Quick Links
As the NFL salary cap continues to climb (estimated to exceed $126 million next season) and teams need to lock up a franchise quarterback long-term, mammoth nine-figure contracts are turning into increasingly common. There are lately 11 quarterbacks averaging more than $15 million a 12 months in income and a complete of 15 making greater than $10 million. In the closing 12 months alone, the Green Bay Packers have inked Aaron Rodgers to a five-year/$one hundred ten million deal and the Baltimore Ravens have signed Joe Flacco to a six-year contract worth greater than $A hundred and twenty million.
Whether or not those offers will repay has yet to be observed, but if groups come to a decision to take a position monumental amounts of cash in one quarterback they are essentially hanging all their eggs in one basket. They also are leaving less for their backups.
And whilst backup quarterbacks would possibly never get the similar stage of consideration or recognition as starters do, and even see the field for that matter, they serve a precious purpose. If and when a group's No. 1 goes down with an injury or struggles to get the offense going, they're anticipated to move in cold and carry out underneath force. They are expected to grasp the playbook inside and outside, watch recreation film religiously and remain mentally and physically ready to step on the box at a moment's notice. Furthermore, they are anticipated to supply support, and once in a while mentorship, from the sidelines.
Whether it's for all or any of these reasons, there are a variety of teams in the NFL who take a extra leveraged means with regards to investing in their quarterbacks – and compensate their backups accordingly. While a few of these quarterbacks are nearing the end in their careers and others are anxiously awaiting a shot to develop into a starter, they are all making millions of bucks a year. Here is a list of the 10 highest-paid backup quarterbacks in the NFL.
Note: Due to the “ingenious” structuring of today's contracts, salaries are based on the moderate salaries of current contracts, including signing bonuses.
10. Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns: $2 Million
While maximum quarterbacks on this record grew up with the singular dream of in the future enjoying in the NFL, Weeden's first choice was to be a certified baseball player. Despite the New York Yankees settling on him in the 2002 Major League Baseball draft, his career in the big leagues hit a wall and he determined to pursue football. He went back to college and was the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma State Cowboys from 2010 to 2011, environment numerous school records alongside the manner. By the time the Browns drafted him 22nd total in the 2012 draft, he was once 28 years outdated and held the distinction of being the oldest player ever decided on in the first around. Entering the third season of a four-year deal price simply over $8 million, alternatively, Weeden's destiny in Cleveland hasn't ever looked bleaker. Despite having plentiful alternative, he hasn't ever been ready to say the beginning spot and completed 2013 taking part in behind Jason Campbell. With new control in place, the 30-year-old Weeden might get another season in Cleveland, but when he does, it will almost no doubt be as a backup.
9. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings: $2.5 Million
When the Vikings drafted Christian Ponder 12th total in the 2011 entry draft, they had prime expectations for the former Florida State University superstar. In his 3 seasons with Minnesota, alternatively, the 25-year-old has struggled to establish himself as a bonafide starter and spurred the group to carry in veterans Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman at other issues in 2013. While Ponder is lately the best quarterback on the Vikings' roster (Cassel and Freeman are each loose brokers), it's most definitely the workforce will bring in a veteran all over the low season and his function can be lowered to that of backup. Any action he does get, alternatively, will most probably cross far in determining his destiny; his current four-year/$10 million contract expires at the finish of next season.
8. Drew Stanton, Arizona Cardinals: $2.7 Million
His identify will have as soon as been discussed in the identical sentence as the Heisman Trophy, but Drew Stanton's future as an NFL quarterback appears to be that of a career backup. Since the Lions selected Stanton in the second around of the 2007 draft, the former Michigan State starter has been plagued by means of accidents and deficient play. Despite temporary stints with the New York Jets and the Indianapolis Colts, the 29-year-old hasn't ever critically challenged for a beginning function and hasn't even made a start since 2010, when he gave the impression in six games for Detroit. Now in his 2d season of a three-year/$8.2 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals, Stanton is making just right money enjoying at the back of Carson Palmer but will most probably spend more time maintaining a clipboard than he's going to beneath heart.
T-6. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars: $3 Million
When Blaine Gabbert left the University of Missouri Tigers after his junior 12 months and the Jaguars traded up to choose him tenth overall in the 2011 NFL draft, expectations were prime. But after a rookie season filled with sacks (40) and fumbles (14), with a completion share of best 50.8% and a miniscule passer ranking of 65.4, he misplaced his spot as the staff's starter and has since been replaced by way of Chad Henne. In 2013, issues went from dangerous to worse for Gabbert, who seemed in simplest three games and threw one touchdown against seven interceptions. With his four-year/$12 million contract expiring at the end of 2014, subsequent season might be Gabbert's remaining as a Jaguar. If there's a silver lining for the 24-year-old, it is that he would possibly nonetheless be younger sufficient for some other crew to take a possibility on him.
T-6. Kevin Kolb, Buffalo Bills: $3 Million
Once billed as a surefire starter in the NFL, Kolb's occupation is currently shrouded via a cloud of uncertainty. After struggling several concussions - the most up-to-date throughout a pre-season recreation in 2013 - Kolb has spent the higher part of the previous few seasons (together with the entirety of 2013) on IR. Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second around of the 2007 draft, Kolb paid his dues and changed Donovan McNabb as the group's starter in 2010 however misplaced the task to Michael Vick after leaving the first recreation of the season with concussion symptoms. Over the next few years, he started a total of 21 games for the Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals, passing for over 5,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, with 25 alternatives. When the Buffalo Bills introduced him in remaining season, he was once expected to challenge rookie E.J. Manuel for the beginning task, however used to be injured before the season started and never got the chance. While the 29-year-old's status for subsequent season remains to be unknown, it's most probably that if he decides to play it is going to be - at least to start the season - as a backup.
5. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tennessee Titans: $3.25 Million
It could also be a lot less than he was making as a starter in Buffalo, but Fitzpatrick's two-year/$6.Five million care for the Titans is considered one of the highest-paying contracts for backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2005 NFL draft by St. Louis, the Harvard University graduate spent time with each the Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals prior to profitable the starting task in Buffalo in 2009. Despite a number of forged seasons with the Bills - and a six-year/$Sixty two million contract extension in 2011 - a less-than-spectacular 2012 price Fitzpatrick his job. Acquired by Tennessee basically as a mentor for quarterback-of-the-future Jake Locker, the 31-year-old ended up beginning seven games in place of the injured Locker and carried out admirably (61.7 crowning glory percentage, over 2,000 passing yards and 13 landing passes vs. 10 interceptions) and offers the staff a just right option moving ahead.
4. Chase Daniel, Kansas City Chiefs: $3.33 Million
Unlike many of the quarterbacks in this listing, Daniel used to be by no means a highly-touted early around draft pick out. After going undrafted in 2009 (despite being a candidate for the Heisman Trophy in each 2007 and 2008), he was once signed as a loose agent through the Washington Redskins, most effective to be minimize before the season started. He ended up discovering a house in New Orleans, then again, and - regardless of no longer seeing the field all season - played for the Super Bowl-winning Saints. The following season, Daniel beat out Patrick Ramsey to turn out to be Drew Brees' backup, a task he held until the end of 2012. Now coming into the 2nd season of a three-year/$10 million contract with the Chiefs, it appears he is comfortable backing up Kansas City's starter Alex Smith. In 2013, he began just one game (after the Chiefs had clinched a playoff spot), going 21/30 for two hundred yards and a landing pass in an extra time loss to the San Diego Chargers.
3. Kyle Orton, Dallas Cowboys: $3.25 Million
It's now not each day a backup quarterback gets the probability to propel his group into the playoffs, however ultimate season Kyle Orton was once presented with precisely that opportunity. When Dallas starter Tony Romo went down with an injury past due in 2013, the Cowboys handed Orton the ball in a Week 17 winner-take-all match-up towards division rival Philadelphia and was hoping for the absolute best. Despite decent numbers (30 of 46 for 358 yards and two touchdowns), he threw two interceptions and his crew fell 24-22. A former fourth-round draft pick out, Orton has observed his proportion of NFL action, starting a complete of Sixty nine video games for the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas. Despite relative success, on the other hand, he never managed to make himself irreplaceable and bounced around before after all landing his decreased role with the Cowboys in 2012. At 31, Orton is locked up through the 2015 season and it is likely he'll play out the remainder of his career as a backup - whether or not it's in Dallas or elsewhere.
2. Matt Hasselbeck, Indianapolis Colts: $3.625 Million
At 38 years old, (*10*) is the considered one of the oldest backup quarterbacks in the NFL. With a two-year contract price $7.25 million, he's additionally one of the absolute best paid. Originally drafted via the Green Bay Packers back in 1998, Hasselbeck spent two seasons gazing and learning from Brett Favre ahead of shifting on to Seattle. In his 10 years with the Seahawks, he piled up more than a dozen franchise records and led the workforce to the playoffs six times, together with a Super Bowl look in 2005. Despite all of his luck in Seattle, on the other hand, Hasselbeck was strangely released after a disappointing season in 2010. He landed a beginning position with the Tennessee Titans in 2011, however misplaced the process the following yr to Jake Locker. Resigned to the proven fact that his days as a No. 1 were over, Hasselbeck joined Indianapolis, where he's going to most probably end his occupation as Andrew Luck's backup.
1. Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins: $4 Million
The 29-year-old Moore would possibly best have 25 NFL games under his belt (and none in the previous two seasons), but his current two-year/$Eight million contract with the Miami Dolphins makes him the highest-paid backup quarterback in the league. Moore's roller coaster profession started when he used to be signed as an undrafted loose agent by means of the Dallas Cowboys in 2007, most effective to be placed on waivers prior to the start of the season. He was then claimed via the Carolina Panthers, where he battled with injuries and saw limited motion over the path of four seasons. When he joined the Fins as a starter in 2011, Moore played smartly (over 2,500 passing yards, 17 touchdown passes vs. nine interceptions in 15 appearances), however the emergence of 25-year-old Ryan Tannehill has since dropped him to No. 2 on the team's intensity chart. When he determined to re-sign with Miami at the beginning of 2013, Moore knew he would most probably be backing up Tannehill for the entirety of his time there, but it appears $8 million was reason why enough to stick.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEq6CcoJWowW%2BvzqZmrKifp8G0e9Oop2ZpYGK1qrPHnqqtZaCWtqV5wZqapK2gYr62rdGtnKuakZi4tHnIp2StoJViu6e4jJ%2Bmq2ViZX50fo9qa2g%3D