Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Three QBs that could cash-in under the NFL's new salary cap

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 2/25/24

With the NFL salary cap increasing to $255.4 million per club in 2024, some quarterbacks could really cash-in. Here’s three that could do very well.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Leave it to Cousins to reach free agency in what could be a year of unprecedented NFL spending. The 35-year-old quarterback made a career out of betting on himself with a series of one-year contracts after being drafted by Washington in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Cousins didn’t balk at playing under his $19M franchise tag in 2016 or the $24M tag he signed a year later. In 2022 he signed a one-year, $35M contract extension to remain with the Vikings.

Currently, his $231M career earnings are fourth-most among active quarterbacks. Some estimates have Cousins receiving a three-year contract with an average salary around $39M but Jim Souhan of startribune.com thinks he could sign a two-year, $90M deal with the Vikings. Given recent developments and Cousins’ financial acumen, the latter seems more likely.

Shirtless Kirk Cousins leading the pregame SKOL chant

(via @NFL)

pic.twitter.com/u8FUdAclvf
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 1, 2024

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

After three NFL seasons, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft is now eligible for an extension. Lawrence has made $31M in his career but can expect a substantial raise with his next contract.

Since the 2022 offseason, six quarterbacks have signed new contracts for an average annual salary of $49M. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow signed a five-year, $275M extension to become the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback in September, but could have received even more had he waited until the offseason.

With one playoff win on his resume, Lawrence may not surpass Burrow’s contract, but with an extra $30.6M under the salary cap, 2023’s 10th-leading passer should do well in 2024.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

The 30-year-old quarterback is entering the final year of his contract and ESPN’s Dan Graziano thinks he could break the bank in 2024.

“With one year left on his current deal, a no-trade clause and a clause that prohibits the Cowboys from using the franchise or transition tags on him, Prescott can demand whatever he wants,” Graziano said. “Stay tuned on this one.”

Prescott may own a 2-5 playoff record, but he had an outstanding regular season and was runner-up for NFL MVP. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and linebacker Micah Parsons also need new deals, but the quarterback should come first.

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