ESPN NFL

Originally Published: August 31, 2009

FBO: Backup QB salary-cap analysis

The Eagles and Colts dedicate lots of money to quarterbacks and still win often

Email Share

STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME Become an Insider Today

By J.I. Halsell
Football Outsiders
Archive

This summer we've seen lucrative quarterback deals for Matt Cassel, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers; all of these contracts have an average per year value in excess of $10.5 million. Clearly, this demonstrates the emphasis front offices place on the quarterback position; however -- and not so surprisingly -- there is a significant disparity in contract value between a team's No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks. The median 2009 cap number for starting quarterbacks is $9.23 million, while the median for backups is $1.93 million.

In Indianapolis, Peyton Manning accounts for 16.5 percent of his club's 2009 salary cap, with a whopping cap number of $21.2 million. Conversely, backup QB Jim Sorgi accounts for 1 percent of the Colts' cap, with a cap number of $1.31 million. Combined, Manning and Sorgi account for 17.5 percent of Indianapolis' salary cap, or the highest combined amount allocated to any NFL team's top two quarterbacks.

For a deeper look at how teams handle the salary cap, including a look at the most expensive backup in the NFL and some great cap management in a surprising place, you must be an ESPN Insider.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider