Adam Schefter of ESPN announced on Thursday night that Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals had reached a five-year, $275 million deal extension.
He is now the highest-paid player in NBA history because to the $219 million in guarantees, the article states.
The 26-year-old’s next contract has been the focus of much speculation since other elite quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert all received agreements that broke previous records. Burrow’s availability for Week 1 was further questioned by a calf strain suffered during training camp, which also made the contractual issues more challenging.
Just two seasons after tearing his left ACL and missing the final six games of his rookie season, Burrow went from being the first overall drafting choice in 2020 to a top-five quarterback. After throwing for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns and holding the NFL’s top completion rate to 70.4% in 2021, Burrow guided the Bengals to the Super Bowl. The NFL Comeback Player of the Year award went to him that year as well.
Burrow came in second in both throwing touchdowns and completion percentage as the Bengals fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game by a field goal, even though they were able to return to the Super Bowl. He completed 68.3% of his throws for 4,475 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Burrow has been adamant about signing a contract that would enable the Bengals to keep important players like wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins from the beginning. While Higgins will be a free agency this offseason, Chase still has two years left on his rookie contract and a fifth-year option. In addition, Cincinnati will need to decide what to do with 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams, seasoned receiver Tyler Boyd, and linebacker Logan Wilson. Running back Joe Mixon, who accepted a salary cut to rejoin the team this season, will also need to be addressed.
In order for Burrow’s contractual obligations to be fulfilled, the first domino had to fall. Now that its franchise quarterback is committed for the foreseeable future, Cincinnati will concentrate on winning the Super Bowl once more.