In his first full season as a starting quarterback in the NFL, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs threw for 50 touchdowns and thoroughly captivated the football world; next, the 23 year old MVP candidate will play against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Mahomes and the Chiefs could go all the way, but regardless of how the season ends, the team is reportedly ready to sign their quarterback to the richest deal in NFL history when he becomes eligible for a contract extension in 2020. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, sources expect Mahomes to ink the league’s first $200 million contract.
For the moment, the highest paid player in NFL history is Aaron Rodgers, who signed a $134 million extension last summer. Before that, it was Matt Ryan, who signed for exactly half of the number that Mahomes is expected to receive, $100 million, with the Atlanta Falcons.
It’s a lot of money, to be sure, but it’s hard to say that Mahomes hasn’t earned it with his play this season. Furthermore, as the NFL’s revenues rise, so does the league’s salary cap, and player contracts.
There could still be some surprises between and now the 2020 offseason when Mahomes will officially be able to sign this deal — Schefter suggests the Eagles’ Carson Wentz and the Rams’ Jared Goff could both sign for big money this offseason, with the latter playing against the New Orleans Saints for a Super Bowl berth on Sunday. As things stand, Mahomes appears to be the odds-on favorite to sign the league’s first $200 million deal, but who knows? It would certainly add some drama to a potential Chiefs-Rams Super Bowl.
In the meantime, Mahomes and his wallet need not worry. The quarterback, noted for his deep passes but also for his habit of putting ketchup on his steak, has already earned an endorsement deal with Hunt’s Ketchup off the strength of his ketchup obsession.
