It’s almost easy to forget at this point, but Jalen Hurts had not solidified himself as the Philadelphia Eagles‘ long-term starter heading into the 2022 NFL season. While Hurts had been productive the year prior, his disastrous performance in the Eagles’ playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers created questions about his long-term viability.
We all know what happened next. Hurts took his game to the next level last season, finishing second in MVP voting while nearly guiding Philadelphia to a Super Bowl victory.
Confident that Hurts could be their franchise quarterback, the Eagles gave him a new contract in April 2023. What does Hurts’ extension look like?
Jalen Hurts’ Contract Details and Bonuses
Hurts’ five-year contract with Philadelphia has a total value of $255 million and contains $179.3 million in guarantees. Of that amount, $110 million is fully guaranteed for cap, injury, and skill.
When Hurts signed his deal, he became the league’s highest-paid quarterback at $51 million per season, topping Russell Wilson by $2 million annually. However, he’s since been usurped by Joe Burrow ($55 million), Justin Herbert ($52.5 million), and Lamar Jackson ($52 million).
The Eagles’ primary goal with this contract — aside from simply retaining Hurts for the long haul — was to keep his salary cap charges relatively low in the near future. By using league minimum base salaries and a triple option bonus structure, Philadelphia should be able to leave enough cap space open to add other players in ensuing seasons.
Let’s break down Hurts’ deal by year.
2023
- Base salary: $1.01 million
- Signing bonus proration: $5.14 million
- Cap hit: $6.15 million
- Yearly cash: $24.3 million
- Running cash: $24.3 million
2024
- Base salary: $1.13 million
- Signing bonus proration: $4.66 million
- Option bonus proration: $7.78 million
- Cap hit: $13.56 million
- Yearly cash: $40 million
- Running cash: $64.3 million
2025
- Base salary: $1.17 million
- Signing bonus proration: $4.66 million
- Option bonus proration: $15.94 million
- Cap hit: $21.77 million
- Yearly cash: $42 million
- Running cash: $106.3 million
2026
- Base salary: $1.22 million
- Signing bonus proration: $4.66 million
- Option bonus proration: $25.9 million
- Cap hit: $31.77 million
- Yearly cash: $51 million
- Running cash: $157.3 million
2027
- Base salary: $1.35 million
- Signing bonus proration: $4.66 million
- Roster bonus: $5 million
- Option bonus proration: $34.83 million
- Cap hit: $45.83 million
- Yearly cash: $51 million
- Running cash: $208.3 million
2028
- Base salary: $1.39 million
- Roster bonus: $10 million
- Option bonus proration: $42.75 million
- Cap hit: $54.14 million
- Yearly cash: $51 million
- Running cash: $259.3 million
2029-2032
The Eagles used void years from 2029-2032. These are essentially dummy seasons that don’t even have a base salary listed.
If Hurts makes it all the way to the end of his contract without restructuring or getting extended (unlikely), Philadelphia would have to account for more than $97 million in dead money in 2029.
Guarantees
- $110 million
- Signing bonus + 2023 salary + 2024 salary + 2024 option bonus + 2025 salary + 2025 option bonus + $3.7 million of 2026 salary
- $16.5 million of 2026 salary guarantees in March 2024
- $30.8 million of 2026 salary guarantees in March 2025
- $22 million of 2027 salary guarantees in March 2026
Other Details
- Full no-trade clause
- $15 million available via incentives
- NFL MVP win: $500,000 salary escalator for each future season
- Super Bowl win: $500,000 salary escalator for each future season
When Could the Eagles Cut Jalen Hurts?
Hurts didn’t blow away the rest of the quarterback market in terms of cash flow.
He’s collecting just $60 million through Year 1 of his extension. That’s well behind the QBs that have since overtaken him in AAV, but it also lags Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, and Dak Prescott, several of whom signed deals two years before Hurts.
What did Hurts receive in return for accepting a reduced cash flow? Security.
MORE: Highest-Paid QBs in 2023
Realistically, the Eagles can’t get out of this contract with a straight release. There’s no point over the next six years where a regular release of Hurts would result in anything less than $90 million in dead money hitting Philadelphia’s books.
If Hurts falls off a cliff, the Eagles could designate him as a post-June 1 release after the 2027 campaign. Even then, they’d absorb roughly $48 million in dead money that season, followed by $54 million in 2028.
Hurts’ new deal is designed with another extension in mind. Assuming he keeps up his current performance level, Philadelphia will likely want to give him a new deal before the 2027 season, when he’s scheduled to have a $45.83 million cap charge.