By the end of the 2023 NFL offseason, Patrick Mahomes could be as low as the ninth highest-paid quarterback by average annual value. By the end of the 2024 offseason, Mahomes could slide outside of the top 10.

That would be absurd given the caliber of quarterback Mahomes is and what he has accomplished and can still accomplish during his career. But it's possible given the state of the QB market and the nature of his 10-year, $450 million contract extension he signed in 2020 with the Kansas City Chiefs.

As Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson noted earlier this month, the impending contract extensions for the Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow and Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert could push Mahomes down the QBs list if some of them sign deals worth more than $46 million a year. The Jacksonville Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence is also up for an extension after next season, too, and who knows what the Miami Dolphins will pay Tua Tagovailoa.

Mahomes is far and above the best quarterback since he became a full-time starter in 2018 as he ranks first among 60 qualified passers in expected points added per play and success rate. Mahomes also has more passing yards than Tom Brady, more passing touchdowns than Aaron Rodgers and is tied for the most yards per completion with, oddly enough, Jimmy Garoppolo during that span.

This past season, Mahomes held a 0.056 EPA/play lead over the next-best passer, Hurts, which is almost as big as the gap between Hurts and the sixth-ranked quarterback, Tennessee’s Ryan Tannehill. Mahomes also added the most Wins Above Replacement of any quarterback this past season, per Pro Football Focus.