The Cincinnati Bengals are heading into a pivotal offseason that could shape the franchise for years. With key contract decisions looming, the team’s future isn’t just at stake but also the long-term commitment of star quarterback Joe Burrow.
If the Bengals fail to lock in their core players, could Burrow eventually seek a way out?
Is Joe Burrow Frustrated With Management?
All the talk around the Bengals this winter has been surrounding the contracts of their star players, or rather, the lack of new ones.
Former NFL wide receiver Harry Douglas recently blasted the organization for their inability to get new deals done with their star players, coining the team “the Cheap-innati Bengals.”
"Call them the 'Cheap-innati Bengals', because they don't want to pay people." 😳 @HDouglas83 and @stephenasmith on Joe Burrow's future with the Cincinnati Bengals 👀 pic.twitter.com/nLpS4xifIg
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 18, 2025
Douglas connects past impact players that the Bengals front office failed to agree to terms with, like Jessie Bates lll and Joe Mixon, to pending free agent Tee Higgins and extension-eligible stars Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson.
Bates and Mixon are now quality players competing against the Bengals because management failed to offer what these stars believed they were worth, and other teams did. In 2025, fans hope the narrative can be flipped in their favor.
According to recent reports, fans can be cautiously optimistic this offseason. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently reported that the Bengals intend to use a second consecutive franchise tag on Higgins, who would be the top free agent available, according to PFSN.
Fowler also reported that the Bengals plan to re-sign all three of Higgins, Chase, and Hendrickson to long-term contracts. However, fans are still waiting for the news that the deals are actually done before taking a breath of relief.
These recent reports come after Burrow publicly pressured the front office into signing his star teammates.
“I do. We have the cap space to get it done,” Burrow said. “I know I want to make it happen. Everybody involved — Trey, Tee, Ja’Marr, [tight end] Mike [Gesicki] — we all want to stay together. When you have guys that are motivated like that, I think you can get those kinds of things done.”
Burrow said after being asked if he “had faith” in the Bengals ownership and front office to spend the necessary money to keep the team’s core players around.
Are the reports of the front office’s intentions to get deals done genuine? Or are they just in response to Burrow’s publicized pressure in an attempt to please the QB?
Alongside Douglas on “First Take,” analyst Stephen A. Smith mentioned that if Cincinnati allows the stars to walk, he believes Burrow will request a trade. “I think that he should, and I think that he will,” Smith said when asked if Burrow should ask for a trade if the Bengals fail to take care of this situation.
What Comes Next for Burrow and the Bengals?
Assuming reports are correct, Higgins will receive a franchise tag, and the Bengals continue to work on a long-term deal for their star second-option receiver.
Then comes Chase and Hendrickson — the 2024 triple-crown receiver and the NFL’s sack leader, respectively — who are in for massive extensions. With $50 million in cap space this offseason, watching how these contract negotiations go will certainly be interesting.
The Bengals’ handling of these potential deals will define their outlook for the 2025 season and certainly make or break Burrow’s uncertain future in Cincinnati. Their willingness to pay their stars will be crucial to remove the “Cheap-innati” term from their legacy.
However, the team’s future may be bright. If all deals can be completed, ownership will be proving their willingness to win to not only their loyal fans but also their star quarterback.
From there on out, the possibility for the Bengals to claim their first Super Bowl in the franchise’s history becomes much less far-fetched.