Independent reporter Pablo Torre revealed the full findings of an NFL Players Association (NFLPA) grievance against the NFL, filed after Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed $230 million contract was finalized in 2022. The documents provide new perspectives on the league’s negotiation dynamics surrounding guaranteed contracts for key NFL quarterbacks, including Kyler Murray.
Though an arbitrator ruled last year that the NFL had not engaged in collusion to suppress guaranteed deals, the internal communications exposed in the grievance detail league efforts to limit guarantees following Watson’s contract. After Watson’s deal, notable quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, and Lamar Jackson all sought fully guaranteed contracts but faced resistance from their teams.
Insights Into Russell Wilson’s Contract Discussions With the Broncos
Before Wilson’s trade to the Denver Broncos, he requested a seven-year, $350 million fully guaranteed contract. Initially, Denver appeared receptive but later relented, partly due to ownership changes delaying negotiations. Broncos salary negotiator Rich Hurtado informed GM George Paton and owner Greg Penner that the Broncos aimed to maintain leverage and avoid setting a precedent with fully guaranteed contracts like Watson’s.
Penner expressed hesitation during a meeting, suggesting it was preferable to wait given Wilson’s two remaining contract years. The Broncos wanted to keep Wilson satisfied while setting a market standard to prevent fully guaranteed deals becoming the norm.
Wilson’s camp eventually proposed a contract that was not fully guaranteed but “practically” so. Penner noted,
“there’s nothing in here that other owners will find off-market [like the Watson deal],”
and later added,
“[the guarantees] are far less than the Watson deal. If we can get this done, [Paton] feels very good about it for us as a franchise and the benchmark it sets (versus Watson) for the rest of the league.”
Former NFLPA leaders DeMaurice Smith and J.C. Tretter exchanged texts criticizing Wilson’s inability to secure full guarantees. Torre reported that Tretter used “seriously disparaging language” toward Wilson during the grievance process.
Kyler Murray’s Struggle for a Fully Guaranteed Contract With Arizona
Kyler Murray’s agent Erik Burkhardt initially submitted a conventional contract offer in February 2022 after Murray’s third NFL season. However, after Watson’s large contract was publicized in March, Burkhardt withdrew the proposal, noting,
“[Arizona’s] unresponsiveness to Kyler’s proposal made over five weeks ago now, and with the QB landscape having drastically changed with the 4 new QB deals done since we sent our proposal.”
Burkhardt sought a fully guaranteed contract for Murray, believing Murray’s profile warranted it even more than Watson’s. Despite this, Arizona’s front office firmly opposed such guarantees, making it clear for months that the Watson deal was a non-starter.
Text exchanges between Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and GM Steve Keim revealed a strategy focused on incentives rather than full guarantees. Bidwill wrote,
“We are going to load up this contract with so…many incentives to earn the real money.”
Keim responded,
“Why the Browns felt so compelled to pay Watson like that is Baffling.”
Burkhardt said Murray eventually accepted a deal that was not fully guaranteed, describing the situation as,
“I would say, the sandbox he was essentially forced to play in.”
The Cardinals justified their position by pointing out that Murray still had two years remaining on his rookie contract and could be franchise-tagged multiple times, preserving roster flexibility. The team also cited concerns about Murray’s relatively smaller stature compared to other quarterbacks.
Following Murray’s contract signing, Chargers owner Dean Spanos congratulated Bidwill via text. Bidwill responded,
“Thanks Deno! These QB deals are expensive but we limited the fully guaranteed money and have some pretty good language. Thankfully we have a QB that’s worth paying.”
Spanos added,
“Your deal helps us for our QB next year.”
Bidwill admitted,
“I think many teams will be happy with it once they have a chance to review. Cleveland really screwed things up, but I was resolved to keep the guaranteed relatively ‘low.’”
Lamar Jackson’s Negotiations With the Ravens and Unique Challenges
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta stated he was not opposed to fully guaranteed contracts in principle but cautioned against guarantees that extended far into the future, especially given concerns about injuries. He highlighted Jackson’s history of injuries in 2021 and 2022 as a primary factor for resistance to long-term guarantees.
Jackson negotiated directly with DeCosta and was assisted by his mother, Felicia Jones, rather than an agent. Jackson requested a fully guaranteed deal, emphasizing its importance to him. After months of talks, Jackson chose to play the fifth-year option on his rookie contract in 2022, noting in a text,
“I’m going to continue to request a FULLY GUARANTEED contract I understand you all DON’T and that’s fine.”
In 2023, DeCosta offered Jackson three different three-year extensions all considered fully guaranteed, but Jackson declined each and requested a trade. Communication difficulties were reported, as Jackson mentioned his phone microphone was not working properly.
The Ravens then applied the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, permitting other teams to negotiate with him while Baltimore retained the right to match offers. Despite inquiries from a few teams, no formal offers materialized, and Jackson did not provide a list of preferred trade destinations when asked.
Owner Steve Bisciotti and DeCosta testified that factors limiting Jackson’s market included the Ravens’ high draft compensation requirement—two first-round picks—Jackson’s injury history, and his playing style that exposed him to frequent contact. For example, Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank explicitly ruled out pursuing Jackson due to health concerns, favoring cheaper options like Desmond Ridder.
Preparing for a potential trade, Jackson was ready for the 2023 NFL Draft without the Ravens, but just before the draft, the two sides reached an unexpected agreement on a new contract. Talks are ongoing for a future deal as Jackson has three years remaining on his current five-year, $260 million contract.
League Concerns Over Rising Guaranteed Money and Its Implications
During the NFL owners meeting in spring 2022, the NFL Management Council presented concerns about the growing trend of guarantees, signing bonuses, and dead money burdens on teams. Their internal notes warned that an increase in guaranteed contracts could create risks, such as making such guarantees standard regardless of a player’s quality, which could ultimately “hinder roster management.”
The council cautioned that if teams persistently exceed the salary cap through prorated bonuses and guarantees—approaches used by teams like the Eagles—it could unfairly shift revenue shares to players beyond what the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) intends. This underscored the league’s desire to control financial exposure linked to guaranteed quarterback contracts.
What This Means for Future NFL Quarterback Contracts
The released grievance documents reveal the intense pressures and strategic maneuvering involved in negotiating quarterback contracts at the NFL’s highest levels. After Deshaun Watson’s landmark guaranteed deal, teams and owners acted to contain expectations and avoid setting expensive contract precedents. Kyler Murray’s stalled negotiations illustrate the difficulties quarterbacks face when seeking full guarantees in an environment shaped by financial caution and risk management.
For fans and analysts, these revelations provide a clearer picture of the complex interplay between player demands, team financial considerations, and league-wide standards. Looking ahead, the handling of guaranteed contracts will remain a critical issue for NFL teams navigating roster flexibility while seeking to retain elite quarterbacks under increasingly stringent financial controls.