The thought of superstar quarterback Joe Burrow requesting a move away from the Cincinnati Bengals initially sounds far-fetched. However, since their Super Bowl appearance in 2021, the Bengals have yet to reach those heights again. After missing the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, one NFL analyst believes Burrow’s time in orange and black could be nearing its end.
Joe Burrow To Request Trade?
Sports analyst Colin Cowherd appeared on his show “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” recently and predicted that Joe Burrow could request a trade if the Bengals fail to make real improvements soon.
“The Bengals don’t even have a GM. They don’t have a real GM. The Eagles have 21 scouts on their website. We look, the Bengals have four. So Joe Burrow, to some degree, is trapped. I absolutely think at some point he’ll demand to be traded,” Cowherd said.
"I absolutely think at some point, he'll demand to be traded. I really believe that." Colin Cowherd on Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals pic.twitter.com/ttFYLGYgyP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 13, 2025
“Cincinnati has the quarterback that led the NFL in touchdowns, passing touchdowns, and passing yards. They had the pass rusher that led the NFL in sacks. They had the receiver that led and catches yards and touchdowns. And they missed the playoffs.”
Cowherd’s prediction did not come out of thin air, as Burrow publicly stated his hope that management would find a way to keep core players around. Burrow publicly pressured the front office to get deals done with core players that require contracts in the near future, such as Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and others.
Not only do the Bengals have some big money decisions ahead regarding keeping Burrow’s favorite targets around, but the defense needs to be improved if the team is going to compete for a playoff spot.
Burrow and the Offense Were Not the Reason for the Poor Season
As Cowherd mentioned, having the NFL’s leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns while having a triple-crown-winning receiver should get you into the playoffs. The Bengals had the seventh-best Offense+ in 2024 (83.8), according to PFSN, and PFSN ranked Burrow as the NFL’s fifth-best QB in 2024 (88.5 QB+ grade), making it clear that the offense was far from the issue in Cincinnati.
However, the defensive stats tell a completely different tale. PFSN gave the Bengals a Defense+ score of 67.2 (D+), 28th in the NFL. In addition to the generally bad defensive numbers, the Bengals were especially bad once their opponents got into the red zone, where 67.9% of opponent drives resulted in a TD. These stats explain why Burrow and the Bengals failed to have an impressive season.
When looking at the numbers on both sides of the ball, the Bengals had a 2024 season of two completely different stories. Burrow and the offense were not to blame for another disappointing season. In the 2024 offseason, if the front office decides to let some of Burrow’s weapons walk away from the team and fail to improve a defense that was a real liability, Cowherd’s prediction could become a reality.
If Burrow does request a move from the Bengals, Cincinnati would certainly fall many steps behind in an already uber-competitive AFC North.
