EAGLES REACH FIVE-YEAR, $255 MILLION EXTENSION AGREEMENT WITH QB JALEN HURTS
The Philadelphia Eagles have reached a five-year extension agreement with franchise quarterback, Jalen Hurts, the team announced on Monday.
The new deal is valued at $255 million, over five-years and keeps Hurts in Philadelphia through the 2028 season, making him the highest paid player in NFL history on a per-year basis. Hurts now leads all quarterbacks in the league on average money per year at $51 million, almost a $1 million ahead of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers who signed a three-year, $150.8 million deal last year.
Hurts’ deal includes $179.304 million in guaranteed money, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, and includes the first ever no-trade clause in Eagles franchise history, which is a huge sign of the faith the team has in the 24-year-old quarterback. The deal includes $110 million fully guaranteed at signing and a 2023 raise in the form of a $23.294 million signing bonus. Hurts will also have $126.5 million fully guaranteed by March 2024.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the 2022 NFC Championship-winning quarterback can also earn up to $15 million in incentives and can make as much as $274.3 million through 2028, including $4.304 million that he would have been due in the last year of his original rookie contract. This brings Hurts’ possible per-year earnings to a possible $54 million. Hurts’ massive deal was done by his agent, Nicole Lynn of Klutch Sports Group, who negotiated the biggest contract by a female agent in sports history.
The news got a few players excited including Hurt’s right tackle, Lane Johnson, who tweeted: “That’s my quarterback!” Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who is the highest paid wide receiver in NFL history, said: “Love to see it, J. Hurts!”
Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who faced Hurts in the Super Bowl this year said, “Congrats to him. He deserves it. He’s someone that plays the position the right way. He goes about his business the right way. That’s why we were in the Super Bowl and he played a great game… He proved a lot of people wrong that were still doubting him.”
The new deal allows General Manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles to resign and keep hold of numerous players that played a key role in Philadelphia’s stellar 2022 regular season and Super Bowl run. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hurts’ salary cap numbers now include $6.15 million for 2023, $13.56 million for 2024, $21.77 million for 2025, and $31.77 million for 2026.
An Oklahoma transfer in his final eligibility year from the University of Alabama, Hurts has gone from becoming the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Alabama in 32 years, to being benched in the National Championship game in 2018, to finishing second in Heisman trophy voting, to getting drafted outside the first round in 2020.
The former second-round pick has faced a ton of adversity in his career, an aspect that he has publicly embraced. Hurts said in January ahead of the Super Bowl this year, “I know it [me getting drafted in Philadelphia] was a big surprise to many. Big surprise to many. My favorite verse – I went through a lot of stuff in college and it kind of stuck with me – John 13:7, ‘You may not know now but later you’ll understand.’ Hopefully people understand.”
Hurts started four games his rookie year before taking over as the starter in 2021, helping guide the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs in his first full year as the starter. The Houston-born quarterback then took a jump in his third year, completing 66.5% of his passes for 3,701 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions, adding significant passing production to an impressive 760 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground.
The 2022 season ended with Hurts finishing second in MVP voting behind Patrick Mahomes and not only earned him his first Pro Bowl selection but also his first Super Bowl appearance. Hurts’ 45 total touchdowns on the year also bested Donovan McNabb for most ever in a single season in franchise history.
With the amount in quarterback money on the upward trajectory in the NFL, Hurts’ deal will be looked at as a stepping stone for the upcoming quarterbacks who are due big-money extensions including Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert, Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow, and Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Hurts’ deal, however, is expected to do little to nothing to change the perspective on Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s situation, with the former league MVP reportedly holding out for a fully guaranteed contract. Jackson announced he requested for a trade last month, a few weeks before the Ravens made the blockbuster signing of superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The Ravens have repeatedly expressed that they fully expect Lamar Jackson to be their starting quarterback in 2023.
As for Jalen Hurts, the total guarantee of $179.304 million is the second-largest money guarantee in NFL history, trailing only Deshaun Watson’s $230 million fully guaranteed. Hurts’ $110 million fully guaranteed at signing is only third in the league, behind Watson and Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson who signed a five-year, $245 million extension last year. The total amount of money involved in this deal is also just second in NFL history, behind Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, $450 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
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