Are the Bengals Wasting Joe Burrow’s Prime?
The Cincinnati Bengals may be in danger of squandering Joe Burrow’s career. Now entering his sixth season since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Burrow has already led the team to a Super Bowl, cemented himself as one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, and had an outstanding individual campaign in 2024. Despite all of this, the franchise seems to be letting him down.
Sure, some will point to Cincinnati securing star wideouts Ja’Marr Chase—arguably the best receiver in football—and Tee Higgins. That’s a big win. But what about the rest of the team?
Where’s the help in the run game? The defense? The offensive line?
The Offensive Line Disaster
Anyone paying attention knows how critical offensive line play is—just look at the Philadelphia Eagles. Their team-building blueprint is simple and effective: first, find a quarterback; second, build a dominant offensive line. It’s a philosophy dating back to Andy Reid and still defines the franchise today.
The Bengals have nailed step one—Burrow is a franchise quarterback. But step two? A complete failure.
Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis recently shared a damning breakdown of the Bengals’ pass block win rate rankings over the last four seasons:
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2021: #30
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2022: #30
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2023: #27
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2024: #32
No other team has ranked 25th or worse in four straight seasons. That level of futility is unmatched.
And this isn’t just about keeping Burrow upright (though that’s certainly important). A porous offensive line wrecks the entire offense, especially the run game. Running back Chase Brown had a respectable 2024 season, rushing for 990 yards and 7 touchdowns with a solid 4.3 yards per carry average. But it’s fair to wonder what more he could do with actual blocking in front of him.
History shows that even great quarterbacks benefit from a strong ground game. Take Tony Romo, who didn’t hit his peak until 2014—when DeMarco Murray led the NFL with 1,845 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. It’s no coincidence.
And what have the Bengals done to fix this glaring weakness? Not much. They made no splash signings in free agency and waited until the third round of the draft to address the line, selecting Georgia guard Dylan Fairchild at No. 81 overall. That doesn’t exactly scream urgency or transformation.
A Defense in Decline
So why wait until Round 3 to fix the offensive line? Because Cincinnati used its first two picks trying to patch up a defense that ranked 25th in the league last year.
The problem is, the defensive outlook isn’t much brighter.
Star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is in a contract standoff, entering the final year of a deal that pays him $16 million. At 30 years old and coming off back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks, he wants a new contract—or a trade. If he holds out, the defense could lose its only consistent difference-maker.
To make matters worse, the Bengals have yet to sign their top two draft picks—Shemar Stewart and Demetrius Knight Jr.—over what appear to be minor contract disputes. Instead of getting their new defensive talents on the field, they’re bogged down in paperwork.
Burrow Deserves Better
Meanwhile, Joe Burrow is doing his part. In 2023, he signed a five-year, $275 million extension. That’s a massive investment, and it would be logical to assume the Bengals intend to maximize their return. Yet, the team continues to fall short in supporting its star quarterback where it matters most.
With glaring holes across the offensive line and defense, a lackluster running game, and front office indecision, Cincinnati risks turning one of the most promising quarterback careers of this generation into a cautionary tale.
The Bengals have the quarterback. But until they fix everything around him, they’re just wasting time—and Burrow’s prime.
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