Ian Rapoport says Cincinnati Bengals want to get a new deal for Joe Burrow

The legend of Joe Burrow has only grown over the last two seasons of his NFL career. Now, after taking the Cincinnati Bengals to their second straight AFC Championship appearance, Ian Rapoport says the franchise wants to lock down the 26-year old star this offseason.

In an appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’, Rapoport said the contract negotiations haven’t started yet. Still, the question is no longer if but when as well as how much they’re about to pay him this offseason.

“It hasn’t started yet, to be fair. It hasn’t started yet. (But) he’s gonna be one of the highest paid,” said Rapoport. “This is the offseason they want to do it. He obviously deserves it. It’s just a question of how rich is he going to get?”

After being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burrow signed his rookie deal with $36 million over the course of four years. Next season will be the fourth and final year of that deal at an overall cap hit of $11.5 million.

However, after throwing for over 9,000 yards and 69 touchdowns, taking Cincy to back-to-back AFC Title Games, and having the team on the verge of back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2021 and 2022, Burrow will command the kind of deal that several of the other top quarterbacks already have.

First, Cincinnati’s focus will be on their game in Arrowhead this weekend as they try to earn their spot in Super Bowl LVII. However this season ends for them, though, it seems like pay day should be coming very soon for Burrow.

WATCH: Burrow says NFL ‘better send refunds’ for Bills fans

The Buffalo Bills saw their season end at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Then, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow delivered a parting jab. Burrow was interviewed on the field after the 27-10 win. That’s where he delivered a brutal one-liner about fans who purchased tickets to the “if-needed” neutral-site AFC title game in Atlanta had the Bills won.

Joe Burrow's thoughts on tickets being sold for a Bills/Chiefs neutral site AFC Championship?

"Better send those refunds." 😂 pic.twitter.com/6UqPrVAuy4

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 22, 2023

“We talked about it yesterday, just that chip on your shoulder,” started CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson. “Everyone talking about a neutral AFC Championship game, not even talking about you guys. How much did that motivate you coming into this?”

“Better send those refunds,” answered Burrow quickly.

The jab was directed at a report from last week that stated more than 50,000 tickets were pre-purchased by season-ticket holders for the Bills and Chiefs for a potential AFC title game next week. If the Bills had won, the teams would have played at a neutral site in Atlanta. That prompted the need for tickets to be sold ahead of time.

As most athletes do, Burrow and his teammates used it as a sign of disrespect to motivate them on Sunday. The Bengals jumped out to an early lead and held on through the tough defense and snow in Buffalo. Still, they punched their ticket to the AFC title game and denied Bills fans their opportunity.