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Main Image: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Bengals’ Inability to Draft and Develop Has Closed the Super Bowl Window

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Drew Crabtree | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 8:00 AM ET

After Joe Burrow went down with what looks to be a season-ending injury, the Cincinnati Bengals were thoroughly embarrassed by the Minnesota Vikings. Then, they went out and gave one of the most uninspiring performances on Monday Night Football, reminiscent of the Dark Ages of Bengals football. Cincinnati actually had a solid opening drive on offense, leading to a field goal. Then, the defense buckled down and forced a three-and-out.

Looking at the box score, you’d never know.

There was a healthy amount of copium after the Burrow injury. In 2023, Jake Browning came in and kept the season afloat to finish 9-8. There were good times and there were bad, as you’d expect from a career backup quarterback. So, with Burrow’s injury and subsequent victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2, some thought Browning could salvage the 2025 season.

Two games later, it’s time to take a good, hard look in the mirror. Just like last year, the only people the Bengals have to blame for this is the Bengals. Burrow noted a few years ago that the Bengals’ Super Bowl window is open as long as he’s playing.

Well, it’s obvious that that window has been shut, boarded up, and condemned as unsafe for human habitation.

The Bengals’ Inability to Draft and Develop Has Closed the Super Bowl Window

No, the Bengals were not going to the Super Bowl with Browning at quarterback. The issues on this team run deep, so not even a fully healthy Burrow could have done it either.

Drafting Issues

In the Burrow era, the Bengals have drafted incredibly poorly. The 2020 draft was solid with Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Logan Wilson in the first three rounds. Akeem Davis-Gaither was a decent role player, and Hakeem Adeniji ended up starting a handful of games, including the Super Bowl.

The 2021 class was a mess. Ja’Marr Chase was a no-brainer pick at fifth overall (if they pick Penei Sewell, who is a monster, they don’t make the Super Bowl, so stop it). Of the 10-man class, only Chase, Joseph Ossai, Cam Sample, and Evan McPherson remain on the roster.

The 2022 haul was alright, but it has aged poorly. Dax Hill is a good player…but the Bengals had no idea how to use him when healthy. Cam Taylor-Britt had flashes but is now a liability. Cordell Volson was a starter for three years, but was the worst guard tandem last year and was immediately supplanted by a rookie this year.

It could be argued that the 2023 class was the beginning of the end. Seven of the eight picks are still on the roster, but only Chase Brown has been a playmaker. Myles Murphy was always a project and hasn’t panned out. DJ Turner has had flashes, but nothing sustained. Jordan Battle has been hyped as the next big thing at safety, but hasn’t developed. Charlie Jones is just a returner. Andrei Iosivas was beginning to look like he was going to be WR3. He still could be, but he needs a quarterback to throw the ball.

Myles Murphy, Kris Jenkins, Joseph Ossai, and Cam Sample combined for 43 pass rushes and 0 wins in the first half vs. the Broncos, per PFF initial charting.

The Bengals recent DL picks have been incapable pass rushers since entering the NFL.

Kills their defenses every year.

— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) September 30, 2025

The 2024 class was interesting. Amarius Mims is still the starting right tackle and has shown flashes of greatness, but he has battled injuries, just like in college. The biggest issue of the class is Jermaine Burton. What is he? Last year, he was so embattled that he was effectively a non-factor. This year? He’s been a healthy scratch all four weeks in favor of undrafted journeyman Mitchell Tinsley.

The 2025 class could be what helps keep the team afloat, even marginally. Shemar Stewart, despite not recording much by way of counting stats, has made an impact. Once he returns from injury, he should be able to break out. The MNF game featured both guards from this class, Dylan Fairchild and Jalen Rivers. Demetrius Knight has looked like a rookie, but he’s made a few plays, like the impressive interception in the endzone.

Is It Coaching?

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor shouts to a referee in the second quarter of the NFL Week 4 Monday Night Football game between the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.

With another wasted season, the ire will be directed at the coaching staff. Considering the resources and elite talent at quarterback and receiver, it only makes sense. Is Zac Taylor holding the team back?

Short answer: yes.

Long answer: it’s not all him.

It’s not unlike the Bengals’ neighbors, the Cincinnati Reds. Terry Francona is a Hall of Fame manager, but he’s handcuffed by a front office that refuses to make a concerted effort to win. He’s turned a 70-win roster into a playoff team.

Taylor isn’t Francona, but he’s in a similar situation.

Much of the criticism has been directed at how the Bengals have utilized their cap space. Burrow, Chase, Higgins, and Hendrickson take up a significant amount of space. That will put a real strain on what the team can do to build.

However, the Bengals aren’t the first team to pay its superstars and have to work around it. That’s why the draft exists.

The biggest issue with the Bengals’ roster is the way that it is is because the Bengals have either made the wrong picks or have been unable to develop.

Lou Anarumo is a fantastic defensive mind, but he cannot develop. The Bengals’ defenses that were veteran-laden were great, but once he needed to get something out of the youth movement, the floor fell out from under him. The Bengals defense in 2025 features 12 players picked in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft…and one is a weekly healthy scratch.

At the same time, his assistant coach hires have been rough. Jim Turner and Frank Pollack were dumpster fires as offensive line coaches.

The Bengals just cannot draft well. Remember when they took Carman after trading back? They could have had Creed Humphries. Yes, the horse is already dead, but that will haunt the Bengals for a long time.

Is There a Solution?

The current makeup and mentality of the Bengals means that, no, this is not going to change.

The Bengals are a notoriously cheap franchise. Why would they bother employing more college scouts when those same scouts cost money? Gross.

Taylor earned a decade of good graces in the eyes of the ownership with the Super Bowl loss. Despite that, if they moved on from him (they won’t), what would be the next move? A proven NFL head coach? That would cost money. Maybe they’ll elect to hire the guy who held the door open for Sean McVay at the hotel once, just as they did in 2019.

The Bengals need a mentality and culture change from the top. That’s where all of the issues lie.

Burrow likely could have carried this bottom-five roster to a winning record in 2025, just as he did in 2024. Now, we are seeing just how valuable he is. He is able to cover up the abject failure to build a competent, competitive roster. With him gone, the ugly is highlighted yet again.

Honestly, at this point, the Bengals’ best hope for the future is to continue to play poorly, battle with the likes of the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans for the first-overall pick, hope a college quarterback has an insane run over the next few months, and trade back for a haul. Then, don’t screw up the picks.

The 2025 Bengals are a mess. They are bad. This has been bubbling under the surface for a long time, thanks to the Bengals’ decisions in the drafts and in free agency.

Who knows, maybe they can get a decent pick for Trey Hendrickson because, barring a Franchise Tag (which is going to happen), Hendrickson is not coming back.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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