Sources say the Bengals are targeting a mega-contract extension for Burrow this offseason, as their standout has completed the third year of his rookie contract. Burrow made roughly $3.9 million in cash this year, according to Spotrac , and has one year left on his rookie deal, in addition to a fifth-year option that Cincinnati can pick up this offseason.
An extension would be expensive, as Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s $46.1 million annual average will serve as a bargaining chip. Help pay for part of Burrow’s final payday by calling fans PayJoe Stadium.
Before the 2022 regular season, the Bengals sold the naming rights to Paul Brown Stadium for the first time in history. Now it’s Paycor Stadium, which brings in what the Cincinnati Business Courier estimated at $8-9 million per year.
They have a closed facility that also has naming rights. Integrity Express Logistics, Kettering Health is the official healthcare partner, altafiber is the Wi-Fi sponsor and there’s even sports betting partner Betfred.
Plus, attendance is up 10% through the 2022 season, the fourth-largest per-game increase in the league.
All of this has increased revenue over the past few years, which will help the team when payroll starts to rise. That said, according to those involved, the team isn’t just loading up to pay Burrow. In fact, the team’s recent success, thanks in part to Burrow, head coach Zach Taylor and the new wave, actually opened the door for business.
When those doors aren’t open, you can’t get through, as the person involved described it. Companies want to partner with the Bengals now. unsurprisingly, it all comes after a Super Bowl run that has created opportunities elsewhere.
As another person involved pointed out, it’s not like they would have turned away from deals if Burrow didn’t want an extension. But surely they’ve bent over and accepted it all.
Cincy hasn’t been a low-spending team lately, and the last two seasons of free agency speak for that. That period was their window to spend without worrying about their QB’s long-term deal.
Burrow was asked a few weeks ago about winning inside this window.
“The window is my whole career,” he said.
