Nick Mullens has lasted six years in the NFL as a trusted backup quarterback. In a pinch, he’s had numerous franchises turn to him in case there are significant injuries or if an offensive spark is needed — the latter pertaining to the Minnesota Vikings.
Just how much is the career backup earning to be with the Vikings? Especially as an emergency option? Here are his contract details.
Details of Nick Mullens’ Vikings Contract
Mullens is on a two-year, $4 million deal with the Vikings, which is a signing extension he agreed to in March 2023.
His contract includes a $750,000 signing bonus and $1,922,500 guaranteed. For 2023, Mullens is earning a base salary of $1,172,500 in Minnesota.
His base salary then slightly dips for 2024. He’s anticipated to make $1,722,500 in 2024. He doesn’t become an unrestricted free agent until the 2025 offseason cycle.
But Mullens does carry a potential opt-out clause in his two-year deal as a Viking. As part of that deal, Mullens carries $375,000 in dead cap money.
Is this the richest contract Mullens has ever signed?
A Look at Past NFL Deals Mullens Agreed To
Mullens, 28, has built his NFL career as not only an emergency QB option, but as a league journeyman.
One thing is known about his past league deals, though, he’s never been awarded anything higher than the $4 million the Vikings have handed him.
Before joining the Vikes, he signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the 2022 season. That Raiders deal, signed on April 4, came with a $500,000 signing bonus with $1 million guaranteed.
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Mullens’ Sin City stay, though, got short-lived. He was traded to the Vikings on Aug. 22 ahead of the league’s 53-man roster cutoff date. The Raiders earned a conditional seventh-round pick in exchange.
The 2022 campaign wasn’t the first time Mullens ended up playing for two franchises in one year. Mullens was on a one-year, $970,000 contract with the Philadelphia Eagles that was signed on June 14, 2021. Philly waived him two months later on roster cutoff day. He found his way to the Cleveland Browns — who gave him one year for $920,000 to join their practice squad on Sept. 1 of that season.
While he’s been paid by five different NFL franchises, it’s the San Francisco 49ers he’s spent most of his time with.
A Look Back at Mullens’ 49ers Career
He arrived in the Bay Area as an undrafted rookie out of Southern Miss following the 2017 draft — which was the first draft conducted by head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
Mullens managed to win over the 49ers momentarily for his availability. He wound up starting in eight NFL games in his second league season and went 3-5 as a starter while throwing for 2,277 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. The 49ers eventually put him on a two-year, $1,050,000 contract in 2018.
However, Mullens wouldn’t start in an NFL game again until the 2020 season, which saw him line up behind center for another eight contests as Jimmy Garoppolo got banged up. Mullens went 2-6 with the Niners during that time.
Before being inserted as the starting quarterback in the Dec. 16 contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, Mullens had started in just one game outside of San Francisco: Week 15 in 2021 with the Browns. He got inserted after Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum tested positive for COVID-19.
Mullens has made his NFL living with a net worth of under $5 million as a serviceable backup. He’s been paid backup QB money in seven seasons.
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