Most would agree that, when healthy, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is one of the very best players in football. His arm talent is undeniable, and he led an otherwise decrepit franchise to a Super Bowl appearance during his second NFL season.
But is it possible that the marriage between Burrow and the Bengals may not be as long-lasting as we think?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter pitched the possibility during a recent episode of Get Up, noting that a trade is not entirely out of the question when it comes to the two-time Pro Bowler.
“Well, here’s what I’d say to you right now; you have the New York Jets sitting here with five first-round draft picks in the next two years, with the capability to do whatever they want at the quarterback position,” Schefter said. “We have the Los Angeles Rams sitting here this offseason with two first-round draft picks. We have the Cleveland Browns sitting here this offseason with two first-round draft picks.”
Schefter then went on to single out Burrow as a player who could potentially be moved, and while Dan Orlovsky felt that there was zero chance it would happen, former Bengals wide receiver Andrew Hawkins refused to rule it out.
Schefter proceeded to question whether or not Burrow — who is under contract with Cincinnati through 2029 — could ask for a trade due to his potential frustration with the offensive line and the Bengals’ porous defense.
Obviously, the idea of Cincinnati moving Burrow does sound outlandish, but consider this: Burrow has now been in the NFL for six seasons, and he has only been healthy in half of them. He played just two games this year before going down with a toe injury that will keep him sidelined for most, if not all, of the 2025 campaign.
Is there a possibility that the Bengals, who couldn’t even make the playoffs with a healthy Burrow last year, could decide to trade Burrow for a treasure trove of draft picks in a quasi-rebuild? They already have wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins under wraps for the long haul, so they could potentially find a new quarterback to plug in under center.
