Even if more and more quarterbacks make more money annually than Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, the star quarterback isn’t second-guessing his $450 million contract.

He told Barrett Bell of USA Today, “It’s awesome for the quarterback position, but I think all positions.” “I am aware that everyone looks at my APY (average per year) and other such metrics whenever a contract is up for negotiation. Personally, I’m doing fairly well. At the end of the day, all that matters to me is trying to win football games and provide for my family. I think I’m doing a fantastic job at that.”

Many predicted that Mahomes would eventually be underpaid in comparison to the market as soon as he signed his agreement with the Chiefs. If it wasn’t already here, that time has come.

Mahomes is tied for the 11th-highest average pay at his position, following the signing of long-term contracts by Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers and Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins. The $10 million difference between him and Love is especially noticeable because Love has only played in one complete season as a starter.

Mahomes refuted the popular perception of his contract, telling Bell “not necessarily” in response to the direct question of whether he is underpaid.

The six-time Pro Bowler serves as a reminder that player wages are not as simple as they seem, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted on Sunday. He is considerably down the list of quarterbacks in terms of average income, but he leads the way in terms of “four-year cash flow” between the 2023–26 ($210.6 million) and 2024–27 ($215.6 million) windows.

Mahomes is well aware that he has the ability to request a new contract at any time and receive a pay increase that more accurately represents his current situation.

Regarding the collaboration between his agents and Kansas City’s front office, he remarked, “We do an excellent job.” “When I restructured, kind of moving money around the last time, we talked about a certain year when we were going to go back and do it again.”

Mahomes’ colleagues may be looking forward to that day with great anticipation. If he starts earning $60 million, maybe even $70 million annually, every other quarterback in the league will be able to slightly increase his asking price.