Colin Cowherd discusses the pros and cons of massive QB contracts, and why some teams fail to succeed in the playoffs despite paying their QBs a lot of money.
The NFL is a quarterback-driven league. Teams that have a franchise quarterback usually have a good chance of making a deep playoff run. However, paying a quarterback a massive contract does not guarantee success. In fact, some teams have struggled to win in the playoffs despite having a highly paid quarterback.
There are both pros and cons to paying a quarterback a massive contract. On the plus side, a franchise quarterback can be the difference between a good team and a great team. A great quarterback can carry a team to the Super Bowl, even if the rest of the team is not as strong.
Do NFL Teams Need to Pay QBs Massive Contracts to Win a Super Bowl?
On the downside, massive QB contracts can be a financial burden for teams. If the quarterback does not live up to expectations, the team can be stuck with a huge salary cap hit. This can make it difficult to build a competitive team around the quarterback.
There are several examples of teams that have struggled to win in the playoffs despite having a highly paid quarterback. The New York Giants are one example. The Giants signed Eli Manning to a six-year, $97 million contract extension in 2009. Manning was a two-time Super Bowl MVP, but the Giants only made it to the playoffs twice during the six years of his contract.
Do NFL Teams Need to Pay QBs Massive Contracts to Win a Super Bowl?
Another example is the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles signed Carson Wentz to a four-year, $128 million contract extension in 2019. Wentz was a Pro Bowl quarterback, but the Eagles only made it to the playoffs once during the four years of his contract.
Of course, there are also examples of teams that have won Super Bowls with highly paid quarterbacks. The New England Patriots are one example. The Patriots signed Tom Brady to a six-year, $98 million contract extension in 2007. Brady led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories during the 13 years of his contract.
Do NFL Teams Need to Pay QBs Massive Contracts to Win a Super Bowl?
Another example is the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs signed Patrick Mahomes to a 10-year, $450 million contract extension in 2020. Mahomes has led the Chiefs to two Super Bowl victories during the first three years of his contract.
So, do NFL teams need to pay their QBs massive contracts to win a Super Bowl? The answer is not clear-cut. There are pros and cons to paying a quarterback a massive contract. Ultimately, it is up to each team to decide whether or not they believe a massive QB contract is worth the risk.
