Jalen Hurts, Eagles agree to 5-year, $255M extension

But no QB is atop Hurts now — Philadelphia’s franchise player is about to become the highest-paid player in average annual value in NFL history.

Hurts and the Eagles are set to sign one of the richest deals in NFL history, agreeing to a five-year, $255 million extension, including $179.3 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Monday because the deal was not yet final.

The Eagles announced later Monday on social media that “QB1 is here to stay.”

“Keeping the main thing in Philly,” they tweeted, referencing one of Hurts’ mottos. “We’ve agreed to terms with Jalen Hurts on a 5-year extension through the 2028 season.”

The 24-year-old Hurts was expected to receive $51 million per season — topping Mahomes and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers — and only Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson ($230M) and Arizona’s Kyler Murray ($189.5M) received more in a single contract.

“Our job in this league is go out there and win football games and make money while doing it, and I’m glad the guys dong it the right way are getting the job security they deserve,” Mahomes said Monday.

Those numbers could be topped soon depending on how the contract situation between the Baltimore Ravens and QB Lamar Jackson plays out. In a series of tweets, the star quarterback said he requested a trade as of March 2. On March 7, the Ravens put the nonexclusive franchise tag on Jackson and said they were still hopeful they could reach a long-term deal with him.

If Jackson does come back without a new deal, he could play this season on Baltimore’s $32.4 million franchise tag.

Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert and Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow could each look to Hurts’ deal as a framework for their looming extensions.

The Eagles know where Hurts will be this season.

Hurts delivered a record performance in the Super Bowl, throwing for 304 yards and a touchdown, running for 70 yards and three scores, and adding a game-tying 2-point conversion. Hurts and Mahomes were the first Black QBs to face off in a Super Bowl.

Philadelphia went 14-1 in Hurts’ starts and he had 3,701 yards passing, 760 yards rushing and 35 touchdowns combined in the regular season. He led the Eagles to the top seed in the NFC and a playoff victory over the New York Giants and over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC championship game.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes plans to be ready for training camp with no limitations from the high ankle sprain that occurred during the playoffs and was such the focal point of their run to a Super Bowl victory in February.

The Chiefs began their offseason program Monday, though most of their players will spend the first two weeks of voluntary workouts at home and meeting through Zoom. That includes Mahomes, who has gathered a group of wide receivers, running backs and tight ends at his home in Texas for the second straight year for their own workouts.

Mahomes said his ankle is doing well and that he doesn’t expect to have any limitations when training camp rolls around in late July.

Matthew Stafford said he is content to stick with the Los Angeles Rams while they undergo a major franchise reset.

The quarterback left the Detroit Lions two years ago because he didn’t want to go through a major rebuild, but Stafford said he loves his teammates and coaches in Los Angeles even though the club has done nothing to improve the offensive line that allowed him to be sacked 29 times last season.

Stafford has four more years and $160 million left on his current contract.

Joe Burrow walked through the Cincinnati Bengals locker room on Monday with the same confident stroll he often displays on game day. Burrow, sporting a headband, smiled and joked with his teammates.

The two-time defending AFC North champion Bengals were officially back to work. Cincinnati held its first day of offseason workouts on Monday, and Burrow led the way.

New York Jets All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is not attending the start of the team’s voluntary workouts while he seeks a contract extension, according to an AP source. Williams’ absence Monday was expected after he said in January he wouldn’t participate without a new contract.

VIKINGS: Minnesota agreed to terms on a contract with former New England Patriots cornerback Joejuan Williams. Williams played the past four years for the Patriots after being drafted in the second round in 2019 out of Vanderbilt.

DOLPHINS: Miami signed wide receiver Chosen Anderson. Anderson recently played for the Arizona Cardinals, but was released on March 8 after a short and unproductive stint with just seven catches for 76 yards over 10 games.

BEARS: Chicago re-signed receiver Dante Pettis to a one-year contract. Pettis had 19 receptions for 245 yards and three touchdowns, including two for more than 40 yards, last season — his first in Chicago.