Have they done enough?
I was listening to someone—on TV or the radio—talk about how the Cincinnati Bengals are stuck in “owner purgatory,” doomed to fall short because their front office will always hold them back, no matter who the quarterback or coach is.
I don’t know if I fully buy that. I absolutely believe the Bengals can win a Lombardi Trophy, and I think they will—with Joe Burrow under center. But I do agree that this franchise is always fighting an uphill battle because of the lack of front office leadership from Mike Brown and Katie Blackburn.
Coming off a disappointing 9-8 season—despite Burrow putting up MVP-level numbers and Ja’Marr Chase winning the Triple Crown—I don’t think the front office approached 2025 with an “all in” mindset.
They’ve done well ensuring Chase and Tee Higgins will be in Cincinnati for years to come. But beyond that? They signed Lucas Patrick, a journeyman interior lineman. They added a few familiar pieces—a rotational linebacker, a nose tackle, a running back who knows the system—and brought back some of their own guys. Plus six draft picks.
Is that enough? Is Lucas Patrick and a rookie or two enough to feel confident the Bengals won’t struggle at guard again in 2025?
You can ask that same question across the roster. Did they do enough on the defensive line to convince you it’ll be better than last year? Did they upgrade enough at linebacker? In the secondary? Running back? Anywhere outside of quarterback and wide receiver?
Did they do enough to make you believe they’re really chasing a Super Bowl?
To me, the answer is no.
I still see free agents out there who would make this team better, but I know they won’t be signed—at least not in Cincinnati. You’d think the front office would do everything in its power to avoid another 2024-style letdown, or you’d think a team with this quarterback and weapons would spare no expense to win their first Super Bowl.
Most teams would give anything to have a quarterback like Joe Burrow, and here the Bengals sit, with gold at the most important position in sports, choosing to protect him with some combination of Ford, Patrick, Volson, and a rookie? Hopefully, it works, but should they bank their hopes on “hopefully?”
That’s not my definition of “all in.” But maybe that’s just me.
So I’m asking you—did the Bengals do enough to show you they’re truly behind Burrow and this team in their quest for a championship? Or are they once again leaving far too much to chance?
Because last year showed us something: half measures can have whole consequences.
I’d love to experience just one offseason where it feels like they went all in. If this isn’t the roster to go all in on, I guess I don’t know what is.
But everybody is going through the motions
Everybody is going through the motions
Are you really only going through the motions?
