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via Imago

via Imago

The anticipated showdown has finally taken place and the season has officially begun. In a season opener between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium that left fans at the edge of their seats, the Lions managed to upset the reigning Super Bowl Champions. In a 20-21 showdown, the Lions put an end to the Chiefs’ eight-game Week 1 winning streak. The season opener couldn’t have been more exciting.

However, Patrick Mahomes stole the spotlight even amidst the defeat. Without Travis Kelce, who is sidelined due to injuries, and defensive lineman Chris Jones, who is holding out, things were not in favor of the Super Bowl champion. Nevertheless, Mahomes went all in. However, the Lions edged out the champions in the end. The QB, who finished with 226 yards on 21 of the 39 passes, deserves not only praise but also a bigger paycheck, as some have voiced.

Praise keeps pouring in for Mahomes

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Former defensive end Shannon Sharpe was in awe of Patrick Mahomes, more so because the QB himself was in his element even while playing under unusual circumstances without the usual support. Sharpe couldn’t help but gush about the QB on his Twitter handle, showering him with praise.

“Chiefs should give Mahomeboy 10 years and a billion dollars…I’m being serious. He’s the best QB, and it’s not as close as many think”, Sharpe wrote.

Sharpe is not the only one who thinks that the Chiefs’ powerhouse player is underpaid. The captain of the reigning champions doesn’t even make the cut to the list of the top five highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. Mahomes, who holds a $450 million contract with the franchise, earns an average annual salary of $45 million, an amount easily surpassed by many other QBs in the league.

READ MORE: ‘Daddy Is Back’ After Joe Burrow’s ‘Throw’ Goes Viral, Patrick Mahomes’ Fans Remind Bengals Fans Who the Real King Is

The two-time MVP himself has reiterated that money is not his major concern. He generously agreed to a whopping $9 million pay cut to free up $10 million in cap space for the Chiefs.

As one of the NFL’s underpaid players, Mahomes takes another step down the ladder with fellow QB Joe Burrow, who has risen to become the highest-paid player in the league.

Joe Burrow tops the charts

The Cincinnati Bengals QB has hit the jackpot after saying yes to a five-year contract extension worth $275 million. This deal will make Burrow the highest-paid player in the NFL.

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The fat deal includes a guaranteed $219 million, paying Burrow an average of $55 million a year, putting him ahead of other top quarterbacks in the league who signed new contracts in the offseason.

The highest-paid quarterbacks after Burrow include Justin Herbert ($52.5 million), Lamar Jackson ($52 million), Jalen Hurts ($51 million), and Russell Wilson ($48.5 million), respectively.

Watch This Story: Joe Burrow blesses the practice field for Cincinnati Bengals looking nothing like a man back from surgery

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