Examining the Josh Allen contract "drama"

Much has been made of Josh Allen's value as of late, and how his performance far overshadows the amount that he's actually paid. Rarely do we find ourselves in the midst of a player who's ability exceeds his contract quite like this. The typical situation is a star player on a rookie contract but, by all metrics, Allen's six-year $258m extension is incredible value for the Buffalo Bills.

When the news came in 2021 out that Allen has been extended, there were mixed reactions. Buffalo Bills fans were definitively elated, but many opposers were on the fence, unsure if Allen had actually proved his ability to earn that money down the line. After all, he had only shown one elite season of play following a shaky rookie year and a solid but not-elite sophomore season. They ate their words, and Allen continued to grow past the value of his extension. Now entering his seventh NFL season, he's still under contract though his eleventh.

Despite being widely regarded as the second best QB in the league, Allen earns just over $43M annually on his current contract. Let's not pretend that that isn't a lot of money- Everyone is acutely aware of just how much money the NFL's best players get paid. But, for the pros, the only real marker of value is pay for production comparative to their competition. From Kirk Cousins' brand-new $45M a year deal to Joe Burrow's whopping $55M, a total of 12 other quarterbacks are paid more than Allen. The salary cap is rising year-after-year as the new TV deals (part of the NFL's latest contract negotiations) kick fresh money in, and it's only a matter of time until more contracts widen the gap. Josh Allen seems to agree.

" “I’m happy that everyone’s getting what they’re worth, right? And I think that as the game progresses and guys keep getting paid, the market is the market." - Josh Allen, Aug 20th, 2024""

- via Jonah Bronstein of WIVB

Still, it's customary for the best players in the NFL to have their contracts adjusted and increased to ensure there's equitable pay for their performance. That money is also inevitably coming for several QBs, Allen included. The issue is when. Buffalo has just about finished digging themselves out of salary cap trouble, and may have a window coming up where they can log some high-profile extensions without piling it all onto the future. The lone obstacle to Josh Allen getting paid even more is his unwillingness to ask for it. His $45M annual pay may not be in line with the league's elite, but it's still $45m a year, to play football. He seems to keep that in perspective.

""I’ve got no problem with where I’m at right now. And, you know what, I had my day a couple years ago, and I’m sure someday I’ll have it again. But I think the main thing is the main thing, and that’s playing football to the best of my ability, and everything else will take care of itself.""

- via Jonah Bronstein of WIVB

It's as good a response as fans could hope for, and the team too. His focus is on playing the game and bringing a championship to Buffalo, and letting the business side of the game happen when the right time comes. Fortunately for the Bills, as QB contracts soar so to does the cap. Fitting a solid team around Josh Allen isn't an unforgiving task, made all the easier by his apparent willingness to simply play what he's been paid instead of demanding a deserved raise. When he does get paid again, it'll still be worth it.