The Cincinnati Bengals are in the middle of a disappointing 2025 season, but their blowout win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 16 gives the Bengals some confidence moving forward.
That win also quelled some of the negative feelings that franchise quarterback Joe Burrow has been feeling lately. But those negative feelings have opened the door for some interesting rumors to surface.
According to NFL insider for CBS Sports Jonathan Jones, the Bengals are expected to draw significant trade interest in Burrow this offseason. Regardless of the trade odds, teams are circling the Bengals for a potential blockbuster trade.
NFL teams eyeing Bengals’ Joe Burrow in trade talks
“Sources from multiple teams tell CBS Sports they anticipate several teams will attempt a pursuit of trading for Burrow in the offseason,” Jones reports.
A trade of Burrow doesn’t seem very likely, regardless of how things stand for the Bengals. It would effectively end this era of Bengals football and be the final straw for many in the organization.
While Burrow has expressed his frustration with the current status of the team, and his concerning comments brought about these trade rumors, the Bengals are not likely to get rid of their franchise quarterback.
Even if a team offered a massive haul of players and draft picks, the Bengals aren’t likely to move on from Burrow, as finding a franchise quarterback is the end goal for any front office and team.
The Bengals don’t want to trade him, nor does Burrow want to be traded by the Bengals. This report from Jones is only introducing the potential for talks this offseason.
More: Bengals fans won’t like latest update on Zac Taylor, job status going into 2026 season
Just as there is trade speculation about Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, these rumors aren’t likely to come to fruition.
The package the Bengals would ask for in return, if they even entertained trade talks, would make trading for Burrow incredibly difficult on its own.
Then, the question would become, would the Bengals actually accept that trade? And Burrow, with plenty of his own leverage, might try his best to nix any trade.
A Burrow trade is incredibly unlikely, no matter how many teams enter trade talks for Burrow this offseason.
This rumor might be concerning for some Bengals fans, but those fans can rest easy, as the chances of Burrow actually being dealt are essentially zero. Nothing can ever be ruled out, but a Burrow trade would be the most shocking outcome this offseason for any team.
