The contract of Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has by no means been “normal” by NFL requirements.
His first long-term extension with the Chiefs was a 10-year deal, signed in 2020. It marked the primary contract of that size signed by an NFL participant because the early 2000s.
There’s a purpose it was a rarity: NFL contracts rapidly grow to be outdated, particularly for probably the most premium of positions. The best-paid quarterbacks within the league have became an inventory of probably the most lately paid quarterbacks. One participant resets the market, solely to be surpassed by the subsequent star in line. On and on it goes.
Mahomes was the subsequent man up when he signed the $450 million, decade-long extension six years in the past, changing into the highest-paid quarterback within the NFL.
In 2025, Mahomes’ $45 million common annual wage ranked 14th amongst NFL quarterbacks.
The truth that Mahomes’ contract rapidly grew to become outdated was not a shock to anybody concerned within the negotiations. In some ways, it was a part of the plan. Mahomes was by no means anticipated to play out the complete 10 years of the deal. As an alternative, the contract was designed to offer the Chiefs with most flexibility whereas nonetheless permitting Mahomes to earn the cash he clearly deserved.
A method groups create that flexibility is by changing wage into signing or roster bonuses. Earlier this offseason, the Chiefs transformed $44.05 million of Mahomes’ 2026 base wage right into a roster bonus. The transfer created fast cap reduction whereas pushing a number of the accounting burden into future years.
That’s the place issues received attention-grabbing.
Bonus cash might be prorated over a most of 5 years, however provided that the participant has at the least 5 years remaining on his deal. If Mahomes had solely two years left on his deal, the Chiefs can be restricted in how far the cap fees may unfold out. Therefore, the significance of the long-term deal.
Having 5 years of staff management offers the Chiefs flexibility to maximise bonus proration and keep away from relying as closely on the dreaded void years that many groups use to govern the wage cap.
In abstract, Mahomes’ contract was all the time designed to offer the Chiefs with most flexibility — however that doesn’t imply the two-time MVP is sacrificing his monetary potential. He made certain he would make a rightfully monumental amount of cash.
However Mahomes’ contract was set to run out by 2032. Because the previous few years have ticked away, the Chiefs’ skill to push bonus cash into the long run naturally diminished. An extension grew to become inevitable. The one query was how lengthy it could be.
The lately introduced 8-year, $504 million contract is one other outlier deal for Mahomes. He’s as soon as once more the highest-paid participant within the league, doing so once more by means of an unusually long-term contract that provides Kansas Metropolis flexibility in future years.
It’s solely potential if Mahomes has full belief within the Chiefs’ group.
That flies within the face of latest skilled sports activities tendencies, through which star gamers more and more desire to exert leverage over their organizations by signing shorter-term, higher-AAV contracts. These offers permit gamers to maximise their incomes potential whereas sustaining leverage over their group. Implicit in any short-term deal is the likelihood {that a} participant may stroll in free company.
His contract sends the other message, and that contract is simply potential due to his confidence within the group’s management. Extra particularly, his confidence within the staff’s proprietor, Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt.
KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 19: Clark Hunt, CEO and chairman of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, greets Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on the soccer discipline throughout the celebration of the staff’s victory over the Tennessee Titans within the AFC Championship recreation at Arrowhead Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (Photograph by David Eulitt/Getty Pictures) Getty Pictures
Tight finish Travis Kelce and defensive sort out Chris Jones are nearly definitely not going to be on the roster by the tip of Mahomes’ new deal.
Head coach Andy Reid is 68 years previous; will he be teaching the staff in eight years? Former Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll grew to become the oldest head coach in NFL historical past final yr at age 74. Historical past would recommend Mahomes signed this contract with the understanding that, in some unspecified time in the future, he’ll play for somebody aside from Reid.
That’s plenty of change on the horizon. Mahomes seems comfy with all of it, and it’s solely potential if he has the utmost belief within the management of the group.
That belief has been constructed over years of profitable partnership, but it surely shouldn’t go ignored. This sort of association has grow to be exceedingly uncommon in professional sports activities, particularly in soccer.
The one different quarterbacks to signal a contract with at the least eight years of time period have been Donovan McNabb with the Philadelphia Eagles (eight years, 2002) and Drew Bledsoe with the New England Patriots (9 years, 2001), in keeping with OverTheCap. Buffalo Payments quarterback Josh Allen (six years) is the one different lively sign caller with a contract extending past 5 years.
The Chiefs selected Patrick Mahomes with the tenth general choice within the 2017 NFL Draft. The Chiefs dedicated to Mahomes because the franchise’s future, and the three-time Tremendous Bowl champion has reciprocated that dedication ever since.
