The morning air buzzed with the promise of a new era as rookies stepped onto the Bengals’ practice field—wide-eyed, anxious, and eager to prove their worth. But two notable absences didn’t go unnoticed. Helmets on, cleats tied, but still sidelined, the Bengals’ top picks stood on the grass as spectators. Not due to injury, not by choice—contracts weren’t inked. And just like that, the excitement of rookie camp turned into an unexpected spotlight on ownership and what could be a costly offseason misstep.

Not long ago, moving from the NFL to college ranks was often viewed as a demotion—fewer lights, lower stakes. But that narrative has flipped. The college game now comes with million-dollar coaching salaries and NIL deals rivaling pro contracts. When Bill Belichick jumped to North Carolina with a $10 million price tag, it signaled the shift in power. And the Bengals have just felt that ripple effect in a big way—with a key departure that may hit Joe Burrow’s Super Bowl ambitions harder than expected.

The loss? Christian Sarkisian, the Bengals’ highly respected scout, is heading back to his roots. A native of Winnetka, Illinois and a Northwestern alum, Sarkisian is joining the school’s athletic department as general manager. ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news on May 12, revealing Sarkisian will oversee all aspects of Northwestern’s athletic salary cap, with an emphasis on football—a massive role in this new NIL era.

Sarkisian spent seven years with the Bengals, embedded in their player evaluation and college scouting departments. Working closely with the director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, he helped shape every draft class of the Joe Burrow era. His departure doesn’t just leave a hole—it takes away a key voice in the war room and a trusted evaluator behind some of Cincinnati’s most critical decisions.

“Christian is Northwestern all the way. Bleeds purple and whatever else it is,” Bengals senior assistant Mark Duffner once told Bengals.com. “He’s very thorough. Very direct. He gives you the information you need.”

From scouting campuses across the country to maintaining constant coordination between departments, Sarkisian’s work ethic was deeply embedded in the Bengals’ process. His own scouting mantra? “Communication. That’s the biggest thing. Everybody has to be talking to each other and we do a good job with that,” he once said. But while the front office adjusts to his absence, the field has its own drama brewing.

Rookies expose Bengals owner

When minicamp opened, all eyes should’ve been on the new talent. Instead, they were glued to the sidelines—where first-round pick Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M) and linebacker Demetrius Knight (South Carolina) watched from the sidelines in full gear but not taking part. The reason: still unsigned contracts. One, an issue over bonuses. The other, a more serious concern about the language used in the contract over injury protection.

While the Bengals recently handed their wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins record extensions, owner Mike Brown has yet to finalize deals for his top two rookies. It’s a stark contrast in priorities—and it’s put the spotlight on Cincinnati’s often-criticized approach to rookie contracts.

“They’re just working through their contracts right now,” head coach Zac Taylor said, visibly trying to downplay the situation. Asked whether they’d join the veterans soon, he shrugged off any promises: “We’ll see. I’m not going to make any predictions on where that ends up, but they’ve had a great attitude, and I’m excited about both those guys.”

Still, this is a franchise led by Joe Burrow, and his influence casts a long shadow. While this contract drama unfolds, Burrow was seen at his 3rd Annual Golf Invitational, raising funds for his foundation—another reminder of his commitment both on and off the field.

As the Bengals gear up for a pivotal season, they’ll need more than just talent to compete. Losing a top scout and stumbling on rookie contracts isn’t the ideal start. But if there’s one thing Cincinnati has shown in the Burrow era, it’s resilience. Still, between front office shifts and contract holdouts, this offseason has already revealed cracks that could widen fast if not addressed.