NFL contracts are some of the most convoluted in sports. Not all of the money is guaranteed; it doesn't all count against the salary cap, and its incentives and bonuses can get…weird.

And unlike the other major American sports, teams have to split the money between 53 guys on the regular-season roster, the practice squad, and any injury replacements that come up during the season.

So there are a lot of pieces of the salary cap pie that need to be divided up in the NFL. And the quarterback is often the most significant slice of them all.

Given that it's the most critical position in sports, it's often an NFL team‘s highest-paid player. And these guys are no exception. Here are the 10 highest-paid NFL quarterbacks by average annual value (AAV) in 2024.

10. Josh Allen – $43 million

Josh Allen showed mixed results in his rookie year with the Buffalo Bills, solid improvement in year two, and ascended to a new level in year three. And in return for his ascension to league superstar, the Buffalo Bills locked him down to a six-year $258 million deal.

Since the 2020 season, Allen has led the Bills to a 63-30 regular-season record. The Bills have filled the void the Tom Brady-led Patriots left behind in the division.

The AFC East will be brutal this year, though, with a Miami Dolphins team on the rise and Aaron Rodgers returning to the New York Jets from injury. And the Patriots should be more competitive as Bill Belichick finally has another franchise QB in Drake Maye, or at least they believe they do.

But as long as Allen is on the Buffalo Bills, it doesn't matter what outside noise is around the team. They'll be the favorites in the division.

8. (tie) Kirk Cousins – $45 million

Kirk Cousins was the top quarterback to hit the free-agent market in the 2024 offseason, and Cousins cashed in by signing a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. Cousins turning 36 in August, having one playoff win on his resume, and recovering from a torn Achilles are all factors as to why Cousins isn't higher on this list.

Cousins' deal only includes $100 million of guaranteed money. The Falcons also drafted University of Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, so it seems likely Cousins won't be with Atlanta for all four years of the deal.

8. (tie) Patrick Mahomes – $45 million

Kansas City could pay Patrick Mahomes their entire cap, and you'd be hard-pressed to say it was a bad piece of business. As it stands right now, they signed him to a 10-year extension that is worth as much as $504 million.

Mahomes has been everything that the Chiefs hoped for and more when drafting him, and he is the only player who has a prayer at reaching Tom Brady's GOAT status in the NFL. Four Super Bowl appearances and three titles in the last five years, and there are no signs of slowing down in Kansas City.

Any team he's on for the next decade-plus will be division favorites, if not conference or Super Bowl favorites. Mahomes is the present and the future. It's a testament to the business done on this contract that he's not higher on this list than eighth.

7.  Deshaun Watson – $46.1 million

Deshaun Watson is by far the most controversial figure on this list. The Cleveland Browns forked over $230 million in guaranteed money for Watson to get a new start after leaving the Texans behind, not to mention the laundry list of sexual assault and legal problems he left behind.

The Browns captain did not play up to his contract in his six games in 2022, leading the Browns to a 3-3 record with seven TDs and five INTs. Watson's record as a starting QB in 2023 improved to 5-1, however he missed the second half of the season after having surgery on a broken bone in his throwing shoulder. Watson should be ready for the start of the 2024 training camp.

6. Kyler Murray – $46.1 million

Kyler Murray's contract with the Arizona Cardinals has been one of the most discussed in the league, not because it carried an impressive five-year, $230.5 million price tag in its extension. Instead, because the former No. 1 pick had a film study clause that, while now gone from the deal, raised some eyebrows and concerns regarding the 26-year-old's work ethic.

The 2019 ORoY absolutely has the potential to become a superstar in the NFL. The only questions are his health and whether or not he can put it all together. A torn ACL meant Murray missed the first half of 2023, but he played the team's final eight games, and should begin 2024 healthy with a new target in fourth overall draft pick wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

5. Jalen Hurts – $51 million

Jalen Hurts has bet on himself every time and won every time. He led Alabama to the brink of a national title in 2017-18 before getting benched at halftime, allowing Tua Tagovailoa to take over and lead the Crimson Tide to the title. Then he transferred to Oklahoma and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2019.

After the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him, he worked his way to the starting spot and broke out in 2022. He led the Eagles to a 14-3 record and an NFC title. He finished second in MVP voting and earned himself a record-setting five-year $255 million extension.

Hurts looks set to become the guy in the NFC for the next decade, although he had a concerning jump in interceptions in 2023. After throwing just six picks in 2022, he threw 15 in 2023 as the Eagles went 11-6 and were blown out by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

4. Lamar Jackson – $52 million

Lamar Jackson was electric his first two years starting for the Baltimore Ravens, winning the 2019 MVP. After that, he also was amazing, but injuries, among other things (Greg Roman, if you ask Ravens fans), held him back.

However, the Ravens inked Jackson to a five-year $260 million extension in the 2023 offseason, which indicated they thought any obstacles were gone, too.

Jackson rewarded their faith in him by winning his second MVP in just his age 26 season, which is one year younger than Mahomes was when he won his second MVP. However, Mahomes and the Chiefs knocked out Jackson and the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game in January 2024.

3. Justin Herbert – $52.5 million

Justin Herbert set a new standard in the 2023 offseason with an incredible five-year $262.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Chargers that at the time made him the highest-paid NFL quarterback. Herbert burst onto the scene, winning ORoY in 2020. Gaudy numbers have marked his first three seasons in the NFL.

Unfortunately, the Chargers haven't been able to turn Herbert's success into playoff results. They've made the playoffs just once in Herbert's tenure. And surely some fans wish they hadn't after Herbert and Co. blew a 27-7 halftime lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Herbert is the truth, but will the coaching and talent around him rise to the occasion? The success of Herbert's record-breaking deal will hinge on that question most of all.

2. Jared Goff – $53 million

Jared Goff is the latest NFL quarterback to get a big contract extension, signing a four-year, $212 million contract with the Detroit Lions in May 2024.

While Goff did not receive any accolades for the 2023 season, he led the Lions to their best season in three decades as they won their division and two playoff games before falling to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, 34-31.

Goff will be starting his fourth season in Detroit after the Los Angeles Rams traded Goff and three draft picks to the Lions for Matthew Stafford. Goff gets the last laugh, however, as Stafford doesn't even make this list despite leading the Rams to a Super Bowl victory.

1. Joe Burrow – $55 million

Early in the 2023 season, Joe Burrow set the new standard for NFL quarterbacks by signing a five-year, $275 million contract with $219 million guaranteed. The deal gives Burrow the highest average annual value for any player in NFL history and made him the highest-paid NFL quarterback.

The Bengals rewarded Burrow for leading them to two AFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl. The first year of the deal ended in disappointment as Burrow missed the final seven games of the season with torn ligaments in the wrist in his throwing arm and the Bengals missed the playoffs. Burrow is expected back for the start of 2024.