The Cincinnati Bengals looked like a franchise on the rise after making the Super Bowl in the 2021 season. The following season, they made it to the AFC Championship, but narrowly lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Instead of taking another step forward, the franchise has seemingly taken multiple steps backward. They missed the playoffs in 2023 and 2024, and now it looks like they’ll miss them in 2025. Quarterback Joe Burrow continues to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL when healthy, but he appears to be at his wits’ end.
He recently suggested that he could foresee an early retirement if he stopped having fun playing football. Well, it’s hard to imagine he’s having a lot of fun missing the playoffs every season in Cincinnati. This led to ESPN’s Dan Arlovsky suggesting that three teams in the NFL need to start putting together a trade offer for Burrown right now.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of similarities here to Andrew Luck,” Orlovsky said on “UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio.” “It would shock me if three teams weren’t on the phone today, after what [Burrow] said yesterday, figuring out how do we make him part of our football team. Now, three months from now, six months from now, a year from now. He obviously is in a bad place with that organization.
“If I were those three organizations [Jets, Raiders, Steelers], I’m in a brainstorm meeting now, we are figuring out a way to propose a way to get Joe Burrow. And I don’t necessarily care what it takes.”
Are Raiders a Fit for Burrow?
Once upon a time, the Raiders traded for a disgruntled Bengals quarterback who decided to retire instead of playing for the team. That quarterback was Carson Palmer, and the Raiders gave up a first and second-round pick to get him.
That trade didn’t end up working out for the franchise, but Burrow is a better quarterback. There are times when he’s arguably the best quarterback in football.
The Raiders would kill to have a player like that leading the franchise. Even though the team is in a rebuild, they would jump at the chance to add Burrow. Minority owner Tom Brady has a good relationship with Burrow, and that could help convince him that Las Vegas is a good landing spot. That said, is it even possible?
Burrow Would Cost Legendary Haul
Burrow just turned 29, and teams don’t trade superstar quarterbacks in their 20s unless they have no choice. The Bengals are also notoriously unaccommodating to players who ask for a trade. Just ask Trey Hendrickson.
To convince Cincinnati to make a trade, it’s going to cost perhaps the greatest haul in NFL history. The price starts at three first-round picks, which is the most a team can trade at once. The Raiders might also have to add a young star like Maxx Crosby, Ashton Jeanty or Brock Bowers to sweeten the pot. The problem with that is the Raiders can’t afford to give up that kind of talent.
While Burrow would be an incredible addition for the Raiders, they might not be in a position to give up so many assets when their roster has other needs.
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