Joe Flacco, who led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl win last month, has agreed to a new six-year, $120.6 million contract with the team, making him the highest paid player in the NFL, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer was first to report the news Friday.
Flacco's deal gives him an average of $20.1 million per season, or $100,000 more than the average annual value of New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, who signed a five-year, $100 million deal last July.
Flacco, when reportedly reached by NFL.com writer Jason LaCanfora, said he has not been in contact with his agent, Joe Linta, on Friday and is unsure if the deal is done.
However, NFL reporter Adam Kaplan tweeted that he was able to reach Linta, who told him: "While I was in flight earlier today, the Ravens verbally agreed to all of our terms. However, Joe and I have not received the contract back to review. Once we get the contract and review it (assuming there are no issues), Joe will sign it."
News of Flacco’s deal comes just days after Patriots QB Tom Brady agreed to a restructured deal that is less than market value for a star QB. His cap number over the next five years of his contract is roughly $14 million. In comparison, Drew Brees signed a five-year, $100-million deal last year that made him the NFL's highest paid player at $20 million per season. That would carry an average of a $20 million cap hit each year, though the deal is far more cap friendly to start the pact.
Flacco played out his rookie contract last season for $6.76 million, leading his team to a win in Super Bowl XLVII over the San Francisco 49ers and earning MVP honors. On his way to his first Super Bowl, he beat the Texans, Broncos and Patriots—each team had at least 12 wins in 2012. In the four playoff games, he had 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also holds the record for playoff road wins with six.
The 28-year-old Flacco is the only quarterback to win a postseason game in each of his first five pro seasons.
Before the Super Bowl, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti expressed confidence that Flacco would be the Ravens' quarterback of the future.
"We've never lost a great, great franchise player from the beginning," Bisciotti said. "I'm just very comfortable that it will get done."
Had Flacco been franchised, he would have earned at least $14.896 million this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Flacco's deal gives him an average of $20.1 million per season, or $100,000 more than the average annual value of New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, who signed a five-year, $100 million deal last July.
Flacco, when reportedly reached by NFL.com writer Jason LaCanfora, said he has not been in contact with his agent, Joe Linta, on Friday and is unsure if the deal is done.
However, NFL reporter Adam Kaplan tweeted that he was able to reach Linta, who told him: "While I was in flight earlier today, the Ravens verbally agreed to all of our terms. However, Joe and I have not received the contract back to review. Once we get the contract and review it (assuming there are no issues), Joe will sign it."
News of Flacco’s deal comes just days after Patriots QB Tom Brady agreed to a restructured deal that is less than market value for a star QB. His cap number over the next five years of his contract is roughly $14 million. In comparison, Drew Brees signed a five-year, $100-million deal last year that made him the NFL's highest paid player at $20 million per season. That would carry an average of a $20 million cap hit each year, though the deal is far more cap friendly to start the pact.
Flacco played out his rookie contract last season for $6.76 million, leading his team to a win in Super Bowl XLVII over the San Francisco 49ers and earning MVP honors. On his way to his first Super Bowl, he beat the Texans, Broncos and Patriots—each team had at least 12 wins in 2012. In the four playoff games, he had 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also holds the record for playoff road wins with six.
The 28-year-old Flacco is the only quarterback to win a postseason game in each of his first five pro seasons.
Before the Super Bowl, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti expressed confidence that Flacco would be the Ravens' quarterback of the future.
"We've never lost a great, great franchise player from the beginning," Bisciotti said. "I'm just very comfortable that it will get done."
Had Flacco been franchised, he would have earned at least $14.896 million this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.