‘That’s of paramount importance’ — Joe Burrow confirms what he wants to see the Bengals act on in the offseason
Joe Burrow is counting on the Bengals to fill their roster holes with quality free agents.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow isn’t looking for new coaches, new scouts, or an actual general manager to take over the club’s operations. He’s looking for new veteran teammates.
Burrow’s final press conference of the 2025 season, following Sunday’s 20-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns, featured a question about the importance of Cincinnati addressing its roster holes in free agency. The 29-year-old QB didn’t mince his words with his answer.
“That’s of paramount importance,” Burrow said. “I think you have to identify where you’re weak, and figure out a way to be strong in that area. That’s the NFL year in and year out. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, but you have to attack that period with intent to get better.”
“Paramount importance” sounds more like a priority rather than a suggestion. Cincinnati ended the regular season with two wins in its final three games, but major roster holes exist at safety, linebacker, along the defensive line, and spots that could use depth for an elite offense.
Burrow let it be known Sunday he wants the Bengals to eliminate these holes in March, when the bulk of free agency takes place, and his words didn’t come out of nowhere.
Joe Burrow reaffirms his offseason expectations for Bengals
This is an exclamation point from Burrow, who has previously alluded to the Bengals needing to dive further in the free agency waters in 2026. When asked after playoff elimination abruptly arrived in Week 15 about the idea of head coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin maintaining their roles, Burrow backed the people in the building but expressed a desire for them to change what they’ve been doing in recent years.
“That’s not to say that changes don’t need to be made,” Burrow said. “Not saying personnel or people, I’m just saying what we’ve been doing hasn’t worked the last couple years. So now we have to think outside the box and get creative about where we go from here.”
Burrow took it a step further two weeks later, despite emerging victorious in the two games played after his initial statement.
“We want to be competing for championships every year,” Burrow said. “We don’t want to be in the spot that we’re in now, so something’s got to change. Whether it’s players that we have continuing to improve and get better and playing championship caliber football, or bringing guys in that will, or whatever it may be. Obviously something has to [change].”
Burrow’s most recent remark from Sunday leaves no room for interpretation. He wants the Cincinnati roster to look better following the busy period of free agency, and why wouldn’t he? The Bengals aren’t looking to make significant coaching changes, and the individuals responsible for building the roster aren’t going anywhere.
Something has to change, and an NFL Draft class won’t be enough despite a top-10 pick now coming down the pipe.
Burrow watched Cincinnati bring in a plethora of impactful free agents before he was drafted in 2020, and leading up to the playoff runs from 2021-22. The hits have been far and few between since then, but the swings have decreased as well.
This was especially the case last year when running back Samaje Perine, nose tackle T.J. Slaton Jr., and linebacker Oren Burks were the notable veteran signings the Bengals made in the opening week of free agency, while the front office exerted most of its energy extending the contracts of wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Paying Chase and Higgins was among Burrow’s top priorities last year. He spent weeks campaigning for those checks to be written, knowing it was possible. Nothing is getting in the way of Cincinnati answering Burrow’s latest call to action.
How big is getting it, and the offseason as a whole, right?
“As big as it gets,” Burrow said.
It all begins now.
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