The Bengals have some tough decisions ahead in the coming seasons, but can at least be certain about Joe Burrow.
The star quarterback enters the third year of the $9.9 million a year contract he signed as the top pick in 2020.
Cincinnati has the option to extend Joe Burrow for another year but after that, he’ll come back to the table.
Joe Burrow became the undisputed talisman of the team when he led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years.
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Bengals owner Mike Brown is under no illusions about which contract is the priority for the team.
“I can tell you that we couldn’t be happier with Joe Burrow,” Brown said. “He’s everything you would wish for, especially for a quarterback in Cincinnati. Our whole focus is going to be on keeping him here.”
That’s going to require a significant pay rise, if the deals given to Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson are anything to go by. In fact, seven quarterbacks in the league earn north of $40 million a year.
“It’s crazy the number that these guys are putting up, and I think it’s well deserved,” Joe Burrow said.
“All those guys are playing at the top of their game. They’re being paid accordingly. But really, I haven’t thought about it much right now.”
Extending Burrow is a no brainer but for other question marks in the roster, it won’t be so straightforward.
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Safety Jessie Bates was tagged in March, but still has not agreed a new deal in two years. As well as that, WRs Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase will be eligible in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
“This is a puzzle,” Brown said. “It just doesn’t all fit perfectly. We’re going to have some pluses. We’re going to get some guys signed that are critical to the team. And we’re going to lose some guys.”
