Three years ago, the Cincinnati Bengals came close to winning a Super Bowl, falling short on a potential game-winning drive in the final minute of Super Bowl LVI against the Rams, 23-20. They haven’t been back to the Super Bowl since, and have missed the playoffs entirely the last two seasons.

This is a key offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals, with long-term deals needing to get done for for crucial pieces and Tee Higgins set for free agency. Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow is subtly pressuring ownership to spend the money to keep those players in town.

The Bengals are one of the NFL teams that are truly a family-owned business. The Brown family has owned the team since its inception, with current owner Mike Brown, 89, the son of team founder Paul Brown. While all NFL teams spend pretty much the entire salary cap each year, families that aren’t independently wealthy outside of the football world do have some disadvantages. Money in long term contracts needs to be held in escrow as per league policy. For relatively cash-poor owners like the Browns, that can sometimes be an issue and make it less likely to sign players to long-term deals.

They’ve locked up Joe Burrow to a long-term deal, and they’re certainly going to extend Ja’Marr Chase for big money. But, players like defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who has one year left on his deal, and wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is a pending free agent, need long-term deals this offseason.

Even though they missed the playoffs at 9-8, the Bengals are not that far away. They played the top of the AFC tough, and that’s with an atrocious defense. It’s not hard to imagine some small improvements on defense making them a top-tier contender in 2025.

But, they’ve got to invest. Joe Burrow went on Barstool Sports’ podcast Pardon My Take and put subtle pressure on the team to spend.

The hosts, Big Cat and PFT Commenter, asked him about this huge offseason and how to make the cap work. He had this to say.

You could convert some of the money to a signing bonus, which will lower the cap hit. You can push some of the money to the back end of the contract. That lowers the cap hit.

And then when you get to the back end of the contract, you can restructure it and convert it to a signing bonus.

The Eagles are paying everybody. That seems like the way — whatever they’re doing.

This is a clear message to Mike Brown and the Bengals. Your franchise quarteback wants you to pay up.

If the Bengals elect not to spend, could Burrow ask for a trade in the next few years? That’s definitely a possibility if he feels they aren’t putting him in the best position to win.