Aaron Rodgers: A Look at the Contract Numbers of Other Top NFL Quarterbacks

Drew Brees agreed to a five year, $100 million deal with the Saints Friday. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers may now have his starting point for contract negotiations.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees made waves through the NFL landscape Friday, agreeing to a five-year, $100 million deal that includes $40 million in the first year and $60 million in guarantees through the first three. The $60 million guaranteed is the most ever in an NFL contract, according to ESPN.

The connection to the Packers here is fairly simple: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is under contract through 2014, and he's already woefully underpaid among his fellow peers. Now, Brees' record deal could be a jumping off point for the negotiations with Rodgers on a new deal he likely deserves soon. For Rodgers, that means a historic pay day is probably in his near future. It's hard to envision the Packers allowing Rodgers to get to a contract year like the Saints did with Brees.

With that in mind, we took a look at some of the contracts currently tied to the game's top quarterbacks. It paints a pretty clear picture for the reining NFL MVP:

Note: All contract information taken from Rotoworld.com.

Rodgers 

Six years, $65 million, including $20 million in guarantees. Signed October 2008, the deal expires after the 2014 season. Over the next three years, Rodgers will make $8 million, $9.25 million and $10.5 million, respectively.

Drew Brees, Saints

Touched on above, but it's worth repeating. Brees' $100 million deal over five years will net him a record $40 million in the first year. If those reported numbers are true, Brees will make $32 million more than Rodgers next season. Over the next three, Brees will make $33.25 million more than Rodgers.

Tom Brady, Patriots

Five years, $78.5 million, including $48.5 million in guarantees. Brady signed the extension in September of 2010, and, at the time, it was scheduled to make Brady the highest paid player in the game based on annual salary. That has obviously changed drastically since, and his contract now looks like a bargain. In each of the next three seasons, Brady will make upwards of $11 million, with $14.75 million coming in both 2013 and 2014. He'll be a free agent in 2015, just as Rodgers.

Peyton Manning, Broncos

Five years, $96 million, with $18 million guarantees. The guarantees can increase to $60 million if he passes a physical in 2013. His 2012 dollars ($18 million) are all guaranteed, and his 2013 and '14 base salaries ($20 million in each year) can become guaranteed if he passes said physical. From that point, Manning will make $19 million in both 2015 and '16, before becoming a free agent in 2017. Manning will be 41 by the time his contract reaches its end.

Eli Manning, Giants

Seven years, $106.9 million, with $35 million in guarantees. Manning signed the deal back in 2009 after he recorded one of his best ever NFL seasons (4,021 yards, 27 TDs, 14 INTs). He'll make $10.75 million in 2012, but then his deal takes a hike up. He's scheduled to make $13 million in 2013, $15.15 in 2014 and $17 million in 2015.

Philip Rivers, Chargers

Seven years, $98.25 million, with $38.15 million guaranteed. Like Manning, Rivers signed the deal in 2009 after his best ever NFL season in 2008 (34 TDs, 11 INTs). Rivers will make $10.2 million in 2012, $12 million in 2013, $13.8 million in 2014 and $15.75 million in 2015. He'll be a free agent in 2016.

Michael Vick, Eagles

Six years, $100 million, with $35.5 million guaranteed. His sixth year (and the accompanying $20 million) will void once he plays 35 percent of the Eagles' offensive snaps in any of the first five years. Overall, Vick will make $12.5 million in 2012, $15.5 million in 2013, $15 million in 2014 and $14.5 million in 2015.

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

Eight years, $102 million, with $33.2 million in guarantees. He'll make over $11 million in each of the next four seasons, topping out at $12.1 million in 2014. Roethlisberger will be a free agent in 2016.

 

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Rodgers has outplayed his current contract. In fact, he's probably the NFL's best bargain right now. But that won't last for long, and it's just a matter of time before Rodgers is joining the likes of Brees and Manning among the game's highest paid players ever.

Still, Rodgers has said his contract isn't a worry, and there's no reason not to believe him. He told this ESPN Milwaukee's Jason Wilde last November:

It's not something I think about. We were so blessed to be able to have that contract done in 2008. We knew at the time that was more money than I ever could have imagined signing for, and it was a no-brainer for me. But we knew if I performed the way I felt I was capable of performing, that by league standards that by the time I got into my third or fourth or fifth season, that I'd be underpaid by league standards....I want to retire as a Packer. They know that, the fans know that, my teammates know that, and this is where I want to be. I'm not worried about [a new contract.] We're still a few years away from me completing this deal, and whenever it comes time to make a new deal, I'm looking forward to maybe signing my last deal, playing it out, and retiring.

I don't expect anything immediate on the Rodgers' contract front. But David Dunn, who represents Rodgers, now has a starting point for any kind of extension talks with his client. Time will tell how rapid that process plays out.

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Comments (16)

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Rocky70's picture

July 13, 2012 at 03:08 pm

Another year for AR like 2011 (NFL MVP) plus a return victory in SB47 plus another SB MVP trophy ----- Does GB have enough in their coffers to pay up?

The scary thing is --- AR is perfectly capable of pulling out the trifecta, all in one season.

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Barry's picture

July 13, 2012 at 03:33 pm

Rodgers can wait and will wait till next year to get an extension. We need Jennings,Mathews and Raji signed up first.

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BinKee's picture

July 13, 2012 at 04:12 pm

Isn't refreshing to here a Professional Athlete willing to play out his contract. Instead of having 1 good year and demanding more money. If there is a better role model in Pro-Football than Aaron I have no idea who it would be. The Packers really lucked out having him drop into their laps on draft day. Although I think McCarthy's coaching has helped develope Aaron into what he is today.

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Tim's picture

July 13, 2012 at 06:31 pm

I get a bit verklemmt when I read about AR's contract attitude. He is better than bert at every level.

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FITZCORE1252's EVO's picture

July 13, 2012 at 09:02 pm

6 yrs, $126 mill, $72 guaranteed... That's what Ted and I would feel comfortable with. We hope to get it done before the middle of next season as another MVP, Lombardi, and SB MVP will only drive that price up come next Feb.

GBP 4 LIFE

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bryce's picture

July 15, 2012 at 04:13 pm

Which I think is partially why he's in no hurry to re-up. He's classy, but he's not a dummy either.

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Jamie's picture

July 13, 2012 at 09:51 pm

Can't wait for Rodgers to go off this season (well...I look forward to that part), and for folks to start complaining that TT hasn't gotten him a new deal yet - the longer he waits, the bigger the deal - blah blah blah. It never fails.

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pkrNboro's picture

July 13, 2012 at 10:16 pm

Better start getting yourself acclimated to not seeing one of your favorite Packers around for their next contract.

"But choose wisely, for while the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you."

Just want to make sure you are prepared... because there is no doubt, that from the woodwork you'll spring, saying: "we gotta have Player A, we gotta have Player B, we gotta have Player C"... and on and on.

So, unless you want 6-8 superstars playing with 45-47 UDFAs -- ya just better get ready.

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jmac34's picture

July 13, 2012 at 11:49 pm

Three names I could see being gone next year are Greg Jennings, theres a lot of depth behind him, Charles Woodson, losing a step with a bunch of young guys behind him, and AJ Hawk, reasons have been stated several times by others. I'm on the fence on Raji at this point but the Packers cannot afford to lose Matthews because he is the best player on defense

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Jamie's picture

July 14, 2012 at 01:00 am

1000% Jennings is back. Raji is prob only 999%. Woodson...998%. Now Hawk could be replaced by DJ Smith, saving substantial cap space. That would make sense.

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FITZCORE1252's EVO's picture

July 14, 2012 at 04:51 am

Maybe, maybe not. It's not at all unusual for 5-6 studs to eat up half the cap space for a squad. Just need a sound G.M to make it work., thankfully, we have one.

FYI: Just watched 'The Temple of Doom' with my 6 and 9 year old last night, they loved it (my personal favorite too)... 'Last Crusade' is next... Good quote!

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Kevin's picture

July 14, 2012 at 12:13 am

I mean I'm glad Aaron isn't worried about it, but it kinda makes me angry for him when Drew Brees is getting paid 5 times as much next year. Hopefully Ted rectifies this soon

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Jamie's picture

July 14, 2012 at 12:56 am

It's already starting.

There is a 1000,0093,75% probability that Ted and Aaron's agent will get him a nice new contract that both parties are happy with. Please do yourself and everyone else in this world a favor and stop putting a pointless sense of urgency on it...as if there is any chance it won't get done. Geeeesh

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gbfpage's picture

July 15, 2012 at 09:09 am

We can afford to let jennings hawk and woodson walk jennings is a superstar but we have so many weapons already. It would kill me to see woodson gone but hes due big money and losing steps still s stud rhough. Hawk C YA insert dj smith and were actually better off. Just keep ur eyes on house and hayward drafted for a reason

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eVade's picture

July 14, 2012 at 02:07 pm

In general I find the year by year breakdown on spotrac more useful than Rotoworld:

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/

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toolkien's picture

July 16, 2012 at 06:56 pm

One thing is for sure, the Packers need to capitalize on this window of opportunity with the top flight QB'ing coming so cheap. The Packers let one season get fumbled away, so they need to get something done before a whole extra blue-chip salary (if not more) is transferred to Rodgers. I don't begrudge it, just the reality that the Packers are benefiting from this period that's not going to last forever. One of the problems as the 2000's progressed was the ramping up of Favre's salary from his backloaded "life time" contract. The front end was lower, but they had a tendency to washout of the playoffs and got nothing done. Then the talent had to erode to pay Favre (at least salary cap wise).

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