Only a handful of players in NFL history have ever breached the golden gates of the $200 Million mark in contract deals. Amongst this elite list of athletes are the stars of the league, like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Aaron Rodgers, among others. But amongst this list of MVPs and Super Bowl Champions, two names stick out. The leader of the Broncos, Russell Wilson, and the face of the Cardinals franchise, Kyler Murray.
While only the cream of the crop earns the onus of being the highest-paid athlete in all of football, with the rising value for elite QBs, the elusive nine-figure number club seems to be rising by the day. As both the Broncos and Cardinals lead into 2022 after being at the bottom of the standings last season, the payroll of their QBs has been at the receiving end of severe criticism.
Russell Wilson gets slammed over ‘worst’ contract decision
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When it comes to evaluating QB contracts, performance is a key factor. Unfortunately for Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray, their astronomical salaries have not been matched by stellar on-field results. With Wilson making $49 million and Murray earning $46.1 million next season, both QBs find themselves among the top five highest-paid players in the league. Looking at their monstrous paycheck, ESPN’s top analysts, Max Kellerman and the 3x Pro Bowler Kewshawn Johnson, slammed the two QBs.
According to Kellerman, the contracts handed out to Wilson and Murray are two of the ‘worst’ decisions by any franchise in the league. With their teams languishing with failure, Wilson and Murray have continued to disappoint fans of the team. Despite their undeniable talents, both failed to lead their teams to success during the 2022 season, ultimately finishing near the bottom of the league.
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Putting Team Success at Risk
The staggering contracts signed by Wilson and Murray have ramifications beyond their individual performances. The exorbitant salaries demand a significant portion of their teams’ salary caps, limiting the resources available to bolster other positions and strengthen the overall roster. As a result, both the Broncos and the Cardinals found themselves lacking the necessary supporting cast to compete effectively.
Compared to the current MVP and Champion of the league, Patrick Mahomes will only make $45 Million in comparison to the two languishing QBs. For reference, the list of highest-paid players in the league will see Aaron Rodgers right at the top, with his new restructured $54,000,000 Contract set to kick in. Rounding out the top 3 are the dynamic signal callers, Lamar Jackson for the Ravens and Jalen Hurts for the Eagles. With such a distinguished company, it’s easy to see the anguish of fans and analysts criticizing Wilson and Murray for their play.
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