Patrick Mahomes’ agency and the Kansas City Chiefs have started negotiations working toward a long-term contract extension according to a report from the Kansas City Star’s Sam Mellinger. The details regarding the extension are still fuzzy at this time. Both sides have been tight-lipped about negotiations beyond letting us know they’re both committed to getting a deal done.
Mellinger says there are two things we know about the forthcoming contract for Mahomes. The given is that he will become the highest-paid player in NFL history, something that has been universally assumed at this point. Based on the information that Mellinger received talking with various agents, he has the total value of Mahomes deal at $160 million or more. Will it be fully guaranteed at the point of signing? Agents around the NFL would certainly love that.
The second thing we know per Mellinger is that Mahomes’ contract extension has the potential to change how contract negotiations in the NFL are handled in the future. The eyes of the NFL are watching at this point, from agents to front offices. One anonymous agent even referred to it as, “the holy grail.”
An interesting point that Mellinger raises is that with the potential for a lower salary cap in 2021 amidst the coronavirus pandemic, could there be provisions in Mahomes’ contract tying it to a set percentage of the salary cap? That’d be rather unheard of and it might be a tough sell for Mahomes and his agent.
Now Kansas City doesn’t need to rush into anything with Mahomes. They exercised Mahomes’ fifth-year option, and with that, he’s under contract through the 2021 season. However, the feeling seems to be that the longer the Chiefs wait, the more expensive Mahomes’ contract extension becomes.
Whatever the scenario, we know that the 24-year-old quarterback has all the leverage in the world to land a massive deal with the Chiefs. We know that his contract will set a new standard and perhaps one that could benefit players across the league.
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