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Buffalo knew they had to pay up. Josh Allen just delivered an MVP season, steered the Bills to a 14-3 record, and made it clear he's the centerpiece of the franchise's future. So when the time came to talk numbers, the Bills didn't flinch. They locked in their star quarterback with a six-year, $330 million extension-$250 million of that guaranteed.
The deal puts Allen right near the top of the NFL's quarterback pay scale, behind only Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott in annual average salary. But getting to that agreement wasn't a straight line.
According to General Manager Brandon Beane, Buffalo first tried to pitch Allen something more long-term-similar to the 10-year, $477 million mega-deal the Chiefs gave Patrick Mahomes in 2020. It didn't land.
"Mahomes had done like a 10-year deal," Beane said recently on The Rich Eisen Show. "But he [Allen] and his agents were not really up for that."
Allen bet on flexibility and it paid off
Instead of tying himself to one team for a decade, Allen opted for a shorter window with higher annual value. The six-year extension averages $55 million a season, and leaves room for a future renegotiation if the quarterback market continues to rise.
This approach wasn't new for Buffalo. Beane said the two sides had already agreed to revisit Allen's previous contract if he kept playing at an elite level. His MVP campaign just confirmed what they already believed.
"We knew if he kept balling like that, we'd have to adjust," Beane said.
What's notable is how the deal still works for the rest of the team. The Bills managed to structure Allen's contract in a way that left room under the cap to re-sign key players. Buffalo extended defensive end Gregory Rousseau, cornerback Christian Benford, and wide receiver Khalil Shakir-all before training camp.
Spotrac reports that the contract's layout includes bonus structures and cap hits that give Buffalo long-term flexibility while keeping their quarterback happy in the present.
Allen, now a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, has led the Bills to six consecutive playoff appearances. He's got the numbers, the accolades, the endorsements. Now he's chasing the final piece.
Buffalo is all in. And with Allen locked in, so is their future.