I was surprised to see the size of the contract the Lions gave Tim Boyle. They not only signed him, they gave him a contract that will make him an above-average backup quarterback, salary wise.

Per reports, Boyle signed a one-year deal worth $2.4 million. That’s more than what Cam Newton got last year from New England. It’s about twice as much as what some other veteran quarterbacks have signed for in the last month, including Mike Glennon, Chase Daniel and Geno Smith.

Boyle went undrafted in 2018. In each of his four years of college (three at Connecticut, one at Eastern Kentucky) he finished with more interceptions than touchdowns. He was Green Bay’s backup quarterback the last two years, but with Jordan Love in the pipeline, the Packers didn’t extend Boyle a qualifying offer.

Lions must see something they like, and they apparently feel he’s a notch better than the nominal backups around the league. With Jared Goff being somewhat of a question mark, Boyle is more likely than some other backups to perhaps get tossed into the lineup late in the year.

Per the “Over The Cap” website, Boyle current ranks 11th in average salary among current backup quarterbacks.

BACKUP QUARTERBACK SALARIES
PlayerContract Avg
Nick Foles, Chi.$8,000,000
Case Keenum, Cle.$6,000,000
Jameis Winston, N.O.$5,500,000
Tyrod Taylor, Hou.$5,500,000
Jacoby Brissett, Mia.$5,000,000
Joe Flacco, Phil.$3,500,000
Marcus Mariota, L.V.$3,500,000
Jordan Love, G.B.$3,095,868
Mitchell Trubisky, Buff.$2,500,000
Jeff Driskel, Den.$2,500,000
Tim Boyle, Det.$2,400,000
Taylor Heinicke, Was.$2,375,000
Chad Henne, K.C.$1,625,000
Brandon Allen, Cin.$1,500,000
Mike Glennon, NYG$1,375,000
Colt McCoy, Ariz.$1,212,500
Geno Smith, Sea.$1,212,500
Ryan Griffin, T.B.$1,150,000
Josh Johnson, S.F.$1,075,000
Chase Daniel, LAC$1,075,000
Jacob Eason, Ind.$1,006,816
Mason Rudolph, Pitt.$980,467
Cooper Rush, Dall.$977,500
Will Grier, Car.$963,249
Mike White, NYJ$850,000
Devlin Hodges, LAR$837,500
Jarrett Stidham, N.E.$789,028
Tyler Huntley, Balt.$780,000
Jake Browning, Min.$742,500
Gardner Minshew, Jac.$677,904
Logan Woodside, Ten.$555,000
Atlanta Falcons(no backup QB)

—Ian Allan