Adam Schefter: Joe Burrow's numbers are gonna be well north of Justin Herbert

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has accomplished some remarkable things during his first few seasons in the National Football League. And he’s set to cash in on his second contract in historic fashion sometime in the near future, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s been an offseason of massive contracts for the NFL’s elite signal-callers. LA Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert just landed a massive deal for five years, $262.5 million. Burrow’s new deal is expected to be “well north” of that, Schefter told everyone in his Wednesday appearance on NFL Live.

Check out what he had to say below.

The Brinks truck is already on its way to Cincinnati for Joe Burrow? 💰🤑

“Joe Burrow is expected to become the highest paid player in NFL history. … I can promise you the numbers are gonna be well north of [Justin Herbert’s].” —@AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/9gLhDSdXp4

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 26, 2023

Schefter: Burrow’s new contract will be historic

“Well, Field, I think by the time the season starts, the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow will figure out a way to bridge their differences. And they will produce what then will be the highest paid annual average salary contract in NFL history. You want to put it on the bottom line of ESPN right now. Put it on there. Joe Burrow’s expected to become the highest paid player in NFL history at some point this summer,” Schefter said on Wednesday on NFL Live.

“We just don’t know exactly when. But, that deal will beat Jalen Hurts’ deal. That deal will beat Lamar Jackson’s deal. That deal will beat Justin Herbert’s deal. And that deal will be the new landmark deal that other deals then follow. Because Joe Burrow is going to be a very wealthy man. That news yesterday about Justin Herbert impacted a lot of people. But there’s nobody that it impacted more than Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. And they’re sitting there and they now have a starting point at which to go. And I promise you, the numbers are gonna be well north of the numbers that came in on Justin Herbert,” Schefter said.

Burrow has earned every penny of his historic contract, whatever number it ends up being. He’s led the Bengals to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances, barely losing last year to the Kansas City Chiefs, 23-20. In 2021, Burrow was able to miraculously guide the Bengals to the Super Bowl, despite being repeatedly pummeled behind one of the worst offensive lines in league history.

Burrow just completed his third NFL season with the Bengals. During his trio of seasons, he has thrown for over 11,700 passing yards and 82 touchdowns on an efficient 68.2% completion percentage. His development has really kicked off over the last two years. After tearing his ACL and MCL as a rookie, he has come back to establish himself as one of the best players in the league at his position.

As the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burrow signed a four-year deal worth $36 million. Now, with how quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts have been paid, many expect his next deal to easily be worth at least $50 million per season. And according to Schefter, that will soon become reality before the start of the 2023 NFL season.

On3’s Sam Gillenwater also contributed to this article.