On paper, the Cincinnati Bengals seem to have all the ingredients needed to be competitive this season, if not contend for a spot in Super Bowl LX. However, they’re dealing with some turmoil right now.
They have been at a standstill when it comes to contract extension talks with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson had previously asked to be traded during the offseason before backing off, and now the team is reportedly open to trade offers for him.
The Bengals have gone 9-8 and missed the NFL playoffs in both of the last two seasons. They reached the Super Bowl as recently as the 2021 season and narrowly lost in the AFC Championship Game the following year, but right now, a return to championship contention seems far away for them.
Analyst John Middlekauff said that even if Burrow continues to put up great numbers, he could ask the organization for a trade.
“Even if this goes poorly and Joe Burrow has another 45-touchdown season, he’s remarkable, team misses the playoffs, fire the coach, he could go. ‘It’s time for me to leave. Send me to a real organization.'”
“He could go, ‘it’s time for me to leave, send me to a real organization.’”@JohnMiddlekauff questions if Joe Burrow could eventually force his way out of Cincinnati if things go south again. pic.twitter.com/KP6sLdqgx6
— 3&OUT with John Middlekauff (@3andout_pod) August 24, 2025
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – AUGUST 18: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up before the game against the Washington Commanders during the NFL Preseason 2025 game at Northwest Stadium on August 18, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) G Fiume/Getty Images
Middlekauff pointed out how something similar happened with Carson Palmer, a quarterback who was the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft. Following the 2010 season, Palmer asked to be traded, but owner Mike Brown adamantly refused, and he temporarily called it quits.
Nearly two years ago, Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million contract extension, which, at the time, set a new record for the highest average annual value in NFL history. At age 28, he could be early in the prime of his career, and the two-time Pro Bowler is coming off a 2024 campaign in which he threw for a league-high 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns while completing a career-high 70.6% of his pass attempts.
With star wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins also signed to big extensions, the Bengals could once again rank near the top of the league in multiple offensive categories. But their defense, which was 25th in yards and points allowed last year, will struggle again, even if Hendrickson sticks around.
After getting a taste of championship-level competition in Super Bowl LVI, which Cincinnati lost to the Los Angeles Rams by three points, Burrow may not have the stomach to wait for the team to become very good again.
