As the 2025 NFL season approaches, Joe Burrow remains one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league, having led in both passing yards and touchdowns last year. Despite Burrow’s exceptional skill, the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to maintain playoff success, raising serious concerns about their ability to support him with a competitive roster.
These concerns have intensified during the ongoing contract dispute with defensive end Trey Hendrickson, spotlighting the Bengals’ broader roster challenges. The team’s inability to return to the playoffs since their Super Bowl and <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/afc/”>AFC Championship appearances in 2021 and 2022 has prompted analysts to question the franchise’s roster management as it relates to maximizing Burrow’s potential.
Louis Riddick Highlights the Team’s Failure to Capitalize on Burrow’s Talent
During ESPN’s Get Up show, analyst Louis Riddick expressed his belief that the Bengals are not properly leveraging Joe Burrow’s elite talent due to poor team construction. Riddick emphasized that reaching the Super Bowl and competing at that level requires a complete team effort, and blaming Burrow alone for Cincinnati’s shortcomings would be misguided.
Riddick praised Burrow as a top-tier quarterback, noting his advanced metrics and overall impact on the field. He said,
“As measured by getting to Super Bowls and being true Super Bowl contenders, of course, they are (wasting the talent of Burrow),”
highlighting how important surrounding the quarterback with the right support is to long-term success.
He continued,
“And as much as we want to pin Cincinnati’s shortcomings on the quarterback, on Joe Burrow, like we do with every franchise when a team doesn’t ultimately make it to the promised land and win it, we blame it on the quarterback. We know that this isn’t the case here.”
Riddick further praised Burrow’s overall ability:
“The kid does everything, the young man does everything that he possibly can. He’s a top two, top three most talented thrower in the league. If you kind of measure him on all, by every measure that you can, as far as using advanced metrics, Joe Burrow is that guy.”
Historic Achievements Contrasted With Team Struggles
Last season, Burrow, along with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and defensive end Trey Hendrickson, made NFL history by leading the league in passing, receiving, and sacks respectively. Despite this impressive individual success, the Bengals started the season poorly with a 1-4 record and ultimately finished 9-8, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
Concerns Grow Over Bengals’ Roster Construction and Future Outlook
Louis Riddick warns that the Bengals may come to regret failing to build a roster capable of sustaining deep playoff runs behind Burrow.
“There’s no doubt that the organization right now is failing to build a strong 53-man roster that can compete with the elite teams in the NFL,”
Riddick said.
“It’s just as simple as that. And you’re going to wind up regretting it when it’s all said and done, I’m afraid.”
His comments pointed especially to the team’s defensive side and the ongoing contract disputes that risk further weakening the roster’s core.
“If they don’t get this defense rolling along and getting their premium players to sign the contracts, not being engaged in long, protracted contract holdouts, that’s the kind of thing that you wind up having these kinds of discussions about,”
Riddick noted.
Playoff Prospects Dim Without Roster Improvements
Looking ahead to 2025, experts predict the Bengals will struggle to win more than 10 games. The possibility of losing Hendrickson due to contract issues only compounds the challenge of restoring the team’s playoff viability. Without addressing these pivotal roster concerns, Cincinnati’s opportunity to capitalize on Joe Burrow’s brilliance appears increasingly fragile.