Major outlet lists Bengals QB Joe Burrow as an offseason winner
Whether he'll be walking up to the line of scrimmage to take the snap, or walking into the bank to make a withdrawal, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will be set up for major success this year. The 26-year old gunslinger is entering the fourth year of his career, as well as his rookie contract. […]
Whether he'll be walking up to the line of scrimmage to take the snap, or walking into the bank to make a withdrawal, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will be set up for major success this year.
The 26-year old gunslinger is entering the fourth year of his career, as well as his rookie contract. Though the team exercised his fifth-year option that will keep him under contract through the 2024 season, all things are pointing to Burrow signing a long-term extension with Cincinnati sometime before this season begins.
What has transpired before that has already made Burrow a winner, in more ways than one.
Among the many offseason winners and losers according to Mike Jones of The Athletic, Burrow emerged as a winner not only because of the contracts Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson signed for, but because of the way the Bengals continued to build around him.
"Jackson’s payday is good news for Burrow, but so too is that the AFC runners-up continue to invest in their offensive line. Orlando Brown Jr.’s addition gives Burrow, one of the most frequently sacked quarterbacks in the league, a high-quality left tackle. Cincinnati also added talent at key positions on both sides of the ball in the draft as Burrow and company gear up again to try and leapfrog Mahomes and the Chiefs." – The Athletic's Mike Jones
It's been all about the money. Going back to last offseason, Cincinnati has committed to spend over $130 million in free agency cash for offensive line play, which doesn't include recent draft picks Jackson Carman and Cordell Volson. Jonah Williams is also under contract and is scheduled to earn nearly $13 million this year.
Burrow's future earnings will likely double that $130 million figure. Should he sign a five-year deal worth $53 million per year, that's $265 million in new total money. Jackson signed for an impressive $52 million per year back in May, which is currently the largest average annual value for a contract in NFL history.
Quarterback contracts reaching this level was inevitable, but waiting until after Jackson will make Burrow an even prettier penny. And if Justin Herbert ends up signing first, that's even more cash coming Burrow's way.
Sometimes it's all about timing. Burrow's extension coinciding with the best offensive line of his career is a perfect storm for the Bengals' franchise quarterback.
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Feature image via © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
