Cheap QBs, Pricey Plans: How Rookie Deals Have Fueled NFL Spending

Last April, the Bears, Commanders, and Patriots selected quarterbacks with the first three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. This month, those three franchises are spending big on talent around the young signal callers while their cheap rookie contracts allow for other players to make more money.

Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye will each have salary cap hits of less than $9 million in 2025, and can’t negotiate contract extensions until the 2026 regular season ends. With the 2025 salary cap set at $279.2 million, that has meant a lot of cash being allocated to non-quarterbacks in Chicago, Washington, and New England.

Capital Expenses

Leading the charge are the Commanders, who in the wake of a surprising run to the NFC championship game have traded multiple draft picks to acquire two veteran offensive players with big contracts: left tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Deebo Samuel. 

Tunsil, who played the previous six seasons on the Texans, will make $21.35 million next season. Samuel, who was traded from the 49ers, is set to earn $17.5 million. Tunsill will receive the most total cash of any Commanders player in 2025, and Samuel will be fifth.

The play of Daniels, the NFL’s 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, not only helped turn things around for Washington on the field, but off it, too. After finishing dead last in the NFL Players Association’s annual report card for two years in a row, the Commanders rose to 11th overall in this year’s grades.

Game Management

Protecting Williams is clearly the goal for the Bears, who have traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and signed center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract. Thuney is set to make $16 million next season, while Jackson will earn $17.5 million. Chicago also committed nearly $100 million combined on new deals for free agent defensive linemen Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett.

The Patriots were especially busy on the opening day of free agency, signing more than half a dozen players, highlighted by a four-year, $104 million deal for defensive tackle Milton Williams. New England also reportedly offered Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin at least $20 million more than the $66 million he took to re-sign with Tampa for the next three seasons.