One month after leading the Ravens to a Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is set to sign a contract valued at $120.6 million over six years. The contract, which will pay Flacco over $20 million per year, will make him the highest paid player in NFL history.
According to reports, the contract will be signed on Monday, eight days before Flacco would become an unrestricted free agent. Currently, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is the highest paid player in the league, averaging $20 million per season. It was rumored that if no deal had been reached, the Ravens would have used the franchise tag on Flacco by Monday’s deadline.
Flacco was drafted by the Ravens in 2008 and has never missed a game. In five seasons, Flacco has thrown for 17,633 yards, throwing 104 touchdowns and 56 interceptions with a quarterback rating of 86.3. Flacco has frequently been considered as an elite NFL quarterback. While with the Ravens, Flacco has led the team to three appearances in the AFC Championship game.
In 2012, Flacco threw for 3,817 yards, 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, with a quarterback rating of 87.7. In the Ravens’ 34-31 victory in Super Bowl XLVII over the 49ers, Flacco threw for 287 yards with 3 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 124.2, a performance that earned Flacco Super Bowl MVP.
Flacco’s agent had been looking for a major contract, but was still willing for Flacco to sign a deal that would allow for the Ravens to keep some of their key components while staying under the salary cap.
Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports