Joe Burrow's recent frustrations have sparked trade rumors among NFL teams, though the quarterback and his Bengals show no interest in a deal. Executives speculate on the high cost required to acquire the star, drawing comparisons to past blockbuster trades. Despite the buzz, Burrow plans to stay in Cincinnati for 2026.
Joe Burrow's comments in December have ignited speculation across the NFL about a possible trade from the Cincinnati Bengals. The 29-year-old quarterback expressed frustration with losing and not having fun playing football, following another injury comeback and the team's playoff elimination. However, Burrow has stated he plans to remain in Cincinnati in 2026 and expects to play "well and consistently great for a long time." Sources confirm the Bengals have no intention of trading him, and Burrow, who holds a no-trade clause in his five-year, $275 million extension, has said he "can't see" not being with the team next season.
Multiple NFL executives anticipate interest from several teams in the offseason. "There are probably only a handful [of teams] that wouldn't at least make an attempt," one NFC front office executive told CBS Sports. Another source familiar with the Bengals added, "They all should. But the Bengals aren't dealing him, and he doesn't want to leave."
The hypothetical price tag is steep. Executives suggest it would require at least two first-round picks, possibly three if no players are involved, with one AFC executive likening it to the 2022 Deshaun Watson trade—three first-rounders, two seconds, and a third to Houston—or even the 1999 Ricky Williams deal, where New Orleans surrendered their entire draft plus future picks. Past precedent includes the Bengals rejecting a 2020 offer from the Miami Dolphins of four first-round picks for the No. 1 selection to draft Burrow.
Burrow's situation echoes past Bengals quarterbacks like Carson Palmer, who demanded a trade after 2010 and eventually moved to Oakland. Potential suitors could include the Raiders, Browns, Jets, Dolphins, and Cardinals. Despite the chatter, elite quarterbacks rarely stay with one team lifelong; Troy Aikman was the last Hall of Famer to do so.
In a lighter note, Burrow recently gifted his offensive linemen fossils of dinosaurs, bears, and mammoths. Tackle Orlando Brown Jr. praised the gesture: "It says a lot about who he is—his personality, his heart." Center Ted Karras noted it reflects Burrow's "intelligence and interests."
