The Cincinnati Bengals and franchise quarterback Joe Burrow seem to be at a crossroads about where the organization stands. The last three seasons of missing the playoffs are magnified when you consider what Burrow has endured, both physically and mentally, coupled with the failures of a roster that isn’t good enough. Entering 2026 and the offseason, the front office can’t continue down this road and remain status quo. They must think outside the box after it was reported this week by Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic that head coach Zac Taylor is signed through 2027 and will likely be retained, along with Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin. Burrow will certainly have input on where to go from here, but, in the meantime, here are three ways the Brown and Blackburn families can help their star moving forward.
3 Ways the Bengals Can Help Joe Burrow Moving Forward
Scout Master
It’s no secret in league circles that Cincinnati operates with the smallest scouting staff in the NFL. Tobin is the de facto General Manager without the title and relies on several assistant GMs, including Trey Brown, Mike Potts, and Steven Radicevic. The team also only employs one scout and one scouting research analyst. This pales in comparison to their divisional counterparts by a wide margin. Having more eyes on players across the country is never a bad thing, and cross-referencing is likely difficult with fewer personnel. This is an area the Bengals could improve to modernize their standing and also help Burrow by adding better players that fit the roster.
Draft Woes
Scouting and drafting are intertwined; let’s discuss how poorly Tobin and his staff have done the last four seasons, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Since 2022, the Bengals have spent 10 Top-100 picks on defense, tied for the most in the NFL over that span (Eagles, Cardinals), with an unprecedented seven out of eight draft selections being in the first and second rounds. This is devastating in replenishing a roster in the prime of Burrow’s career when it’s built the way the Bengals prefer. Hitting on the draft is paramount in 2026 and beyond as it’s the lifeblood of a small-market.
Free Agency Failures
The quickest way to improve a team is often to bring in quality players via free agency, and the Bengals have consistently failed to do so since their inception. Ownership would be wise to take a page from 2020 & 2021, when the team signed Vonn Bell, D.J. Reader, and Trey Hendrickson en route to Super Bowl LVI and the AFC Championship Game the following year. Burrow is smart and knows where the Bengals can make the most of their opportunities to get back to the top of the division and the entire AFC. It’s time for his voice to be heard loud and clear.
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