8th Highest Paid in NFL, Patrick Mahomes Compared to LeBron James & Nikola Jokic as Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Dubbed ‘2nd Tier QB’

Despite winning back-to-back Super Bowls, Patrick Mahomes is still not the highest-paid quarterback in the league. But defining a QB payout depends on a lot of variables, and popularity is a huge part of it. There is usually more to this than what meets the eye. John Middlekauff dabbled into the QB payout conversation in a recent episode of his podcast. He also explained why Mahomes is not the highest-paid QB and had a few words to say about Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousin as well.

On his podcast, Middlekauff was posed with a question, “Mahomes is a hall-of-fame generational quarterback, up there with the greats. Shouldn’t everyone else make 30% less because they need more talent around them to compete?” The host pointed out the flaw in the question and said that Burrow, Herbert, and Lamar Jackson make more than Mahomes. He then tried to explain the business side of things.

“He [Mahomes] took quote unquote a team-friendly deal. It’s just not the way sports work, it’s not the way the world works really right? Things get more expensive, especially in the world we’re living in as time goes by,” said Middlekauff and added, “I ‘ve been talking about forever like, there should be a second tier like the Dak Prescott’s, the Kirk Cousins.’ If you got Mahomes and Lamar making 45-50 like those guys should make 30.”

The host later explained how television ratings also play a role in athlete’s salaries. Players like LeBron James, Steph Curry, and even Nikola Jokić for instance aren’t getting paid as much. “If you factor in the importance to the television ratings which is the business, to for example the NBA, LeBron, and Steph Curry should make each like a $150 million. And even Jokić who’s the best player in the NBA, people don’t watch his games relative to those guys. The ratings were awful last NBA Finals. So their value is incredibly high, but they all make the same.”

Despite what people think about Mahomes, it might take some time for him to be the highest-paid QB in the league.

Highest compensated quarterbacks in 2024

According to Arizona Central, Patrick Mahomes is the 8 highest-paid QB in the league. Mahomes, with an average yearly salary of $45 million lags behind Joe Burrow ($55M), Justin Herbert ($52.5M), Lamar Jackson, ($52M), and Jalen Hurts ($51M).

Even Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, and DeShaun Watson make more than the Kansas City Chiefs QB. Josh Allen ($43M) and Dak Prescott ($40M) are just behind Patrick Mahomes. According to the fan’s question on the podcast, Prescott (dubbed 2-tier) should be making about $30 million a year, but who’s to judge his performance better than the team?

Do you think Patrick Mahomes should be the highest-paid QB in the league? If so, then why?