In the ever-evolving financial landscape of NFL quarterback contracts, each extension, especially those involving star quarterbacks, sets the tone for negotiations across the league. This fact was underscored in newly revealed details surrounding quarterback Kyler Murray’s 2022 contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals, which unexpectedly became the blueprint for teams like the Los Angeles Chargers extending quarterback Justin Herbert.
According to a report discussed on the Pablo Finds Out podcast, Murray’s contract negotiation included significant behind-the-scenes maneuvering to avoid fully guaranteed money, a sticking point ever since the Cleveland Browns handed Deshaun Watson an unprecedented five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed deal. That very deal sent shockwaves through the league, raising immediate red flags among NFL owners that guaranteed contracts could become the new norm.
How Kyler Murray’s Contract Helped the Chargers Hold the Line with Justin Herbert
GettyArizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and ex-general manager Steve Keim pushed back against giving out a fully guaranteed contract to their star quarterback. Internal texts revealed they intended to heavily structure Murray’s deal with incentives and limit guarantees.
“Why the Browns felt so compelled to pay Watson like that is baffling,” Keim texted to Bidwill.
In the end, only $103 million of his $230.5 million extension was fully guaranteed, less than half. The structure of the deal, particularly the back-loaded nature and zero guaranteed money in the final years, preserved the team’s financial flexibility while still appearing lucrative on paper.
Which brings in the Chargers.
Owner Dean Spanos, who was one year away from needing to extend Herbert, reached out to Bidwell to congratulate him. “Your deal helps us for our QB next year,” Spanos wrote. Bidwell replied, “I think many teams will be happy with it once they have a chance to review. Cleveland really screwed things up, but I was resolved to keep the guaranteed money relatively ‘low.’”
That exchange reflected the collaborative effort among NFL owners to steer the quarterback market back toward team-friendly deals.
The Ripple Effect
GettyLos Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
In July 2023, Herbert signed a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the Chargers. While that made him the highest-paid QB in NFL history at the time, his contract included only $133.7 million in guaranteed money. The structure closely mirrored Murray’s extension, offering a high average annual value but with protective clauses for the team.
With Murray’s deal setting a precedent, Herbert’s camp was likely forced to recalibrate expectations. It helped the Chargers reward their star quarterback while also safeguarding themselves against long-term financial risk.
And two things are clear: Murray’s contract played a role in that outcome, and the Browns are regretting their decision to fully guarantee Watson’s contract.
This orchestration didn’t just influence Herbert’s deal. It also played a factor in the extensions of other star quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts, whose contracts also stopped short of full guarantees.
Murray’s deal may not have broken records, but it succeeded in preventing a wave of fully guaranteed contracts for quarterbacks. And for Spanos and the Chargers, that deal meant getting Herbert signed long-term, and on their terms.
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