Up until recently, there were very few backup quarterbacks in the NFL who received north of $5 million per year. Even veteran quarterbacks with starting experience, like Jameis Winston ($4 million) and Jimmy Garoppolo ($3 million), came short of that number.<\/p>\n
Recently, the market has moved, though. Tyson Bagent of the Chicago Bears, who threw all of two passes last season, signed a two-year, $10 million extension a couple of weeks ago<\/a>. Prior to his new contract, the only backup quarterbacks earning north of $4 million per year were Marcus Mariota ($8 million), Jacoby Brissett ($6.25 million), Zach Wilson ($6 million), Jarrett Stidham ($6 million) and Tyrod Taylor ($6 million) going into the 2025 regular season.<\/p>\n This week, the backup quarterback market moved again, as Davis Mills, C.J. Stroud\u2019s number two in Houston, received a one-year, $7 million extension with the Texans. He\u2019s now the second-highest paid backup quarterback in the league, only behind a former second overall selection who has 74 starts under his belt. Meanwhile, Mills hasn\u2019t started in two full regular seasons (about to be three) and has a career record of 5-19-1.<\/p>\n The Green Bay Packers\u2019 backup quarterback at the moment is Malik Willis, who led the team to two victories last season and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Because the Packers didn\u2019t extend Willis when the prices for backups were lower, his floor is now probably the $5 million than Bagent, who didn\u2019t have nearly the impact that Willis did in 2024, signed for.<\/p>\n If Green Bay doesn\u2019t want to use future cap space on Willis, they\u2019ll probably look to the 2026 draft for a backup. With 19 expiring contracts on the team\u2019s 2026 roster<\/a>, the Packers will be looking to stack compensatory draft picks for the 2027 season next free agency, rather than signing outside free agents.<\/p>\n