The most expensive NFL contract right now is Patrick Mahomes’ 10‑year, $450 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, signed in 2020, which remains the largest total value deal in league history.

What “most expensive” means

When fans say “most expensive NFL contract” , they usually mean one of three things:

  • Total contract value
  • Average annual value (AAV)
  • Guaranteed money at signing

Mahomes holds the record for total value at $450 million over 10 years with Kansas City.

Mahomes’ record deal

Mahomes’ contract reset the quarterback market and still stands out even after newer mega‑deals.

  • Length: 10 years, through the 2030s
  • Total value: $450 million
  • Structure: Heavy use of rolling guarantees and roster bonuses that the Chiefs can restructure over time

The deal was designed less like a typical NFL contract and more like a long‑term partnership between a franchise quarterback and team.

Other massive quarterback deals

While Mahomes leads in raw dollars, several QBs surpassed him in shorter‑term averages and guarantees.

[4] [4] [5]
Player Team (at signing) Reported total value Key note
Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs $450M (10 years) Largest total value contract ever.
Deshaun Watson Cleveland Browns $230M (5 years) Fully guaranteed, unprecedented for an NFL QB.
Dak Prescott Dallas Cowboys $160M (4 years) Huge signing bonus and guarantees at the time.
These shorter deals often have a higher AAV than Mahomes’ original structure, but none surpass his $450 million headline number.

Why contracts keep getting bigger

Several trends drive the “most expensive NFL contract” conversation forward every offseason:

  • Rising salary cap: As league revenues and the cap grow, top QB numbers climb with them.
  • “Next man up” effect: The next elite QB to sign often tops the previous one in AAV or guarantees, even if he is not clearly better.
  • Positional value: Quarterbacks dominate the very top of the market; other positions (edge rusher, wide receiver, cornerback) follow at a lower level.

So while Mahomes still owns the biggest total contract ever , newer deals will keep challenging each other on yearly averages and guaranteed money, making “most expensive NFL contract” a constantly trending topic.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.