The Cincinnati Bengals have now missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, marking a significant downturn after their recent success that included a Super Bowl appearance and multiple <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/afc/”>AFC Championship appearances. While the first missed opportunity can be partly linked to Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury, last season’s failure was largely due to a defense that allowed too many points despite Burrow and the offense maintaining strong performances.
This ongoing defensive weakness poses a serious challenge for Burrow as he approaches his sixth NFL season. At 29 years old, entering his prime but with a history of injuries, Burrow’s future is far less certain than veteran quarterbacks like Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers. Cincinnati risks squandering the best years of its star quarterback behind a porous defense.
Joe Burrow’s Role in Shaping the Roster Priorities
Analyst Ryan Clark argues that some responsibility for the Bengals’ roster construction rests with Burrow himself. As the franchise’s face and a proven elite player when healthy, Burrow holds significant influence over personnel decisions, particularly on offense. This influence reportedly helped determine the Bengals’ financial commitments, including the expensive extension given to wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Higgins is capable of serving as a top receiver on many teams, justifying a premium contract. Alongside Ja’Marr Chase, who is also highly paid, these deals have consumed a large portion of Cincinnati’s salary cap. The priority to surround Burrow with a strong receiving corps came at the expense of allocating resources to strengthen the defense.
“They are absolutely wasting him, but it’s partly Joe Burrow’s fault as well. Joe Burrow earned the right to say what he wants to have on this team, and he wanted both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. But when you pay Tee Higgins like a 1B, it’s gonna be difficult to get players that can right now affect the way you play on defense.” —Ryan Clark, Analyst
Criticism of the Bengals’ Defensive Approach and Spending Model
Stephen A. Smith voiced strong criticism of the franchise, arguing that the Bengals are indeed wasting Joe Burrow’s prime years but placing the blame mostly on team management. Smith emphasized that unlike the Chiefs, who have combined star offense with a strong defense, the Bengals have failed even to build an average defensive unit capable of supporting Burrow’s talents.
Smith pointed out that Burrow doesn’t require a top-tier defense to succeed; an average defense able to hold opponents would suffice. However, Cincinnati continues to underperform in this regard, which he believes threatens their championship hopes.
Moreover, the Bengals’ financial choices contribute significantly to their defensive struggles. Burrow is now the highest-paid player on the team, Chase commands the most lucrative wide receiver contract in the league, and Higgins is paid at a rate usually reserved for a WR1, rather than a WR2. This salary structure leaves little cap space to improve other areas of the roster, especially on defense.
In contrast, the Philadelphia Eagles have demonstrated a different approach by asking some key players to accept reduced salaries, signing impactful free agents on short-term deals, and relying on rookies to contribute. The Bengals, however, face an uphill battle due to their conservative financial strategies, which include avoiding heavy guaranteed contracts and limiting flexible cap hits.
The Financial Impact of the Higgins and Chase Contracts on Defensive Reinforcement
The high cost of retaining both Higgins and Chase restricts the Bengals’ ability to invest in essential defensive reinforcements or extend key defensive players such as Trey Hendrickson. Analysts note that even minor reductions in salary demands—such as Burrow and Chase taking $5 million less each, or Higgins accepting a WR2 level contract—could have allowed Cincinnati to preserve enough cap space to bolster its defense meaningfully.
This lack of defensive investment means the Bengals will once again rely heavily on rookies and unproven professionals on defense if they hope to return to the playoffs. Without significant changes in either contract strategy or player development, the franchise’s Super Bowl window may continue to close.