4 quarterbacks who deserve to make way more money than Daniel Jones
By Kristen Wong
Better than Daniel Jones QB #3: Joe Burrow
From being criticized for his small hands at the combine to leading the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl in his second year, Joe Burrow is on course to becoming a very rich man.
Like Herbert, Burrow became eligible for an extension after the 2022 season, and the franchise will want to lock him down first before allocating money to re-sign other key pieces. Last season, Burrow threw for more than 1,000 more yards than Daniel Jones and accrued more than double Jones’ touchdowns (35).
If Jones can command a $40 million salary, Burrow’s value is just off the charts.
There’s a slight caveat to Burrow’s current contract extension which involves guaranteed money, a sore subject for a less cash-rich franchise like the Bengals. Every NFL team has to put players’ guaranteed money into an escrow account to make sure it can be paid out throughout the entirety of a contract.
Cincy sold the naming rights to their stadium, now named Paycor, to generate extra cash to put toward escrow, and the team brass has to be wary of certain deadlines regarding its escrow account.
According to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., if the Bengals and Burrow reach an agreement after March 31, then they have until March 31 of 2024 to put Burrow’s guaranteed money into escrow.
That would give the Bengals more time to stockpile cash and potentially pay Burrow as much as $140 million in guaranteed money, per one analyst’s prediction.
In essence, a Burrow deal — if finalized this offseason — will likely happen after March 31.
The Bengals franchise have stated over and over again that re-signing Burrow is their No. 1 priority, and whether they do so this season or the next, Burrow will get his mega-extension.