Bengals: Joe Burrow's contract becomes clearer after Lamar Jackson's extension
Another data point has been created for Joe Burrow's contract. The quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals is set to cash in on a historic deal this offseason, and the latest NFL news will play a big role in that. Burrow's AFC North competitor Lamar Jackson agreed to a five-year deal to stay with the Baltimore […]
Another data point has been created for Joe Burrow's contract. The quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals is set to cash in on a historic deal this offseason, and the latest NFL news will play a big role in that.
Burrow's AFC North competitor Lamar Jackson agreed to a five-year deal to stay with the Baltimore Ravens after an elongated saga between both sides. Jackson requested a trade nearly two months ago as negotiations were apparently souring, but the former league MVP got a deal that, once again, resets the franchise quarterback market.
Jackson's five-year deal adds up to a total of $260 million (an average annual value of $52 million) with $185 million guaranteed. This is important for negotiations between the Bengals and Burrow because of what preceded the deal.
Jackson's extension eclipses the five-year contract Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts signed this past week. Hurts signed for $255 in total money (AAV of $51 million) with $180 in total guarantees, though not all at signing.
Jackson's AAV and total guarantee value passed Hurts' figures by $5 million each. The amount of guaranteed money at signing and overall cash flow for Jackson's deal is unknown at this time.
Hurts' deal was already looking like the baseline for Burrow to eventually beat, but now with Jackson in the fold as another data point, it's clear that this is the general structure Burrow will try to exceed with the Bengals.
Should Burrow become the next franchise QB to put pen to paper this offseason and follows suit with Hurts and Jackson, his deal would likely amount to $53 million per year with $190 million in total guarantees.
Burrow could be striving for a shorter deal that would allow him to re-up sooner than both Hurts and Jackson, or he could accept a longer deal that would give the Bengals more financial flexibility ala what Patrick Mahomes agreed to back in 2020.
The safer assumption is that Jackson's deal confirms the market for which Burrow will look to reset, as is his right. Burrow is everything the Bengals have drafted him to be and then some. He's worthy of being the next highest-paid player in the NFL.
