games as QB; Jimmy Garoppolo has started 10 games.
• Joe Flacco and Alex Smith have almost identical salaries and reg season wins. But Flacco has won 10 playoff games compared to 2 for Alex Smith.

It’s not just about teams wins IMO. It’s about talent level.

Only Belichick has more wins than Garrett in last 3 years but does anyone think he should be compensated as such?

 

[Diehardblues]

I really doubt there’s a big line waiting to over pay Dak?

We’ve already seen what he is without Elite talent around him.

So what Elite teams will be pursuing him?

 

[Bobhaze]

I really doubt there’s a big line waiting to over pay Dak?

We’ve already seen what he is without Elite talent around him.

So what Elite teams will be pursuing him?

Doesn’t matter Greg. We can argue all day long into the night. The Cowboys are going to sign Dak to a deal worth somewhere between $25-32 million per season. Regardless of what any fan thinks.

I think Dak should be ranked somewhere between the 10-15 range among starting NFL QBs. I like him a lot more than you do. Sure he has flaws. But again, regardless of what we think Greg, this is going to happen soon. Dak will be one of the top 5-10 paid QBs in the NFL. And I’m fine with that in the context of the rest of the league.

 

[Diehardblues]

Doesn’t matter Greg. We can argue all day long into the night. The Cowboys are going to sign Dak to a deal worth somewhere between $25-32 million per season. Regardless of what any fan thinks.

I think Dak should be ranked somewhere between the 10-15 range among starting NFL QBs. I like him a lot more than you do. Sure he has flaws. But again, regardless of what we think Greg, this is going to happen soon. Dak will be one of the top 5-10 paid QBs in the NFL. And I’m fine with that in the context of the rest of the league.

I’m not arguing they aren’t going to sign him. That doesn’t mean we have to agree with the deal he signs nor the potential effects.

It’s not about whether we like him or not. It’s not personal with me. Strictly business...

And I raised some valid questions you ignored.

 

[CouchCoach]

I see posters using the term "market value" and then not wanting to pay Prescott in that 30M area. It doesn't have as much to do with him as the fact that every team has to have a QB1 and that is driving the market, not the quality of the QB's.

Every team has to ask themselves the same question, if not him then who takes the snaps? Think MIN wanted to give Cousins that deal? They knew that if they didn't some other team most likely would and they'd still need a QB1.

Then there's the fan element that every owner should be striving to satisfy. Is my owner doing everything feasible to field the best team? There are probably not a lot of Cousins fans in MIN just like Dalton fans in CIN but every football fan should understand the dynamics at work. There are just a few Tier 1 QB's and look at those playoff and SB records.

The options other than paying Prescott market value are just not there. They weren't there in this draft and not likely to be in the next two drafts without selling out the draft and there will be teams doing that so the competition for the blue chip QB's will be intense and mistakes will be made.

Owners do not pay QB's for stats, they pay them to win and he's a 66% QB and that puts him in some expensive company at QB.

 

[Diehardblues]

I see posters using the term "market value" and then not wanting to pay Prescott in that 30M area. It doesn't have as much to do with him as the fact that every team has to have a QB1 and that is driving the market, not the quality of the QB's.

Every team has to ask themselves the same question, if not him then who takes the snaps? Think MIN wanted to give Cousins that deal? They knew that if they didn't some other team most likely would and they'd still need a QB1.

Then there's the fan element that every owner should be striving to satisfy. Is my owner doing everything feasible to field the best team? There are probably not a lot of Cousins fans in MIN just like Dalton fans in CIN but every football fan should understand the dynamics at work. There are just a few Tier 1 QB's and look at those playoff and SB records.

The options other than paying Prescott market value are just not there. They weren't there in this draft and not likely to be in the next two drafts without selling out the draft and there will be teams doing that so the competition for the blue chip QB's will be intense and mistakes will be made.

Owners do not pay QB's for stats, they pay them to win and he's a 66% QB and that puts him in some expensive company at QB.

So, we’re crediting Dak for our wins last 3 years?

I understand our options are limited but that’s only because we have chosen not to bring in anyone else.

We’ve already seen what we have without Elite talent around him but yet we still want to pay him like he’s an upper echelon QB?

I don’t have an issue signing Dak. But I’m not sure what Daks options are otherwise. Are lower tier teams going to be in line for a QB that needs a league leading RB, WR1 and Pro Bowl OL to be 22nd ranked passing offense ?

I’m not really sure why we don’t think we can sign Dak for less and shorter term and be prepared to step up if he surpassed his current talent level or takes us deeper.

And continue looking to shore up a backup QB in the event he’s needed. It’s not like we couldn’t use our available sources and top picks in upcoming drafts without mortgaging the ranch.