Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will head into training camp as one of the NFL Top 100 players in 2023. Soon after, he could become one of the highest-paid NFL players ever.
Burrow is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, making him eligible for a contract extension this summer. While Cincinnati has Burrow locked in through the 2024 season and then can use the franchise tags in 2025 and ’26, an extension is the team’s biggest priority.
- Joe Burrow contract: $11.5 million cap hit (2023), $29.5 million salary in 2024
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The Bengals also want to extend Burrow before the regular season to provide long-term clarity. Once the NFL MVP candidate’s deal is signed, Cincinnati will know how much cap space it has in the future to extend linebacker Logan Wilson and wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported this week that Burrow’s next deal is expected to make him one of the highest-paid players ever. However, an agreement with Cincinnati isn’t even close to happening.
“Burrow’s going to be highly, highly paid—perhaps even the highest-paid quarterback in football—we’ll see how this plays out. But… it does not sound like anything is imminent. It does sound like the wait will continue.”
Ian Rapoport on contract talks between the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Burrow
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The Bengals know that any contract extension with Burrow will start at $50 million per season and he could push to become the highest-paid quarterback in football. While he wants to sign a team-friendly deal that helps Cincinnati retain Higgins and Chase, it won’t come at the cost of his annual average value.
Cincinnati and Burrow can still find common ground on a team-friendly deal. By signing a 10-year, $450 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes provided them with long-term cap flexibility to build a team around him.
The structure of the deal could play a role in the timeline for when it happens. Burrow might also want to wait to see how much money Justin Herbert receives an extension. No matter what the contract is, it’s apparent that Burrow will be spending the majority of his NFL career in Cincinnati.