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.
[RELATED: 2024 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
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.
I am shocked
I really don’t understand the media obsession with Herbert. Of the 3 guys, he should undoubtedly be the lowest paid. He’s Carson Palmer. Beloved Bcs he’s a West Coast guy with a big arm..yet doesn’t have the intangibles required to lead his team to big wins. Every season the Chargers are hailed as a contender Bcs of how talented their roster is..yet they can’t win even 1 playoff game. Maybe Herbert just needs more money to become a leader *eye roll*
I like Herbo as a person from everything I’ve seen. But he hasn’t shown that desire to win which would make me hesitant to fork up the money Joe is going to get
What you’re saying makes sense but I think he’s a touch better than Carson Palmer (who I actually think was underrated). It’s not Herbert’s fault his coaching and defense (they’ve finished 23rd, 29th, and 21st in points allowed in Herbert’s three years) are not good.
Not sure why anyone would assume only QBs possessing “intangibles” can lead teams to big wins. Wentz and Flacco have rings and and I don’t believe they ever mesmerized any opponent with their “intangibles”.
That was Foles that got them the ring. Wentz got hurt in week 12
Herbert is this generation’s Dan Marino. Lots of hype and big statistics, but zero championships.
In more surprising news, Water- Wet.
Of all the QB’s being talked about Herbert to me seems like a the guy who has the most room to grow. He still hasn’t reached his full potential just yet. Herbert is very talented and I think he is just going to grow and get better each year he plays. I think he has one of the highest ceilings of any QB playing currently in the NFL. When he injured his ribs last year I watched how it slowed him down but he still played through it like a boss. I think with some time to heal and maybe drafting a WR who can actually stay healthy the sky is the limit. I do not like the coach of the Chargers, he seems to soft for the NFL. The defense needs to improve they blew it big last year. Most importantly they need to lock Austin Ekeler down for at least 3 more years. That RB is a freak of nature and very much underpaid for the amount of work he does for that offense. Anyhow, the owners of the chargers need to pay Herbert accordingly, anything less would be an insult to the young boss.
Unfortunately, despite massive size coaching staffs, there isn’t much patience extended to young QBs. Hebert has the added pressure of trying to fill the shoes of a guy (Rivers) who the Chargers relied on seemingly forever.
Burrow will need to leave some money on the table to keep the top notch receiving crew get theirs. Otherwise he will be throwing to rookies and retreads. Five years at 275 sounds like the best he could get, not fully guaranteed. Lamar should take notice and take what best offer the Ravens propose because he is not at Burrow’s caliber.
If he signs for that, they’re not keeping Chase and Higgins. That’s gonna be over 100 million for just a passing attack. Offensive line needs paid as does the defense