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          Burrow's big purchase: Bengals rookie gets No. 9 necklace valued at more than $25K

          • Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterAug 25, 2020, 11:49 PM
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              Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News where he covered college sports. He provides daily coverage of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN's NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
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          CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrow has a shiny new addition to his jewelry collection.

          The top overall pick in April's NFL draft recently purchased a gold necklace made by Houston jeweler Leo Frost. Frost was in Cincinnati this weekend to deliver the chain to Burrow.

          According to Frost, the chain is an 18-carat white gold diamond Cuban link with an 18-carat white gold No. 9 pendant, which is Burrow's jersey number. The Houston jeweler declined to say the exact cost but estimated that the piece is worth $25,000 to $30,000.

          "He actually likes jewelry," Frost told ESPN. "He likes the look of it."

          Burrow's chain is a bigger version of the one he received earlier this year, which Frost also delivered. Louisiana rapper Boosie Badazz commissioned a chain for Burrow after the quarterback led LSU to a national championship and won a Heisman trophy.

          In a video posted to Frost's Instagram, a masked Burrow is seen meeting with Frost to receive the chain.

          "That's fresh," Burrow says in the video as he pick up the chain.

          Burrow isn't the only football player to do business with Frost. Other customers include former LSU teammates Ja'Marr Chase and Kary Vincent Jr., Titans defensive back Kenny Vaccaro and Giants offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, the fourth overall pick in the 2020 draft.

          When Burrow inked his rookie contract, a four-year deal worth $36 million, he received a $23.9 million signing bonus, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. In July, Burrow said he didn't plan to spend any contract money during his career.

          "I'm just going to live off the marketing money and let that accrue in my bank account," Burrow said.

          This offseason, Burrow partnered with the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to support a food bank named in his honor. Burrow has been vocal about hunger relief in southeast Ohio, where he was raised.