Joe Burrow reported to training camp without a long-term contract extension, and Cincinnati Bengals executives Monday declined to discuss the status of negotiations with the franchise quarterback.
A goal for the team this summer was to sign the 2022 Pro Bowler and the 2021 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year for an overtime. Both sides did an excellent job keeping the details of the talks secret.
“I have committed not to discuss Joe’s contract,” Bengals owner Mike Brown told reporters a day before camp opened. “They don’t think it’s helpful for the negotiations. The other side has made the same commitment and has not broken it.”
The new contract for the top pick in the 2020 draft should make him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL.
Cincinnati secured the option for the fifth year of Burrows’ rookie contract in April ahead of an expected mega deal that could see him earn about $50 million a season based on what other top quarterbacks are doing.
Brown said he was not concerned that talks continued until training camp began.
“I’m not shocked this thing is where it is,” said the 87-year-old owner. “It’s only natural that they want to get what they can get, the best they can get.”
26-year-old Burrow, who reported to camp on Sundayled the Bengals to a Super Bowl, a 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after the 2021 season.
Last season, Cincinnati finished 12-4 to win the AFC North for the second straight season, with Burrow setting franchise records for completions, passing attempts, and passing touchdowns in a single season.
During summer training, Burrow declined when reporters inquired about his contract situation. He said his goal is to win a Super Bowl in Cincinnati and replace the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes as “best in the world.”
Mahomes won his second division MVP last season before winning his second Super Bowl in four years. He also won his second Super Bowl MVP. Mahomes’ Chiefs defeated Burrow’s Bengals in the AFC title game.
Brown said a year ago that the team began restructuring finances to place Burrow on a long-term contract. The Bengals made more room for the salary cap when running back Joe Mixon accepted a restructured deal and pay cut to stay with the Bengals this month.
Other things are on hold until Burrow’s deal is finalized, including a contract for receiver Tee Higgins, who is also eligible for an extension. Star receiver Ja’Marr Chase is eligible for an extension after this season. Both will likely receive salaries that make them the highest-paid receivers in the league.
“I don’t yet know how these parts are going to fit,” Brown said. “We have a pretty good idea of how much we have to spend and how it is factored into the cap. And we don’t know where these other deals will end up. But we know we will be under pressure to accommodate them all.”
Burrow can look forward to perhaps the best offensive line of his time with the Bengals. The team signed four-time pro bowler Orlando Brown Jr. to play left tackle on a line that remained consistent last year until three starters were injured late in the season.
Jonah Williams, a 2019 first-round pick who has been used as a left tackle for the Bengals in all of his 47 career starts, will fight to be the right tackle in the starting XI.
“It’s a good feeling for me at the beginning of a season,” said offensive coordinator Brian Callahan.
There will be some questions about the Cincinnati secondary as safety Jesse Bates III and Vonn Bell and veteran cornerbacks Eli Apple and Tre Flowers depart.
On Sunday, the Bengals added cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and offensive tackles La’el Collins and Devin Cochran to the active/incapacitated list. There is no timetable for her return. Collins started right tackle last season until suffering a knee injury on December 24.
Coach Zac Taylor doesn’t expect any distractions as the Bengals prepare for their first preseason game on Aug. 11.
“That’s been the beauty of it so far, in the time I’ve been here the players have done a great job going about their business and being part of the team and doing those (contract) things separately,” Taylor said. “And we just put our heads down and got back to work.”
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