Derek Carr got his record deal, but these NFL quarterbacks could soon overtake him

Andrew Luck’s reign as the NFL’s highest-paid player lasted just one year. But Derek Carr’s tenure with that title — he agreed to a pact that will average $25 million annually Thursday — could be far shorter. Several players could receive massive contracts in the near future, perhaps even by the end of the summer.

A look at quarterbacks poised to cash in next:

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions: He could sign a deal that eclipses Carr’s soon, and general manager Bob Quinn said recently that he was confident a contract will get done. Stafford is scheduled to make $16.5 million in 2017, the final year of the contract extension he signed in 2013. But now that Carr's pact is done, Stafford and the Lions have the framework of a deal he can expect to receive.

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Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: He is under contract through 2019 but is compensated below market value (Rodgers averages $22 million annually) for a player of his caliber. And with a salary cap that continues to balloon, he has a good case that he deserves a new deal. “When it comes to setting the market values, I let that stuff take care of itself. I know my value in this league and I know the team appreciates me,” Rodgers said earlier this month, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “I’m going to continue to make myself an indispensable part of this roster. When you do that, when your time comes up to get a contract, you usually get a contract extension.”

Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins: He heads into this season playing on the franchise tag for the second consecutive year. Cousins has until July 17 to sign a long-term contract with Washington, otherwise he will play on the one-year tag for $23.94 million. The Redskins could still tag Cousins again in 2018, though that would cost roughly $34.5 million — an unheard of price tag for any player. Washington might also finally allow Cousins to hit free agency in 2018, and he could land his big contract with another team. 

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons: The reigning MVP has two years left on his deal but could certainly argue that with less accomplished players getting paid, he should receive a raise, too. Ryan is coming off his best season after leading the Falcons to the Super Bowl, which should give him leverage if he wants to renegotiate soon. 

Jimmy Garoppolo, New England Patriots: He didn't get traded this offseason and now heads into the final year of his rookie contract as Tom Brady’s backup. There is little doubt there will be a competitive market for Garoppolo if he becomes a free agent next spring. But will the Patriots try to sign him to an extension first to make sure they keep Brady’s presumed successor, or maybe even tag-and-trade him as they did with Matt Cassel in 2009?

Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans: The earliest either can enter negotiations for the second deals is Jan. 1. But with other experienced quarterbacks from Carr’s 2014 class (Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater) unlikely to earn big new deals any time soon, the next wave of massive deals could be for Winston and Mariota, the No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively, from the 2015 draft. However both could have to wait longer assuming the Bucs and Titans choose to exercise their fifth-year contract options, which would likely delay contract talks until 2019.

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