Questions about the long-term future of Cincinnati Bengals
star quarterback Joe Burrow arose when he first mentioned this past December that he needed “to have fun [playing] again.”
While there’s no indication Burrow will look to leave the Bengals this offseason, NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom shared on Friday that people around the league think Burrow could become available as soon as next winter.
Why Joe Burrow may be growing tired of the Bengals
“With concerns about the roster, coaching situation, and Burrow’s desire to win, speculation arises about a potential trade request,” La Canfora wrote. “…The Bengals have a long history of some of their best players leaving on bad terms, owner Mike Brown is notoriously frugal and stubborn, and while the team boosted the payroll a year ago to retain top receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase for Burrow, the roster remains far from championship quality.”
Specifically, the Bengals seem prepared to let pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson leave the club via free agency when the new league year opens on March 11. One unnamed general manager who spoke with La Canfora suggested Burrow won’t be pleased with how Cincinnati accounts for Hendrickson’s departure.
“This is it,” the general manager explained. “Dude, [the Bengals] aren’t going out and trading for Maxx Crosby or something like that. The defense sucks. This is the final year that Chase and Higgins are both there. It’s going to come to a head, trust me.”
NFL people “expect” this outcome for Joe Burrow, Bengals relationship?
Burrow signed a five-year, $275M contract extension in September 2023, and he more recently said earlier in February that he is happy in Cincinnati even though he has had some “bad” days. The first overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft suffered a torn ACL and MCL in November of his rookie campaign. His 2023 season ended prematurely because of a wrist injury, and he suffered a toe injury in Week 2 of the 2025 season that kept him sidelined until Week 13.
Burrow almost certainly won’t be traded before the 2026 campaign gets underway, but one unnamed “top personnel executive” hinted while speaking with La Canfora that a divorce feels inevitable.
“I could see him angling to get out of there,” that executive said about Burrow. “I kind of expect it. That’s a tough place to win, and he really wants to win.”
The Bengals have missed out on the playoffs for three straight years. One wonders if simply participating in a postseason game next January would be enough to keep Burrow happy as Cincinnati’s QB1 through the summer of 2027.