Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Joe Burrow was the top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but here is why the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback hasn’t signed with the Cincinnati Bengals yet.
Joe Burrow has yet to put pen to paper with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Burrow went No. 1 overall to the Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft a few weeks ago, but has yet to sign his rookie contract with Cincinnati. While annual salary is usually allotted by where a player is selected in the draft, this is all about Burrow and his representation getting the most out of his signing bonus. He’s only guaranteed inking one big contract in his NFL career at this juncture.
“We’re just waiting to see what happens over the next three months because we really don’t know,” said Burrow when he appeared on the Pardon My Take podcast Friday. Obviously, this has more to do with the global pandemic affecting potential losses in revenue, which could tie into what he garners in a signing bonus, than him not wanting to sign up to play for the Bengals.
While people tried to poke holes in Burrow’s willingness to go to the Bengals, this doesn’t look to be the case. The Athens, Ohio native seems to be up for the challenge of turning around this long moribund AFC North franchise from the other side of the state. Burrow will do it, but he’s not going to dot the t’s and cross the i’s for pennies on the dollar if the Bengals go all frugal again.
There are a few NFL organizations where you have to fight for every penny and the Bengals are one of them. They’ve always done it their own way since the late Paul Brown founded this team out of spite for his former franchise’s namesake up on the lake. Though holding out late into fall camp could be possible, it won’t be the end of the world for Burrow or the Bengals this year.
This offseason will be unlike any other before it. Many rookies and free agents will run into challenges getting caught up to speed in their new organizations. As long as Burrow has the playbook and can study film of rivals’ defenses, he should be in good shape. “I’m glad this is over, let’s finally start to get back to football,” said Burrow.
The first first-round pick to sign his rookie contract was Derrick Brown. The former Auburn Tigers defensive tackle went No. 7 overall to the Carolina Panthers. He put pen to paper very quickly to play for new-look Panthers under owner David Tepper and head coach Matt Rhule. Burrow will sign his contract soon, but he will wisely take his time in the negotiation process with the Bengals.