Joe Burrow Inks 5-Year, $275 Million Agreement With The Bengals
The reports show he is now the highest-paid player in league history because of the $219 million guarantees.
On Thursday night, Adam Schefter of ESPN announced that Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals had reached a five-year, $275 million deal extension.
After other elite quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert got then-record deals, rumors about the 26-year-old’s upcoming contract circulated all summer. Burrow’s availability for Week 1 was further questioned by a calf strain sustained during training camp, making the contractual issues more challenging.
After tearing his left ACL and sitting out his rookie season’s last six games, Joe Burrow went from being the #1 overall lottery choice in 2020 to a top-five quarterback in just two seasons.
Following a season in which he passed for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns, and an NFL-leading 70.4% completion percentage, Burrow guided the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021. He also received the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award that year.
Burrow came in second in both completion percentage and throwing touchdowns this past season, even though the Bengals didn’t return to the Super Bowl. Cincinnati lost to the Kansas City Chiefs by a field goal in the AFC championship game. With a completion percentage of 68.3%, he passed for 35 touchdowns, 4,475 yards, and 12 interceptions.
Since the beginning, Burrow has been emphatic about agreeing to a contract that lets the Bengals maintain valuable players like wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. While Higgins will be a free agency this offseason, Chase still has two years remaining on his rookie contract and a fifth-year option.
Along with 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams, seasoned receiver Tyler Boyd, and linebacker Logan Wilson, Cincinnati must also decide what to do with running back Joe Mixon, who accepted a salary cut to rejoin the team this season.
The Bengals’ contractual arrangements need Burrow to be the first domino. Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback is now committed for the foreseeable future. Thus, the team’s attention is on returning to the Super Bowl.
