The Bolts QB has officially struck gold — take a closer look at the details of the LA Chargers’ blockbuster Justin Herbert contract extension.
The Eagles’ Jalen Hurts, a 2020 NFL Draft selection quickly proving himself as a premier talent across the league, secured a record-setting contract extension in his first window of eligibility that made him the highest-paid NFL player in history by average annual contract value. That gave us all the proof we need that the Philly phenom set the market in what was always expected to be an explosive 2023 offseason for quarterback spending. Then, imminent free agent Lamar Jackson followed suit and reset the market himself with the Baltimore Ravens.
But on July 25, as first reported by Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert — himself a 2020 draftee and therefore on the same extension cadence as Hurts — was not to be outdone. He inked a showstopper of a deal and put everyone else to shame: five years and $262.5 million.
That’s the largest average annual value on an NFL contract in the history of the league at time of signing.
The former Oregon Ducks standout had the makings of a star from the jump, following Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 with his first Pro Bowl nod a season later. And while he doesn’t have the conference championship credentials of Hurts and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow or the MVP exploits of Jackson so far, he can say goodbye to the $4.234 million figure he was due to earn in 2023 on his rookie deal (even before the extension years officially kick in the following season, he’ll be swimming in signing bonus money).
With that in mind, it’s time to dive into the finer salary particulars behind the Chargers’ eye-popping Justin Herbert contract extension.
Justin Herbert Contract Extension & Salary Details
All dollar figures as reported by Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo (total value) and ESPN’s Adam Schefter (guarantees).
Years: 5
Total value: $262,500,000
Average annual value: $52,500,000
Guaranteed at signing: $133,700,000
Total guaranteed money: $218,700,000
Free agency: 2029
Click here for the full details of Herbert’s four-year rookie-scale contract, which additionally contained a potential fifth-year team option for 2024 worth over $29 million.
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Justin Herbert’s Career Earnings
Salary data via Spotrac.
TOTAL CAREER EARNINGS THRU 2022 SEASON: $22,461,377
ESTIMATED CAREER EARNINGS THRU 202 SEASON: $284,961,377
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