What's Next for Cincinnati Bengals Following Joe Burrow's Mega Extension?
CINCINNATI — The Bengals are signing Joe Burrow to a five-year, $275 million contract extension that includes $219.01 million guaranteed.
The star quarterback becomes the highest-paid player in NFL history.
The deal is expected to be finalized on Friday. What does it mean for Tee Higgins' future? What about other veterans like DJ Reader and Chidobe Awuzie, who are also entering the final year of their respective contracts?
Burrow's contract may make him the NFL's highest-paid player, but he did give Cincinnati some flexibility by agreeing to a five-year extension.
Over the next seven years, he'll make $316 million or roughly $45 million per year. That includes the final year of his rookie contract and the fifth-year option that the Bengals exercised this offseason.
Being able to spread out the money over seven seasons will give the Bengals a chance to make a run at Tee Higgins or other players that they hope to sign before the start of the season.
The good news is they've already extended Logan Wilson, which means all eyes are on Higgins.
The 24-year-old has had at least 67 receptions in his first three seasons and has topped the 1,000-yard receiving mark in each of the past two years.
Will the Bengals be able to sign Higgins before Sunday's season opener in Cleveland?
It feels like a long-shot, but it shouldn't be ruled out. He's a big part of their offense and the team would love to sign him to a long-term deal.
What type of contract is he looking for? Would Higgins and his agent be open to an A.J. Brown-like contract? Brown signed a four-year, $100 million deal with the Eagles prior to last season that included over $57 million guaranteed.
Are they looking for a 3-year deal so Higgins can get back to the market faster? If so, then something slightly higher than D.K. Metcalf's 3-year, $72 million deal with the Seahawks could give the two sides a blueprint of what the contract could look like.
The Bengals will likely be hesitant to pay Higgins if agent David Mulugheta is looking to make him the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver. His camp may also want to wait with Justin Jefferson's potential extension looming.
The Bengals can also sign Ja'Marr Chase to an extension next offseason, which is why making Higgins a top-paid receiver could be a challenge. If he's willing to sign a Brown or Metcalf deal, then there's a chance they get something done.
The Bengals still have more than 48 hours to try to sign Higgins before the start of the season. Burrow's extension doesn't hinder their chances of keeping the star receiver. Instead, it gives them a shot at making a real run at him before the start of the regular season.
As far as other veterans are concerned, the Bengals will likely wait on Reader, Awuzie and Tyler Boyd. While there's always a chance that any of the three veterans could sign extensions with the team next offseason, both sides likely want to see how this year goes before making a decision about the future.
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