The NFL has never been shy about throwing piles of cash at quarterbacks, but just because someone gets paid like a star doesn’t mean they play like one. With contracts ballooning and expectations soaring, some quarterbacks are cashing checks that their performance can’t quite cash in on.
Whether it’s due to injuries, inconsistency, or plain old hype, these quarterbacks are being compensated like top-tier stars—but the results don’t always line up. Here are 12 quarterbacks heading into 2025 who are getting paid way more than they’re worth.
12. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones is now a backup in Indy, but he’s still riding the wave of a bizarrely generous contract from the Giants. For someone with more turnovers than touchdown passes in key stretches, he’s collecting checks like a franchise savior.
11. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Watson’s fully guaranteed deal continues to haunt the Browns, as his play has been mediocre at best when he’s actually on the field. Injuries and off-field baggage make this one of the worst value contracts in football.
10. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert has all the tools and puts up big numbers, but the Chargers still can’t win meaningful games. His contract pays him like a champion, even though his playoff résumé is still stuck in neutral.
9. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
Cousins was supposed to be the veteran presence in Atlanta, but he’s already been leapfrogged by a rookie. Paying $45 million a year for a clipboard holder is not exactly a savvy move.
8. Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
Geno’s late-career glow-up got him paid, but he’s now pushing 35 and heading into a shaky situation with the Raiders. The deal feels more like a reward for past performance than a bet on future success.
7. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Murray’s deal once looked like the future of the league, but things have unraveled quickly. Between injuries, inconsistency, and a disappearing act in big moments, he’s nowhere near living up to the price tag.
6. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Love has had some intense flashes, but he’s still a mixed bag when it comes to consistency. The Packers paid like he’s the next great thing—now he has to prove he’s not just the next big gamble.
5. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Goff has been solid in Detroit, but he’s now getting paid like a perennial Pro Bowler. The Lions are hoping they didn’t just buy into a ceiling he already hit.
4. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy got the bag after a Cinderella run, but he’s yet to show he can carry the team when things go south. With that kind of payday, expectations are a lot higher than just “pretty good.”
3. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tua puts up pretty stats, but he’s yet to show up when it counts in the postseason. Add in the durability concerns, and the Dolphins might’ve jumped the gun on locking him in long-term.
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2. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence was crowned the next great QB, but he’s still stuck in the “potential” phase. Injuries, inconsistency, and a lack of signature wins make his massive payday look premature.
Read More: Ranking the 10 Worst Quarterback Contracts in the NFL Right Now
1. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak’s contract reset the market, but his performances in must-win games never quite match the paycheck. He’s great at beating the bad teams—just don’t ask him to do it in January.
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