Joe Burrow - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Joe Burrow, Bengals Contract Negotiations

July 1st, 2023 at 11:37am CST by Ben Levine

The Bengals have been negotiating a new deal with Joe Burrow for months, and with the offseason all but over, the front office’s current top priority is extending their franchise quarterback.

Since we last learned in May that Burrow was taking a hands-on approach to negotiations, there haven’t been many updates. As Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes, there may be a reason for the holdup, with sources attributing the slow-going nature of negotiations to “outside forces at play.”

Dehner surmises that both the Bengals and Burrow may be waiting to see how Justin Herbert‘s negotiations unfold with the Chargers. That impending extension would be the “final piece of the puzzle” that would allow both Burrow and the Bengals to feel comfortable about the QB’s market.

Of course, both sides have kept negotiations “close to the vest,” and Dehner cautions that any reports on specific contract details would likely be speculation. In other words, there’s no reason for Bengals fans to fret over the lack of reports coming out of Cincinnati.

Burrow has quickly put himself in position to be one of the highest-paid QBs in the NFL, having guided the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2021 before tossing a career-high 35 touchdowns during his third NFL season. Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson recently eclipsed the $50MM-per-year mark on their new contracts, and Burrow will likely be eyeing a similar payout on his next deal.

The former first-overall pick has one year remaining on his rookie pact, and he will be tied to a 2024 salary of $29.5MM given the Bengals’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option. There’s no true urgency to agree to an extension, but considering some of the other Bengals players due new contracts, some cost certainty at the QB position should only help the front office.

Latest On Extension Talks Between Bengals, Joe Burrow

May 19th, 2023 at 3:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

The top priority remaining for the Bengals this offseason is getting a deal done with quarterback Joe Burrow. The team’s franchise signal-caller is taking a hands-on approach during negotiations, which remain ongoing.

Contract talks began in March, to no surprise. The 26-year-old has put himself in line for one of several mega-deals at the position which have been signed in recent years, including Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson eclipsing the $50MM-per-year mark on their new contracts signed in 2023. Those pacts represent further benchmarks for Burrow’s second contract, which will likewise come with a hefty pricetag given his level of play and importance to the franchise’s string of success.

“I’m involved. That’s in the works,” Burrow said of extension talks, via Eric Edholm of NFL.com. “That’s not really something that I like to play out in the media. Just the way I think they want to do business, I want to do business, we prefer to keep that between us.”

The former No. 1 pick has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and he will be tied to a 2024 salary of $29.5MM given the Bengals’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option. While that leaves both parties plenty of time to work out a deal, Cincinnati has a number of other young contributors due signficant raises in the near future, something which could provide added urgency to establish clarity on how much Burrow will cost through the foreseeable future. When speaking on that point, the latter acknowledged that contracts for other financial priorities are still a “focal point” for him during his negotiations.

Wideout Tee Higgins was mentioned in trade rumors this offseason given the team’s need to extend not only Burrow, but also fellow pass-catcher Ja’Marr Chase as early as 2024. Higgins will remain with the Bengals for this season, but he and linebacker Logan Wilson headline the players seeking new contracts this summer. Sorting out how (if at all) they can keep their entire young core intact will go a long way in determining the Bengals’ success for years to come, but finalizing a new Burrow pact represents an obvious first step.

“I’m pretty clear on what I want in the contract and what I think is best for myself and the team,” Burrow added when asked about specifics during extension talks. “So we’re on the road to making that happen.”

2024 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker

May 1st, 2023 at 9:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

NFL teams have until May 2 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2020 first-rounders who are entering the final year of their rookie deals. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of the player’s position, initial draft placement and performance- and usage-based benchmarks:

Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternate Pro Bowlers) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag.
One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag.
Players who achieve any of the following will get the average of the third-20th highest salaries at their position:
- At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
- A 75% snap average across all three seasons
- At least 50% in each of first three seasons
Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position.

With the deadline looming, we’ll use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league:

QB Joe Burrow, Bengals ($29.5MM): Exercised
DE Chase Young, Commanders ($17.45MM): Declined
CB Jeff Okudah, Falcons* ($11.51MM): N/A
T Andrew Thomas, Giants ($14.18MM): Exercised
QB Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ($23.2MM): Exercised
QB Justin Herbert, Chargers ($29.5MM): Exercised
DT Derrick Brown, Panthers ($11.67MM): Exercised
LB Isaiah Simmons, Cardinals ($12.72MM): Declined
CB C.J. Henderson, Jaguars** ($11.51MM): Declined
T Jedrick Wills, Browns ($14.18MM): Exercised
T Mekhi Becton, Jets ($12.57MM): Declined
WR Henry Ruggs, Raiders: N/A
T Tristan Wirfs, Buccaneers ($18.24MM): Exercised
DT Javon Kinlaw, 49ers ($10.46MM): Declined
WR Jerry Jeudy, Broncos ($14.12MM): Exercised
CB AJ Terrell, Falcons ($12.34MM): Exercised
WR CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys ($17.99MM): Exercised
OL Austin Jackson, Dolphins ($14.18MM): Declined
CB Damon Arnette, Raiders: N/A
DE K’Lavon Chaisson, Jaguars ($12.14MM): Declined
WR Jalen Reagor, Vikings*** ($12.99MM): To decline
WR Justin Jefferson, Vikings ($19.74MM): Exercised
LB Kenneth Murray, Chargers ($11.73MM): Declined
G Cesar Ruiz, Saints ($14.18MM): Declined
WR Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers ($14.12MM): Exercised
QB Jordan Love, Packers ($20.27MM): Extended through 2024
LB Jordyn Brooks, Seahawks ($12.72MM): Declined
LB Patrick Queen, Ravens ($12.72MM): Declined
T Isaiah Wilson, Titans: N/A
CB Noah Igbinoghene, Dolphins ($11.51MM): Declined
CB Jeff Gladney, Vikings: N/A
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs ($5.46MM): To decline

* = Lions traded Okudah on April 11, 2023
** = Jaguars traded Henderson on Sept. 27, 2021
*** = Eagles traded Reagor on August 31, 2022

Bengals Pick Up Joe Burrow’s Fifth-Year Option

April 25th, 2023 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Minutes after the Vikings made the easy call to push Justin Jefferson‘s rookie contract through 2024, the Bengals will do the same with Jefferson’s former college quarterback. Cincinnati exercised Joe Burrow‘s fifth-year option Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

This will tie Burrow to a $29.5MM salary in 2024; that number is fully guaranteed. It is safe to expect Burrow to have fetched a bit more in guaranteed money by the time the 2024 season starts. The Bengals have started work on their franchise centerpiece’s extension, one expected to break NFL records. The Bengals subsequently announced the option decision, calling it a “mechanical step” toward a long-term Burrow partnership.

The Bengals timed their 2-14 season perfectly, bottoming out in Zac Taylor‘s first year at the helm. This gave them access to Burrow, who was coming off a Heisman season that included a then-record 60 touchdown passes during LSU’s unbeaten national championship campaign. Burrow leapfrogged Tua Tagovailoa as the favorite to go No. 1 overall during that season and became the top pick during 2020’s virtual draft. He is chiefly responsible for radically changing the Bengals’ trajectory.

Although Cincinnati went 4-11-1 in 2020, Burrow showed promise before an ACL tear ended his season. The Bengals, who shifted their strategy on free agency to complement Burrow’s rookie contract beginning in 2020, then armed their ascending quarterback with ex-LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase in 2021. That combination led Cincinnati to its third Super Bowl, completing a stunning run — based on preseason odds — that nearly ended with the Bengals hoisting their first Lombardi trophy. Burrow led the Bengals back to the AFC championship game in 2022, and although he fell to 3-1 against the Chiefs in that latest matchup with Patrick Mahomes, the 26-year-old passer should be expected to sign a historic contract this offseason.

Jalen Hurts‘ $51MM-per-year re-up will undoubtedly be Burrow’s starting point, and it would be a surprise if he or Justin Herbert did not enter next season as the NFL’s highest-paid player. Both are one-time Pro Bowlers, though Burrow leading the Bengals to five playoff wins — matching the franchise’s total in its previous 53 years of existence — does stand out.

Teams have preferred to extend franchise-level first-round QBs before their fourth seasons, with most non-QB first-round standouts needing to wait until their fifth-year option offseasons to land a second contract. Hurts, Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Deshaun Watson and Josh Allen have each signed lucrative extensions before their fourth seasons. Mike Brown has mentioned the Mahomes model as a contract structure he supports, but no quarterback has opted for the extreme team-friendly structure — a 10-year pact — the Chiefs megastar has. It will be interesting to see how the Bengals-Burrow talks go, but updates should be coming fairly soon regarding the numbers and structure the Burrow camp seeks.

Bengals, Joe Burrow Begin Extension Talks

March 29th, 2023 at 2:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Just like fellow 2019 draft class quarterback Justin Herbert, Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow is eligible for a massive extension this offseason. To no surprise, the legwork for putting together a second contract is underway for both players.

The Bengals are turning their attention towards a second contract for Burrow, as noted this week by top contract negotiator Katie Blackburn. With the first few waves of free agency complete, Cincinnati’s top priority is maintaining as many members of their young core as possible, beginning of course with the former No. 1 pick.

“We’ve been thinking about it,” Blackburn said on the subject of a Burrow extension, via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We’ve had some preliminary discussions, but there’s free agency and such. So, we’ll see if we can get into it a little bit more maybe… it’s hard to say exactly what the pace [is] but we hope that there’s something that can get done.”

Burrow, 26, has put aside all doubt about his potential after his rookie season ended with an ACL tear. Helping lead the Bengals to consecutive AFC title games (and one Super Bowl appearance) over the past two years, he has established himself as one of the top passers in the league. That has him on track to become one of, if not the highest-paid players in the league once an extension is in place.

Regarding the structure of the Pro Bowler’s next accord, something similar to the one signed by Patrick Mahomes could be in the cards. Bengals owner Mike Brown pointed to that deal (10 years, $450MM in base value) as a favorable blueprint, as noted by Conway in a separate piece. The length of the Mahomes contract remains unrivaled in the NFL, but the Chiefs have enjoyed plenty of success to date with him on the books. Burrow’s age and production suggests a long-term investment would be relatively safe.

The particulars of what the LSU product is seeking, however, remain to be seen at this point. Not much urgency exists in one sense since Burrow can be kept under contract through the 2024 campaign via the fifth-year option. However, the Bengals (just like the Chargers with Herbert, and the Eagles with Jalen Hurts) would likely be well-served to get a deal done before the QB market undergoes its next upward surge with extensions for the latter two.

Five QBs currently average $45MM or more per season on their existing contracts. That figure is likely the floor for any Burrow extension, with a strong potential existing for an AAV notably higher than that. Over the coming weeks and months, the progress which is made in contract talks will be a key storyline for the Bengals and the rest of the quarterback landscape.

QB Rumors: Packers, Carr, Burrow, Colts

January 22nd, 2023 at 9:45am CST by Rory Parks

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers is expected to play in 2023, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (video link). Fowler cites the ~$60MM balloon payment that Rodgers is due between March and the start of the 2023 regular season as a motivating factor for the four-time MVP, and assuming he does want to suit up, Green Bay will have to decide if it wants him back or wants to seek a trade.

The club’s top power brokers, GM Brian Gutekunst and HC Matt LaFleur, have publicly indicated they want Rodgers back in Wisconsin, which could — in Fowler’s estimation — force Jordan Love to request a trade. The 2020 first-rounder believes he is ready to become a QB1, and as he is entering the final year of his rookie deal, now would be a good time for him to get that chance.

Here are more QB rumors from around the league:

In the same piece linked above, Fowler says that the Derek Carr sweepstakes will start to heat up as we get closer to the Super Bowl. Carr, whose contract with the Raiders includes a no-trade clause, is beginning to do his homework on possible landing spots, and Fowler hears (unsurprisingly) that the Jets, Saints, and Commanders are expected to have interest. Several clubs have already reached out to Las Vegas to lay the groundwork for trade talks.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will be eligible for an extension when Cincinnati’s season comes to an end, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that the club wants to get a new deal done this offseason. A Burrow extension will be hugely expensive, and owner Mike Brown and Burrow himself acknowledged the challenges that such a deal creates for roster construction (via Ben Baby of ESPN.com). Of course, the Bengals will have to operate within the same salary cap confines as every other team in the league, but as Rapoport observes, the small-market franchise does have more cash on hand these days thanks in large part to the success that the team has enjoyed with Burrow under center.
In a comprehensive piece that is well-worth a read for Colts fans, a piece that details owner Jim Irsay‘s increasingly impulsive decision-making and the ensuing fallout, Zak Keefer of The Athletic (subscription required) says that Irsay wanted to draft and develop a rookie QB in the 2021 draft. However, then-head coach Frank Reich convinced Irsay that he could resuscitate Carson Wentz‘s career. When that experiment went awry, Irsay began to lose faith in Reich, who apologized to his boss for his misstep. The team again opted for an established passer last offseason when it engineered the Matt Ryan trade, and in light of that failure, Adam Jahns of The Athletic (subscription required) believes Indianapolis is finally going to eschew the veteran QB route. The Colts, armed with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, are in prime position to select a top collegiate signal-caller and could trade up to land the player of their choice.
Dolphins GM Chris Grier recently confirmed reports that Tua Tagovailoa will be the team’s starting quarterback in 2023, as Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald writes. Grier says the medical professionals he has consulted have told him that the concussions Tagovailoa suffered this season will not make him more prone to concussions going forward. He also said “everything’s on the table for us” when asked if the team would exercise Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option for 2024 and/or engage in extension talks.
The Jets may keep 2021 first-rounder Zach Wilson on the roster in 2023, but the team is widely expected to pursue a veteran like Carr or Rodgers to upgrade the quarterback position. Apparently, that will be a welcome development for some of Wilson’s teammates and coaches, who “rejoiced” when Wilson was benched in favor of Mike White in November and who were disappointed when Wilson was reinserted into the lineup following White’s rib injuries (via Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic (subscription required)). Regardless of whether Wilson’s apologies to his teammates in the wake of his failure to accept much blame for his poor performance in New York’s Week 11 loss to the Patriots helped him regain the respect of the locker room, the consensus seems to be that he is not the passer who will guide the Jets back to the playoffs.

Bengals Make Three Waiver Claims

September 2nd, 2022 at 9:55am CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 2: To no surprise, the Bengals are indeed re-signing Allen, Thomas and Williams now that they have the open roster spots to do so, per a team announcement. Cincinnati is also placing safety Tycen Anderson and tackle Isaiah Prince on IR.

AUGUST 31: The Bengals have made some notable additions in the aftermath of yesterday’s roster cutdowns. Per the waiver wire, they have claimed tight end Devin Asiasi, guard Max Scharping and defensive tackle Jay Tufele.

Asiasi came to New England with significant expectations, given his draft status and the organization’s success at the position. The third-rounder made just 10 appearances in his first two seasons, though, recording only a pair of receptions. The Patriots made a substantial free agent investment in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith last offseason, limiting his future with the team. In Cincinnati, he will face steep competition for playing time from Hayden Hurst and, in all likelihood, O.J. Howard.

Scharping is in a similar situation to Asiasi in terms of being an underwhelming high draft choice yet to finish their rookie contract. A 2019 second-rounder, the 26-year-old started 33 of the 48 contests he appeared in with the Texans, moving from the left to right guard spot this past season. Regardless of where he lined up, the Northern Illinois alum graded out in the mid-to-high 50s with respect to PFF rating, leaving him on the roster bubble. Scharping’s vacated spot is likely to be filled by A.J. Cann; he will challenge for a backup role behind top free agent addition Alex Cappa with the Bengals.

Tufele, meanwhile, has seen the least playing time of the new trio. As a rookie last season, he made just four appearances in Jacksonville, totaling two tackles. His PFF pass rush grade of 77 indicates some upside on third downs, which dates back to his time in college. Moving on from the USC alum so soon may have come as a surprise, though the additions of Folorunso Fatukasi and Adam Gotsis along the d-line were likely to significantly lessen his chance of seeing significant playing time with the Jaguars. The Bengals lost Larry Ogunjobi in free agency, but re-upped B.J. Hill, whom Tufele will look to provide depth behind his new home.

The defending AFC champions will return many of the members of last season’s team, but these additions could prove effective at areas of relative need. Among the cuts necessary to accommodate the new arrivals is veteran quarterback Brandon Allen. The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal for the third consecutive offseason to remain in Cincinnati.

For now, Allen’s departure leaves the Bengals with only Joe Burrow under center. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets, however, that Allen “will be back.” Cincinnati is also parting ways with safety Michael Thomas and running back Trayveon Williams.

Latest On Bengals QB Joe Burrow

August 18th, 2022 at 6:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Joe Burrow returned to Bengals practice this week after undergoing an appendectomy in late July. While initial reports seemed to indicate that Burrow underwent a standard procedure, that didn’t end up being the case. As ESPN’s Ben Baby writes, the quarterback lost weight thanks to the surgery and subsequent recovery, and it sounds like he’s got some work to do to get into game shape for Week 1.

“It wasn’t normal appendicitis that you hear about,” Burrow explained. “I didn’t really feel much. Just getting checked out and had some discomfort so we thought we’d get it checked out. Turns out I had it. So we had to get it fixed.”

It’s an encouraging sign that Burrow has returned to practice, and the Bengals have a plan in place to get him right for the start of the regular season. This includes a plan to add weight and get the QB’s body back “to its pre-surgery form.” Burrow isn’t expected to see the field for Cincinnati’s remaining preseason contests.

“I think it will be OK,” Burrow said. “We have a good plan as far as nutrition and weight room and all that stuff. I feel good right now and just going to keep feeling better.”

Burrow isn’t the only key Bengals player to return to practice. Wideout Tee Higgins participated in team drills for the first time on Sunday, per Baby. The receiver had his labrum worked on this offseason, but it sounds like he’ll be good to go for the start of the regular season.

Injury Updates: Patriots, Burrow, Poyer, Giants, Falcons

August 3rd, 2022 at 9:35pm CST by Ben Levine

James White remains without a return timetable. The veteran is still sidelined following hip surgery, and Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets that it’s uncertain when the long-time Patriots RB will return to the field.

The longest-tenured member of the Patriots offense could ultimately land on PUP, but Howe notes that the organization will wait a few more weeks to evaluate White’s progress. The RB suffered a hip subluxation injury last September, limiting him to only three games during the 2021 season. White had 496 yards from scrimmage during his first non-Tom Brady season in 2020, but he topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage in both 2019 and 2018.

Fortunately for the Patriots, the organization still has Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson atop their depth chart, but it’s tough to replace the pass-catching prowess of White. The organization also used a pair of draft picks on RBs Pierre Strong Jr. (fourth round) and Kevin Harris (sixth round).

More injury notes from around the NFL…

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had an appendectomy last week, and it’s unlikely we see him until the regular season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Burrow likely won’t play during the preseason. Rapoport estimates that the QB could return two to four weeks after his initially surgery, and he’ll likely participate in throwing sessions while limiting his hits during practice.
Bills All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer hyperextended his elbow yesterday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). While the injury will keep Poyer off the field for a few weeks, he’s expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. The veteran defensive back has only missed a pair of regular season games since joining the Bills in 2017.
Giants fourth-round safety Dane Belton suffered a broken collarbone, reports ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (via Twitter). While the rookie will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, the organization is holding out hope that he’ll be good to go for the start of the season. There’s a better chance he lands on IR following final cuts and will then be activated at some point in October. The Iowa product had already made a strong impression at training camp, according to Raanan.
Falcons defensive tackle Vincent Taylor ruptured his Achilles, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein (on Twitter). The injury will force Taylor to miss the 2022 season. The 28-year-old joined the Falcons back in April. The journeyman has appeared in 40 career games, including a single start with the Texans in 2021.

Latest On Jessie Bates, Bengals Extensions

July 30th, 2022 at 9:45am CST by Ben Levine

The Bengals didn’t sign Jessie Bates prior to the extension deadline, and despite having little leverage to avoid playing on the franchise tag in 2022, the safety is still away from the team as training camp starts. Speaking to reporters, Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin acknowledged that the two sides “just didn’t come together” on a new deal and there are “no hard feelings” (via ESPN’s Ben Baby on Twitter).

Predictably, Tobin revealed that the front office would be willing to resume negotiations with Bates following the upcoming season. Bates has not yet signed his tender — which means that he cannot be fined for skipping training camp — but he will either need to sign it at some point or sit out the entire 2022 campaign, which seems highly unlikely. The most likely route sees Bates return to the field for the 2022 season and then hit unrestricted free agent next offseason. For what it’s worth, a trade isn’t expected.

Meanwhile, the Bengals front office will soon have to shift focus to extending their franchise quarterback. Speaking to reporters, team president Mike Brown made it clear that the Bengals want to keep Joe Burrow long-term.

“I can tell you that we couldn’t be happier with Joe Burrow,” Brown said (via Baby). “He’s everything you would wish for, especially for a quarterback in Cincinnati. Our whole focus is going to be on keeping him here.”

Burrow is entering the third year of his rookie contract, meaning there’s still plenty of time to negotiate a new pact. As Baby notes, the Bengals will also have to figure out how to proceed with an extension for wide receiver Tee Higgins, although Brown was clear that QB is the team’s priority.

“Right now, our obvious, most important issue will be with our quarterback,” Brown said. “It’s not quite ready or ripe yet, but it’s right down the track. We see the train coming.”