Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals had a disappointing season as they finished with a 6-11 record. It marked their worst since Burrow’s rookie season when he missed the second half of the season after he suffered a torn ACL. This year was similar for the Bengals. Burrow once again missed most of the season, this time after suffering a turf toe injury.
Things got off to a rocky start once Burrow returned from injury. After a win in his first game back, the Bengals lost their next two games which effectively knocked them out of playoff contention. After one of those losses, Burrow made headlines, as he said, “If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it. I’ve been through a lot, and if it’s not fun, what am I doing it for? That’s the mindset I’m trying to bring to the table.”
Those comments instantly sparked a debate about whether Burrow wanted to leave Cincinnati in a potential trade. ESPN’s Adam Schefter did not calm down speculation as he spoke about hypothetical packages the Bengals could get for Burrow. Former wide receiver Andrew Hawkins also said, “If you’re able to get a king’s ransom, I don’t think it’s zero percent.”
Vikings Potentially Trading for Joe Burrow
A popular trade destination for Joe Burrow has been the Minnesota Vikings. A potential trade would reunite Burrow with his other LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The Vikings already possess one of the NFL’s top defenses, but struggled to replace Sam Darnold, who left in free agency prior to the 2025 season. They currently have former first-round pick JJ McCarthy as the team’s starter, but after an underwhelming season, the team may explore other options like Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Fortunately for Bengals fans, it seems Burrow is not going anywhere anytime soon. Bengals insider James Rapien shut the rumors down as he posted on X, “I’m more likely to play for the Vikings in 2026 than Joe Burrow.”
Burrow being involved in trade talks is nothing new for Cincinnati. It has been the case since before he was drafted. Prior to the 2020 NFL Draft, the Bengals held the No. 1 overall pick, the Miami Dolphins tried acquiring that pick, and offered to trade four first-round picks in exchange for the chance of selecting Joe Burrow. The Dolphins had three first-round picks in that year’s draft, but Cincinnati did not accept the offer. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said regarding that possible trade, “The Bengals declined to even engage in discussions and shut down the trade inquiry before it could gain any traction, according to sources.”
For the Bengals, nothing has changed since then. Joe Burrow is their franchise quarterback and they will not engage in discussions to trade him.
Cincinnati Bengals 2026 Outlook
Aside from injuries, the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense was not the problem in the 2025 season. They had the third-worst scoring defense, which required near perfection from their offense in order to compete in games. With Cincinnati giving out extensions to Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, their offensive playmakers are set in the passing game.
Currently, they possess the No. 10 overall selection in the upcoming NFL Draft, and everything seems to suggest the Bengals will try to improve their defense with that selection. Their recent history drafting defense has been murky, as they have taken a defender in the first-round in three of the last four drafts.However, that has not changed the course of their defense.
Bengals Insider Gives Strong Take on Joe Burrow Amid Vikings Speculation