The NFL’s salary boom continued, and just over a month after it was broken, the record for the highest contract in history was surpassed again on Thursday by Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
The 26-year-old quarterback has agreed to a five-year, $275 million deal, according to the ESPN network. It’s also the same company, WME Sports, that negotiated the record defensive player contract for Nick Bosa the day before. Of the total amount, $219.01 million would be guaranteed.
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Experts expected a fight between Justin Herbert and Burrow this summer to see who would get the most money. On July 25, the Los Angeles Chargers center agreed to an average annual salary of $52.5 million. His counterpart on the Bengals will make $55 million per year.
Burrow, the first overall pick in the 2020 draft, has been particularly impressive during his three NFL campaigns. The LSU Tigers product notably threw 35 touchdown passes with just 12 interceptions in 2022 and totaled 4,475 air yards.
With the young man behind center, the Bengals even reached the 2021 Super Bowl game and the American Association Finals last season.
The Iowa native was injured in training camp but appears to have recovered in time for Cincinnati’s opening game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.