Patrick Mahomes would rather win Super Bowls than a contest to make more money.
That’s not to say the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback hasn’t seen what’s going on in the NFL.
Mahomes signed a 10-year, $450 million extension in 2020 that set the bar for quarterbacks, but has already been exceeded several times. Jalen Hurts of the Eagles signed a five-year, $255 million contract on April 17 that briefly made him the NFL’s highest-paid player, until Lamar Jackson signed a five-year, $260 million deal dollars with the Ravens just 10 days later.
This immediately raised the question of whether Mahomes would want to redo his contract.
“Me, my agent and the team always have open communication, and we always try to do what’s best for the team, and obviously I want to do what’s best for me as well,” Mahomes said after a voluntary practice Wednesday at the team’s facility. “But I’ve always said I’m more about legacy and winning rings than winning money right now.
“I know we keep the communication going. We see what’s going on around the league,” he continued, “but at the same time, I’m never going to do anything that’s going to hurt us to keep the great players around me. It’s about teetering on that line. “.
Still, the deal Mahomes signed just three years ago has already dropped to seventh in terms of annual value, behind far less accomplished QBs like Russell Wilson of the Broncos, Kyler Murray of the Cardinals and Deshaun Watson of the Browns.
“Everybody wants to get paid a lot of money when they think they’re the best at what they do,” Mahomes said. “But when you look at the big guys, they find that sweet spot where they make a lot of money but keep great players around them.”
Mahomes is coming off perhaps the best year of his career, throwing for a league-leading 5,250 yards and 41 touchdowns with just 12 interceptions. He was chosen for his fifth straight Pro Bowl, was voted the AP Player of the Year for the second time and, in February, helped Kansas City rally in the second half to clinch the Super Bowl win over Hurts and the Eagles.
Given those accomplishments, it’s no surprise that many are curious if another contract is in the works, especially with the Bengals’ Joe Burrow expected to reset the market with a new contract before the start of the season
“You just want to not hurt the other quarterbacks when their contracts come up,” Mahomes said. “You want to keep pushing, but it’s not about being the highest paid guy. It’s not about making a ton of money. I’ve made enough money where I’ll be set for life. But at the same time, you’ve got to find that line where you make good money and keep great players around you.”
Mahomes spent the first part of the offseason program working with wide receivers and tight ends at home in Texas, but returned to the Chiefs’ practice facility this week to begin more structured voluntary workouts.
In between, Mahomes headed to the Met Gala, the Kentucky Derby and the Formula 1 race in Miami.
“I always wanted to go to the Kentucky Derby, but I wanted to go after winning the Super Bowl, and in 2019 we had COVID,” Mahomes said. “It’s just pick and choose what you can do, but now we’re back to football and getting closure and getting your body in the right place. I’ve got a few more trips, but I’ve settled in this offseason.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he had no reason to believe Mahomes wouldn’t be there.
“He’s everything and he goes after it,” Reid said Wednesday, “and he challenges himself and challenges those around him to be great, on both sides of the ball. It’s all alive out there and moving fast and how to head coach. I’m aware that.”
Report from The Associated Press.
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Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes
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