The Cincinnati Bengals might have lost their chances to be in the playoffs this season, but the team is still adamant about continuing with Joe Burrow. While the QB made his thoughts clear about the speculations surrounding the chances of him being traded, Ian Rapoport stepped forward to unveil how the front office reacted to it. The Insider’s revelation added a new dynamic to the overall situation, predicting a sense of aggression from the ownership.

“My understanding of Burrow’s statements, first of all, right now they have to basically, in his mind, play perfect to win,” Ian Rapoport said on RapSheet. “And that has not happened. This is putting a little pressure on the front office and ownership to be aggressive this offseason.” 

The NFL offseason has seen an unusual uptick in speculation about Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow’s future. This came following a comment that hinted at uncertainty about his long-term path. After an injury-prone and disappointing season, Burrow was asked whether he could see himself playing for another team.

Despite immediately dismissing the idea for 2026, saying he “can’t see that, no”, the QB followed it with an ambiguous line, “you think about a lot of things. Crazy things happen every year.” However, an actual trade remains extremely unlikely when viewed from a logistical perspective. Burrow is signed to a long-term extension through 2029, which includes a no-trade clause, meaning he would have to consent to any trade.

Any potential deal for a franchise quarterback of his caliber would require hefty draft compensation and mutual willingness to part ways.

Reports unveil a shocking deal offered to Joe Burrow

A new report has revealed that the Miami Dolphins once offered a massive deal to the Cincinnati Bengals to get quarterback Joe Burrow, but the Bengals refused to even talk about it. According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Dolphins were willing to give up FOUR first-round draft picks to move up and get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, which was used to select Burrow.

The Dolphins had several first-round picks at the time, thanks to trades they made before 2020, and they hoped this haul would be enough for Cincinnati to make the deal. But the Bengals stayed committed to Burrow and did not even start trade talks.

Since then, Burrow has become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He led Cincinnati to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2021 season and an AFC Championship in 2022, proving that keeping him was the right decision. Meanwhile, the Dolphins drafted Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5 and are now benching him during the 2025 season as they struggle with a 6-8 record. After a turbulent season, it remains to be seen if the Bengals’ faith in their quarterback will waver.