The biggest free agent available this summer was Kirk Cousins, who the Atlanta Falcons were able to sign because of a recent salary purge. A four-year, $180 million contract with a $100 million guarantee was inked by the seasoned quarterback..

The Dirty Birds have never given out more money than that $180 million contract. The Falcons were accustomed to giving quarterbacks nine-figure contracts before this season, having signed Matt Ryan to one in 2013 and then giving him a large extension in 2018.

It goes without saying that this franchise has given a large sum of money to the most significant role.

Two quarterbacks in the NFL’s top 10 career earnings are Matt Ryan and Kirk Cousins.

Quarterback salaries are increasing steadily. There are now seven quarterbacks in the NFL with contracts worth more than $250 million, something that was unthinkable only ten years ago.

Matt Ryan inked what was thought to be a huge $150 million extension a few years ago. As of right now, Kirk Cousins has a $180 million contract, which the team feels is fair.

The Falcons have nonetheless made large payments to signal callers. Two of their players rank in the top ten in

Still, there’s an asterisk. Cousins’ $281 million is mostly funded by the Vikings, with Washington contributing a smaller amount.

But Matt Ryan did receive the majority of his career earnings from the Falcons. Of the approximately $36 million that the Colts paid him, $12 million came after he was freed.

When discussing career earnings, Ryan and Cousins will likely receive the most attention, but Michael Vick, who signed a huge contract during his prime, deserves much recognition as well.In 2004, Arthur Blank showed his faith in the first-overall selection by giving him a record-breaking ten-year, $138 million deal. Following his eventual incarceration, the athlete and the team reached a settlement in court.

Depending on what other teams do with their franchise passers, Cousins’ position on that list could move up or down over time. Even with his new team, Cousins still owes a lot of money, and if he performs well, his wallet will only get larger.