Executives share warnings for NFL about Joe Burrow after Bengals' offseason moves

Following the Cincinnati Bengals' attempts to bolster their defense this offseason, quarterback Joe Burrow has made it known that he feels the Bengals "have everything we need" and have assembled "the most talented roster that we've had since" Cincinnati made him the first overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. 

Burrow isn't the only one who believes the Bengals are on track to enjoy a bounce-back season after they finished the 2025 campaign with a record of 6-11. 

Is Joe Burrow destined to have a monster 2026 season?

"The last time they had a defense, he almost went to the Super Bowl," one unnamed general manager said about Burrow and the Bengals during a recent chat with NFL insider Jason La Canfora of FanSided. "And the year before, they probably should have won the Super Bowl. There’s no reason for him not to have a huge year." 

The Bengals suffered a 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. The following January, Burrow and Co. fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. 

Since that time, the Bengals have missed the playoffs over each of the past three seasons. A Cincinnati front office that may or may not be worried about where Burrow could want to play home games in the future responded to the club's letdown of a 2025 campaign by acquiring key contributors such as safety Bryan Cook, safety Kyle Dugger, edge-rusher Boye Mafe and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. 

Perhaps most notably, the Bengals sent the New York Giants the 10th overall pick of the 2026 draft to land defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II in April. 

Different GM shares warning for NFL about 2026 Bengals

"I love their offseason," a different general manager told La Canfora about the Bengals. "They might be the team to beat in the AFC." 

A serious toe issue caused Burrow to miss nine games during the 2025 season. His 2023 campaign ended prematurely because of a wrist injury, and he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in November of his rookie season.

That said, La Canfora noted that Burrow is now "in full health with arguably the best cast around him he’s ever had." That reality seems to be making opposing teams nervous about what Burrow could accomplish through January or even February of 2027.