Amid the controversy surrounding the holding penalty on the finish of Tremendous Bowl LVII, rumors of Andy Reid’s retirement, and other people trashing Travis Kelce for saying everybody doubted Kansas Metropolis when completely zero folks doubted them, a number of different storylines have been neglected. Whereas Andy Reid is probably not retiring, Chiefs’ backup quarterback Chad Henne is.

Though Henne was a Chief in 2018 and had been since 2020, Henne was not a part of Kansas Metropolis’s 2019 championship crew. Sunday was Henne’s first Tremendous Bowl title, and after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, he opted to name it a profession. Henne performed for 13 seasons over the course of 15 years for the Dolphins, Jaguars, and Chiefs. He was 18-36 with a 59.6 completion proportion and 76.1 passer score. Henne additionally had 60 landing passes to his title to associate with 63 interceptions.

Profession backups can nonetheless make financial institution

Henne is the epitome of a profession backup. Though he did begin 10 or extra video games 3 times all through his profession, he was by no means the franchise cornerstone that his crew may lean on to hold them to the playoffs. As an alternative of lurking within the nightmares of opposing defensive coordinators, Henne slept peacefully realizing that he may sit behind Patrick Mahomes, not often see the sphere, and nonetheless money tens of millions of {dollars}. In 2022, Henne earned $2 million. He tried two passes all season. That’s a million {dollars} per cross try. Neither had been completions both! Chad Henne received paid $2 million and earned a Tremendous Bowl ring whereas throwing two passes and accruing a 39.6 passer score. That’s superior!

For his profession, Henne earned $38,605,500 whereas making an attempt solely 2,030 passes — 15 of which got here throughout varied postseason runs. That’s $19,017.49 per profession cross try. That’s nuts! Even the best quarterback con males like Brock Osweiler and Sam Bradford must tip their caps to that determine. It’s received the potential to be probably the most cash ever made per NFL cross try, proper? I imply, it’s first rate, but it surely’s nowhere near what different backup quarterbacks have made of their careers. Listed below are the quarterbacks who earned probably the most cash per cross try within the NFL.

Be aware: Clearly, there are a whole bunch of quarterbacks who’ve earned NFL contracts solely to by no means see the sphere of their careers. They don’t depend. With the intention to qualify for this checklist, a quarterback will need to have no less than 5 video games began within the common season. Moreover, this checklist will solely embody quarterbacks who had been energetic on NFL rosters in 2000 or later. Clearly, NFL contracts have gotten an increasing number of exorbitant because the league’s reputation has grown, so anyone who earns a spot on this checklist ought to have performed comparatively not too long ago. All in all, there have been 224 quarterbacks to satisfy the factors. Listed below are the highest 10.

10. Charlie Whitehurst — $44,310.16 per profession cross try

A product of Clemson, Whitehurst was drafted within the third spherical of the 2006 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He didn’t throw his first cross within the NFL till 2010 although, as a member of the Seattle Seahawks. It’s humorous. Regardless of having zero cross makes an attempt in his profession previous to 2010, the Seahawks had been keen to offer Whitehurst a two-year, $8 million deal to be Matt Hasselbeck’s backup. Why? No thought.

Whitehurst tried solely 155 passes for the Seahawks by way of his two years there after which returned to the Chargers solely to take one other two-year hiatus from passing the ball. Finally, Whitehurst earned $5,368,000 with the Chargers and by no means threw a single cross in a daily or postseason sport for them. That’s an all-time con if I’ve ever seen one.

Sadly for Whitehurst, he needed to play in seven video games — beginning in 5 of them — in 2014 with Tennessee. He averaged over 25 cross makes an attempt per sport throughout that season. The Cleveland Browns additionally signed Whitehurst for 3 weeks in 2016, Whitehurst solely needed to play a kind of video games, however was nonetheless pressured to throw the ball 24 instances. These unlucky stints are what preserve Whitehurst on the backside of our checklist. Nonetheless, $44,310 per cross try is nothing to scoff at.

9. Terrelle Pryor — $45,322.10 per profession cross try

This one is somewhat deceptive. Pryor spent the primary 4 years of his NFL profession as a failed quarterback prospect with Oakland. Nonetheless, after going unsigned in 2014, Pryor’s profession noticed a resurgence as he transitioned to broad receiver. A lot of the cash that Pryor earned within the NFL was from the contract he signed with the Washington Redskins after placing up 1,007 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns with Cleveland in 2016.

I debated whether or not or not Pryor ought to be up for consideration on this checklist, however Professional-Soccer-Reference nonetheless lists him as a quarterback and that web site has by no means led me astray. Finally, over 97 % of all Pryor’s cross makes an attempt got here as a Raider. Solely 9 got here after he transitioned to broad receiver. If he’d by no means made that transfer, Pryor would’ve solely earned $6,327.12 per cross try. Nonetheless, Pryor’s willingness to alter positions not solely saved his profession, however extra importantly, ranks him ninth all-time on this checklist — clearly, a a lot larger accomplishment.

8. Deshaun Watson — $47,340.01 per profession cross try

By 5 seasons within the NFL, Watson has performed in solely 60 video games resulting from an damage and suspension. Regardless of enjoying minimally in every of the final two seasons, Watson nonetheless earned oodles of money — $55,907,500 with $44,965,000 coming within the type of a signing bonus with the Cleveland Browns previous to the 2022 season.

Whereas this deal was all the time going to be horrible for Cleveland given Watson’s previous, the deal may very well be even worse if 2022 is any indicator of Watson’s future. In six video games with the Browns, Watson threw solely seven touchdowns whereas tossing 5 interceptions. Watson set profession lows in completion proportion, yards per try, passer score, and landing proportion. His backup, Jacoby Brissett, outshined him down the ultimate stretch of the season. The place Watson was supposed to assist lead a late postseason push, he as an alternative made the crew’s entrance workplace remorse each determination they’d ever made, which is hard to do contemplating that is the Browns we’re speaking about.

Watson is ready to make $184 million over the subsequent 4 years, so even when he stays the full-time starter and avoids damage by way of the remainder of his contract, he’ll nonetheless earn heaps and lots of money for each profession cross try.

7. Luke McCown — $48,200.38 per profession cross try

Well-known for being Josh McCown’s brother and a spokesperson for Verizon for a brief stint in 2016, Luke McCown spent 14 years within the NFL and solely ever began 10 video games. Nonetheless, McCown averaged 28.1 cross makes an attempt in video games the place he began, together with 38 makes an attempt within the ultimate begin of his profession in 2015.

In 2007, McCown tried 32 passes towards San Francisco regardless of not beginning that sport. Actually, that sport was a part of a stretch the place McCown threw greater than 30 passes in three of 5 video games. That’s clearly what retains McCown so low. Regardless, McCown was such a textbook backup that he earned a number of business offers primarily based on being a backup, and that prolonged profession earns him a spot on this checklist.

6. Drew Stanton — $48,485.16 per profession cross try

The ire of many Cardinals followers’ eyes, Drew Stanton conned the Desert Birds for practically $15 million between 2013 and 2017. Nonetheless, Arizona wasn’t the one group Stanton did soiled. He additionally managed to principally steal over six million from the Browns, 4 million from the Jets, and 6 million from the Lions. He additionally solely ever threw passes for 2 of these groups — the Cardinals and Lions.

It doesn’t make sense, proper? Even in these uncommon circumstances the place Stanton was pressured to throw, he by no means impressed. He threw extra interceptions (24) than he did touchdowns (20) and had a profession completion proportion of 52.4. The one vibrant facet was that Stanton did have a successful report, going 11-6 every time he began. Maybe that successful feeling is what saved so many groups regardless of Stanton’s preposterous play.

5. Matt Flynn — $53,845.38 per profession cross try

Ah, sure. This man threw six touchdowns within the ultimate week of the 2011 season and promptly earned a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. Did Flynn ever throw a cross for the Seahawks? Sure! 9!

Flynn misplaced the beginning job to rookie Russell Wilson, and Flynn was dropped by the Seahawks after only one season. No different crew was keen to offer him a professional shot at incomes the beginning job although. He solely began 5 video games the remainder of his profession, and 4 of which got here in his return to Inexperienced Bay the next season. He performed in 5 video games for the Packers in 2013, and 4 of these video games noticed Flynn try greater than 30 passes. If not for that stretch the place Aaron Rodgers missed time resulting from a clavicle fracture, Flynn could be a lot increased on this checklist. Alas, he’ll must accept the high 5.

4. JaMarcus Russell — $57,889.71 per profession cross try

One of many greatest busts of all-time JaMarcus Russell earned an enormous contract as the primary total decide within the 2007 NFL draft, and swiftly gave everybody concerned huge complications. Six years, $61 million, however the Raiders backed out after three seasons, they usually nonetheless needed to give Russell a further $3 million in 2010.

Nonetheless, regardless of the early dropout, the Raiders had been pressured to pay Russell practically $40 million of that contract. In the meantime, Russell solely actually had one full season because the crew’s starter, and he averaged solely 24.5 cross makes an attempt per sport.

3. Jimmy Garoppolo — $67,447.49 per profession cross try

After beginning solely seven video games for the Patriots and 49ers in 2016 and 2017, Garoppolo earned an enormous contract value $137,500,00 over 5 years. Then, he received damage. Then he performed a full season. Then he received damage once more. Accidents actually derailed any probability Garoppolo had of getting hundreds of cross makes an attempt. Nonetheless, even when wholesome, Garoppolo participated in a really run-heavy system.

Famously, Garoppolo solely threw eight passes throughout the 2019 NFC Championship Recreation towards Inexperienced Bay. Regardless, Jimmy G’s 49ers nonetheless received the sport handedly. The story surrounding Garoppolo was that the 49ers received despite him slightly than due to him. Garoppolo’s incapacity to steer an offense pressured head coach Kyle Shanahan to scheme round Garoppolo, minimizing his impression on the sport. That combo led Garoppolo to have just one,858 cross makes an attempt throughout 63 begins in his profession. That’s the eighth-fewest of any quarterback with no less than 50 video games began, however not one of the males above him on that checklist earned as huge a contract as Garoppolo did.

2. Taysom Hill — $113,391 per profession cross try

Very like Terrelle Pryor, Taysom Hill’s huge determine comes from his work as a utility man. That’s not saying he doesn’t work as a quarterback; he’s listed as a quarterback on Professional-Soccer-Reference in spite of everything. Nonetheless, Hill earned a lot cash for his capability to return kicks, play tight finish, play receiver, run the ball, block, do everybody’s taxes, inform unbelievable jokes within the locker room, encourage the crew, and throw the ball.

Hill has thrown no less than six passes each season since 2018. That’s sufficient for him to warrant consideration on this checklist. He’s certainly one of solely two “quarterbacks” to earn six figures per cross try in his profession.

1. Chase Daniel — $153,217.84 per profession cross try

Why has this man lasted so lengthy within the NFL? I don’t know, however Chase Daniel has one way or the other discovered his approach onto an NFL roster each season since 2010. A profession backup, Daniel has been fortunate that he’s by no means sat behind an injured quarterback. When Daniel has been pressured to play, he’s been stable too. His profession passer score is a good 85.8 and he’s received extra touchdowns (9) than interceptions (7).

Does that warrant the practically $42 million he’s earned within the NFL? In no way, however one way or the other groups simply love having this man round. Daniel has snuck his approach into six completely different NFL locker rooms. He’s began solely 5 video games in his profession, however appeared in 74, oftentimes as somebody simply meant to take the snap and take a knee to seal away the sport. Daniel is the NFL’s final con man. For each cross try in his profession, he’s earned greater than most People make in three years. That’s simply sensible enterprise in a slightly unforgiving sport. Daniel has had an extended illustrious profession, not often ever having to set foot on a soccer subject. What a person!