NFL Award Winners, Financially

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertFebruary 07, 2025
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League MVP

Josh Allen | QB | Buffalo Bills

Despite not being named first-team All-Pro, Allen secured his first MVP award in 2024, securing a $1.5M incentive along the way. It’s the first Bills’ player to win the award since RB Thurman Thomas did so back in 1991.

Contractually, Allen holds 4 years, $129.5M remaining, including just $14.5M for the upcoming 2025 season, none of which is guaranteed. He’s in line for some type of renegotiation this winter, be it a sweeten-the-pot maneuver that pulls cash from the back of the deal into 2025, or a straight up extension that pulls Allen into our current $60M+ per year stratosphere.

Offensive Player of the Year

Saquon Barkley | RB | Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley became the 9th player to reach 2,000 yards rushing in a season, finishing just 100 yards behind Eric Dickerson’s single-season record (2,105). He’s been every bit of the home run hitter the Eagles thought they were getting when they signed him away from the Giants on a 3 year, $37.75M contract.

The nearly 28-year-old now has 2 years, $26M remaining thanks to $1M worth of escalators that were hit in his historic 2024 campaign (another $250,000 can be added with a Super Bowl win). $11M of his 2025 salary plus $1.5M of his 2026 compensation is fully guaranteed.

Defensive Player of the Year

Patrick Surtain II | CB | Denver Broncos

The Broncos did a lot of subtracting before the 2024 season, but locking in Surtain to a market resetting 4 year, $96M extension has already proved to be one of their better additives of the offseason. The 24-year-old secured 4 interceptions, a forced fumble, and 45 tackles in 2024.

Surtain now holds 5 years, $100M remaining on his sophomore contract, including $42M guaranteed for practical purposes. His contract sets a new bar for the next wave of cornerback contracts (Stingley Jr., McDuffie, Benford, Gardner).

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Jayden Daniels | QB | Washington Commanders

It was a dream season for the Commanders, who changed nearly every facet of their franchise over the course of the past 24 months - and were rewarded with a lightning-in-a-bottle player at the most important position in sports. Daniels just completed the greatest rookie QB season in the history of the game, finishing 2024 with a Passer Rating over 100, 3500+ Passing Yards, nearly 900 Rushing Yards, and a 5th place ranking in PFFs final grading.

HIs #2 overall rookie contract now holds 3 years, $12.6M fully guaranteed remaining, plus a 5th year option for 2028 (that has already been escalated per his Pro Bowl selection this season). Daniels won’t become extension eligible until after the 2026 season, so it’s a big 2-year window for Washington to cash in on the value system.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Jared Verse | ED | Los Angeles Rams

The Rams hadn’t made a first round pick since the 2016 draft, but boy did they hit a home run with Verse. The 24-year-old out of Florida State secured 5 sacks, 66 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles in his debut campaign, while almost immediately establishing himself as a player offenses need to “gameplay” around.

His #19 overall rookie contract now holds 3 years, $6.5M fully guaranteed remaining, plus a 5th year option for 2028 (that has already been escalated per his Pro Bowl selection this season). Verse won’t become extension eligible until after the 2026 season.

Comeback Player of the Year

Joe Burrow | QB | Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow’s season began with serious concern about his long-term injury risk, and finished with a legitimate question as to if he should be in the running for League MVP. Such has been the ebbs and flows of his first 5 seasons in Cincinnati.

The 28-year-old holds 5 years, $198.7M remaining on his contract through 2029, $88.8M of which is guaranteed for practical purposes. It’s a big, busy, potentially very expensive offseason for his Bengals’ front office.


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