Bo Nix’s 2027 Extension Could Be Shaped by These 5 QBs

Like all players from the 2024 NFL draft class, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix won't be eligible for an extension until the 2027 league year. The Broncos will have Nix on a low-cost salary for one more season before the time comes to determine how much he should get in an extension.

The NFL quarterback market has settled a bit when it comes to the position, at least in terms of players who are being paid at the top of the market. Dak Prescott set a new standard for average-per-year salary when he got $60 million APY in a four-year extension signed back in 2024 with the Dallas Cowboys.

However, no quarterback has come close to that mark in the extensions given since then, though some have gotten more in full guarantees. Buffalo's Josh Allen got $55M APY in his 2025 extension, but received $147M fully guaranteed, surpassing the $129M fully guaranteed money Prescott did.

San Francisco's Brock Purdy got a five-year extension in 2025, putting him at $53M APY with $100M fully guaranteed. In Purdy's case, he was in the final year of his draft-pick contract, unlike Prescott and Allen, both of whom had long since played out their rookie deals and were on their second contracts.

But in the meantime, there will be a few other quarterbacks to keep an eye on who are either eligible for extensions for the first time or on deals that expire after the 2026 season, and could impact the position's salary market.

Keep in mind that we are only looking at quarterbacks who are currently eligible for extensions, so this won't include any of Nix's fellow signal-callers drafted in 2024, as they are not yet eligible for new deals.

Let's look at these quarterbacks who might impact the market before the 2027 league year gets underway.

C.J. Stroud drops back to pass vs. the Denver Broncos. | Sean Thomas-Imagn Images

Stroud played at a high level as a rookie but has since cooled off overall. However, not all of it is his fault, as the Texans have had issues with their offensive line, the run game, and receivers staying healthy.

The Texans have also reached the divisional round of the playoffs each year, giving Stroud a 3-3 playoff record. That will be more than enough for Houston to exercise the fifth-year option in his contract for about $26M.

It's possible that Stroud gets extended before the 2026 season gets underway, though it's hard to see him surpassing the likes of Allen, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, and Green Bay's Jordan Love at $55M APY. However, as a former first-round pick, Stroud may surpass Purdy's $53M APY.

Young struggled in his rookie season and wasn't much better in Year 2. He fared better in 2025, though, and the Panthers made the playoffs for the first time since he was drafted in 2023.

The Panthers will likely exercise Young's fifth-year option because it will be a reasonable amount (about $26M, the same as Stroud). However, because Young hasn't been more than an average starter, the Panthers might not extend him right away.

Should Young improve, he could be in line for an extension during the 2027 league year. However, he will need to take the Panthers deeper into the playoffs to get past Purdy's $53M APY.

Baker Mayfield drops back to pass vs. the Broncos. | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Mayfield is entering the final year of a three-year, $100M extension he signed back in 2024. He played well in 2023 and 2024, but wasn't as good last season.

The 31-year-old will have an incentive to play well this season, as this may be Mayfield's last chance to get another significant contract. He will need to play at the level he was at in his first two seasons with the Bucs to get paid a lot.

Should Mayfield do so, he could push for a deal that exceeds $40M APY. While that wouldn't put him at the top of APY salaries, it would be an incentive for those looking at top-of-market deals to push harder for one.

Kyler Murray drops back to pass as an Arizona Cardinal. | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Murray was released by the Arizona Cardinals earlier this year to prevent his 2027 salary from becoming fully guaranteed. He is now taking the veteran minimum with the Vikings to prove that he can still be a capable starter.

Murray is just 30 years old, so if he plays well, he would no doubt be looking to get another significant contract in 2027. Like Mayfield, he could be looking at a salary that exceeds $40M APY.

Once again, if Murray shows he's worth a big contract, his deal may not reach the top of the market, but it would serve as a benchmark for quarterbacks such as Nix to argue that they should be paid at that level.

Tua Tagovailoa drops back to pass as a Miami Dolphin. | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Tagovailoa looked quite impressive in 2023, but his production plummeted, and he missed too many games because of injuries. The Miami Dolphins chose to cut bait, despite owing a massive amount of money for 2026.

Tagovailoa took a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons for the veteran minimum and will get a chance to prove he still has what it takes to be a starter. Should he do that, he could be another quarterback entering the conversation for a deal exceeding $40M APY.

Of course, Tagovailoa will have a lot to prove that he should get a significant contract after his play significantly declined. But if he does prove he's worthy of an extension, it will be another deal that could impact discussions for a new deal for Nix.

The Takeaway

Of all these quarterbacks, Stroud is the one most likely to get a contract that comes into play for any extension for Nix in 2027. The others might enter the conversation, though that depends on their play in 2026 — and even then, they aren't likely to be paid at the top of the market.

Sticking with Stroud, it's possible he could get an extension that puts him close to $54M APY. His full guarantees are another question, though it's likely he could exceed Love, who, despite getting $55M APY, is just slightly ahead of Purdy at $100.8M in fully guaranteed salary.

Whatever contract Stroud receives, that's likely going to be the benchmark for Nix — though it's possible he could enter the conversation of a deal that is similar to Allen's deal. That is particularly true if the Broncos make another deep playoff run.

The Broncos won't have to worry about that Nix contract until 2027. However, until then, the quarterback market is something they'll be watching closely.

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