Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is the most important person for the organization's success. Burrow will survive Zac Taylor's eventual firing and last longer than de facto general manager Duke Tobin. The Bengals can win with new ownership, too, and such a transition would be welcomed by the fanbase.
Thus, keeping Burrow happy seems like a safe way to keep Cincinnati's train on the tracks. This team-barring a complete defensive collapse-will go as Burrow does.
However, the front office and ownership have been content with procrastinating extensions Burrow feels are incredibly important to the team's success. Receiver Ja'Marr Chase is yet to be made the highest-paid non-quarterback in football. His partner in crime, Tee Higgins, was franchise tagged without an imminent extension. Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is on a fast track to his next chapter after futile extension talks.
The Bengals, according to ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum, should be worried about Burrow's long-term future in a cash-strapped organization.
"If I'm Cincinnati, I'm significantly worried about Joe Burrow," Tannenbaum recently said on "Get Up." "He sat down with ESPN and Laura Rutledge at the Super Bowl and he talked in great detail about what players should get paid, cap numbers and cash flow, and (now) you're tagging Tee Higgins for the second consecutive year…
"Those guys (should) never, ever leave your building, ever. Tee Higgins needs to get paid, and if I'm Cincinnati, I'm worried about is Joe Burrow all-in here?"
Losing Burrow would be a meltdown of nuclear proportions. He's signed an extension through 2029 and is a pillar of not only the team but the city, too. It's easy to imagine how desolate a Burrow-less future looks like for the Bengals.
Related: Bengals Draft Plans Could Hinge on Higgins Tag
It's harder, however, to imagine Burrow leaving. Teams don't just let superstar quarterbacks out of the building, especially without some kind of major disaster. They certainly don't let them leave in their prime and with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
Therefore, it'd take Burrow forcing his way out. That doesn't seem likely, but if Cincinnati doesn't care to make itself viable, why shouldn't he go to a team that's willing to do what it takes?
"We started this thing together, we came in together and built this thing from the ground up and you don't want to make a habit of letting great players get out of the building," Burrow told reporters. "He's a great player and a guy that does everything the right way and works really hard for it."
Related: Bengals and Ja'Marr Chase Reportedly 'Far Apart' in Contract Talks
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM.