Even top quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson proved their worth through performance rather than draft position, highlighting the importance of production over pedigree.

Quarterbacks such as Tua Tagovailoa, Trevor Lawrence, and Jordan Love are receiving substantial contracts despite not having extensive playoff success or highly distinguished resumes, reflecting a trend in the NFL.

Tua Tagovailoa's extension was based on two seasons of high-level play, with impressive stats like over 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2022-23.

The Green Bay Packers' recent trade for star pass rusher Micah Parsons could strengthen Jordan Love's chances of leading the team to a Super Bowl in the near future.

While building a team around a quarterback after a big extension is challenging, NFL teams invest heavily in scouting and management to find solutions.

Brock Purdy's recent five-year, $265 million extension, which surpasses some peers in average annual value, exemplifies the ongoing inflation of quarterback salaries.

These high-paid quarterbacks now earn a significant portion of the 2025 salary cap, with Lawrence and Love each taking up nearly 20%, underscoring the financial stakes involved.

Contract timing often depends on when quarterbacks demonstrate success and become extension-eligible, as seen with Love and Tagovailoa after high-level performances.

Despite some inconsistencies, Trevor Lawrence's 2022 playoff victory helped justify his lucrative contract, although his overall postseason success remains limited.

Other top-paid quarterbacks include Tua Tagovailoa, Jared Goff, Brock Purdy, Justin Herbert, and Lamar Jackson, with Patrick Mahomes earning $45 million, reflecting the inflation in quarterback salaries.

High salaries for quarterbacks like Love and Lawrence, who have limited playoff wins, raise questions about the value of paying for potential rather than proven success in crucial moments.

Recent deals, including Love's four-year, $220 million extension and Lawrence's five-year, $275 million contract, have faced criticism from NFL insiders who question the wisdom of paying players before they prove themselves in critical moments.

Teams tend to reward quarterbacks who have led their teams to the playoffs, believing these players are more likely to help build winning franchises.