Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen signed his six-year, $258 million extension a little more than three years ago. His contract numbers now suggest Allen is underpaid, at least by QB standards.
After a slew of quarterback extensions the past few years, Allen’s $43 million average per year now ranks 13th among quarterbacks, according to Over The Cap -- and that’s with the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott eligible for a new extension. Allen’s $100 million guaranteed is now the 11th-highest total, and the total value of Allen’s deal places him sixth at the position.
You could understand if Allen thought he deserved a pay raise. But Allen’s response to the question of whether he felt he was underpaid might surprise you.
“Listen, everyone is going to have their day,” Allen said Tuesday, per News 4 Buffalo. “I’m happy that everyone is getting what they’re worth, right? I think as the game progresses and guys keep getting paid, the market is the market. And I’ve got no problem with where I am at (financially) right now.”
Perhaps the most damning number related to Allen’s financials is what he’s due to be paid over the next three years. According to Spotrac, Allen right now is due to receive the 20th-most money in the NFL through the 2026 season at just over $95 million.
That’s certainly a lot -- until you consider that Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson leads that list currently at more than $155 million, with a total of 10 QBs slated to earn more than $125 million over that span. Even more surprising is that three non-quarterbacks reside ahead of Allen on that list: 49ers edge Nick Bosa, Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson and Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones.
With three top-five MVP finishes in the past four seasons and after leading the Bills to their fifth straight playoff appearance in 2023, Allen is among the best quarterbacks in the game today. He’s also very much still in his prime, having turned 28 years old this spring.
But don’t expect Allen to be embroiled in a contract standoff anytime soon. From the sound of it, he’s confident things will work out down the road, just as they did previously.
“You know what? I had my day a couple years ago," Allen said Tuesday, "and I’m sure I’ll have it again, you know? But I think the main thing is the main thing, and that’s playing football to the best of my ability, and everything else will take care of itself."
Allen’s answer echoed what Patrick Mahomes said a few weeks ago when asked a similar question. Although their contracts are structured differently, there are some parallels between the deals Mahomes and Allen signed -- and other QBs with lesser credentials have passed each of them up in some financial categories.
Mahomes, like Allen, opted for the more magnanimous approach to answering it.
“I know every time a contract comes up, everybody looks at my APY (average per year) and everything like that,” Mahomes said in July. “I'm doing pretty well myself.
"For me, it's just about going out there trying to win football games, trying to make money for my family at the end of the day. I feel like I'm doing a great job of that."