Reports are Philadelphia just signed their star quarterback, Jalen Hurts, to a deal that makes him the highest paid player in NFL history. It seems like just yesterday Dak Prescott was inking his own shiny new multi-year deal to remain with the Cowboys. The year was 2021 and Prescott was coming off a season of astronomic highs and abysmal lows. He started the year as the top passer in the NFL before suffering a nasty season-ending compound fracture in Week 5.
After which, seeing firsthand what the offense looked like with a replacement level QB under center, Dallas happily ponied up the cash and made Prescott the highest paid player in franchise history.
It was the dawning of a new era. No longer was Prescott the overachieving fourth round steal. The new contract meant that was in the past and he was now the true franchise quarterback of America’s Team. Expectations changed and the stakes went up.
His status and role changed in Dallas. Now it appears the Eagles are about to face the same transition.
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The #Eagles and Jalen Hurts agreed to terms on a 5-year, $255M contract extension that makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.@AgentNicoleLynn did the deal, which includes $179.304M in guarantees and a no-trade clause. pic.twitter.com/UNzVumGgoA
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 17, 2023
Hurts, an MVP candidate before a Week 14 injury derailed his campaign, was the breakout story of 2022. Entering the last year on his rookie deal in 2023, the question wasn’t if he would be re-signed, but rather when.
The Eagles answered that on April 17, signing Hurts to a five-year contract and subsequently pushing the franchise into a situation that’s all-too familiar to the Cowboys.