Joe Burrow ‘closes in on deal to become the highest-paid NFL player of ALL-TIME’… with Bengals ‘optimistic’ they are nearing contract agreement

The Bengals and star quarterback Joe Burrow are reportedly approaching a contract extension that will make him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

According to a report in The AthleticsThere is a sense of optimism in Cincinnati that a deal can be completed in a matter of days.

“Both Burrow and the Bengals have made sure that important information has not been leaked, but based on my discussions, there is optimism in the building and in the locker room that a deal can be made in the coming days,” said reporter Diana Russini.

Burrow is currently about to enter the fourth year of his rookie contract, which was pre-assigned as a four-year, $36.19 million deal that includes the usual fifth-year option for first-round picks. This season, according to the deal, he will earn $11.5 million.

If Burrow played for the fifth-year option next season, he would earn $29.5 million, although there is currently no word on what his salary would be under a possible new contract.

Burrow’s renewal may surpass the renewal Justin Herbert signed for the NFL’s highest salary

However, there is a good chance that Burrow’s eventual new contract will earn him an average salary of at least $40 million, which will put him in the top 10 average salaries – and it is expected to be even higher to get him number 1 in the list.

If Burrow wants to fully utilize his value rather than save the team money to allocate to other players on the team, his $50 million contract could eventually break, much like the recent contracts of Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert.

Picked just five times after Burrow in the 2020 NFL Draft, Herbert currently has the highest average salary of any player in the league at $52 million.

Burrow is recovering from a calf injury sustained during training camp but recently returned

Burrow is recovering from a calf injury he sustained at the start of training camp, but was recently a full participant as the Bengals prepared for the opening game against AFC North rival Cleveland Browns.

Russini also noted that while he has dealt with an injury during the contract negotiations, there is no risk of him missing time on the field if he is not given an extension before the Week 1 game.

“Joe is a competitor. He doesn’t miss a game against the Browns. I’m not worried about the contract,” said Russini’s source.

Last season, Burrow threw for 4,475 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Over his three-year career to date, he has logged a total of 11,774 yards, 82 touchdowns and 31 interceptions.