Quarterback Joe Burrow is making “urgency” a popular word for the Cincinnati Bengals this year. It’s not by accident.

Burrow is bringing the pressure to Cincinnati. He wants it, and is not mincing his words about it. He compared his feelings about this year’s squad to the esteemed 2019 LSU team he led to a national championship. He’s already placed Super Bowl expectations on the franchise after commending the roster-building work done in the offseason.

This confidence is based on more than just a feeling. Burrow identified a newfound strength of the roster, and it could be the difference in proving his expectations correct.

No more top-heavy roster around Joe Burrow

The impact of a successful offseason can be felt long before training camp begins. Following the conclusion of the offseason workout program, Burrow noted how strong he views the roster from top-to-bottom.

“We have everything we need,” Burrow said Wednesday during his final press conference before training camp. “We’re deep at just about every single position on the team. We’ve talked in the locker room this year about, you know, years past, you wonder who’s going to make the team. It was top-heavy, and you wonder about the bottom guys, and this year it’s guys that were once that top level that were, you know, they’re on the team for sure, now there’s a lot of competition at those spots on the 53, 54, 55, at the end of that list.

“This is the first year that is really the case, in my opinion.”

It’s an opinion many would back. The Bengals watched last year’s team falter after putting all their eggs in the basket of Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Trey Hendrickson, and Tee Higgins carrying them to glory. Burrow and Hendrickson missed significant time, and the rest of the roster couldn’t pick up the slack.

The roster doesn’t have that look to it anymore. There’s significantly better depth at both offensive and defensive line. Players who filled out the bottom of last year’s depth chart will have a harder time finding a spot this time around.

“It’s an exciting place to be when you have too many good players,” Burrow said. “So that’s our job to try to find a way to make this a cohesive unit, and trust and build those relationships, so we can go out and execute.”

Impact on 2026 draft class

A deeper and more balanced roster means reliance on rookies will decrease. Cincy used four of its seven draft picks on offense. Connor Lew and Colbie Young were picked in the fourth round. Brian Parker II came in the sixth round. Jack Endries fell to the seventh round.

They represent the notable additions to the offense, and none of them need to make an impact immediately. That gets the Burrow stamp of approval.

“We don’t have any young guys, any new guys coming in that we really need to count on,” Burrow said. “The guys that are young that come in and produce and perform, that’s just kind of icing on cake for us this point. It’ll certainly be hard for those guys to find a role this year, considering how deep we are, but I’m excited to see who will and who will help us. I think there certainly are some guys that will be able to.”

Allowing rookies to develop behind the scenes without being thrusted into major roles early on is generally a recipe for success. Not every first-year player is Ja’Marr Chase. The rookies of this class certaintly don’t have to be.

Lew and Parker are emergency depth along the offensive line. Endries and Young are buried underneath an already strong pass-catching corps. Those above them have already helped them along.

Cincinnati’s entire draft class, including rookie defenders Tacario Davis, Cashius Howell, and Landon Robinson, will be fighting for snaps. The trickle down effect involves the “bottom” of the roster being comprised of players who had to earn their roster spots more than in previous seasons. The result of better players filling out oft-forgotten roles is not lost on Burrow.

“That’s so important,” Burrow said “You see every year, you know, there’s a big play on special teams that sways the game a certain way. You saw several games in the playoffs where somebody knocks the ball out on special teams, somebody muffs a punt on special teams.

“You have guys that can make plays in those spots, it’s a game changer.”

Burrow and the Bengals will be looking for those game-changers when training camp starts on July 29. The search will just be a little easier this time around.