The Cincinnati Bengals have gone all in for Joe Burrow this offseason, re-signing Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term contracts.
Cincinnati committed nearly 40 percent of its salary cap to the quarterback-wide receiver trio — the highest percentage in the NFL. But will it pay off in 2025?
In The Athletic’s 2025 AFC North preview, the Bengals are listed at No. 2 behind the Baltimore Ravens, and ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns.
With Burrow fully healthy after battling injuries the past two years, Cincinnati has legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. The offensive line remains a question — especially on the interior — but the addition of 2024 first-round tackle Amarius Mims opposite Orlando Brown Jr. gives Burrow two bookends capable of keeping him upright.
If Chase Brown continues his rise at running back and veteran tight end Mike Gesicki complements the passing attack, this offense could rival Kansas City and San Francisco as the league’s best.
A Defensive Reset
For all of the Bengals’ offensive fireworks, last season exposed the defense; it simply wasn’t good enough.
Despite Burrow posting MVP-caliber numbers, Cincinnati fell short because Lou Anarumo’s unit regressed to the bottom tier of the league. Head coach Zac Taylor responded by making a bold move — firing Anarumo and hiring Al Golden from Notre Dame to reshape the defense.
“The defense will count on leaps from nine top-100 picks in the rotation who are currently on rookie deals,” Paul Dehner Jr. wrote. A slight improvement might be enough to make the Bengals a Super Bowl threat because the offense could be the best in the game. They return Burrow, Chase, Higgins, breakout running back Chase Brown, tight end Mike Gesicki and bookend tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and 2024 first-round pick Amarius Mims. Barring injury, it’s hard to see a world in which this offense doesn’t rank somewhere in the top five. They’ll need to keep Burrow upright despite questions on the interior offensive line, but the franchise quarterback and his elite weaponry are positioned to make up for the defensive deficiencies.”
The good news? With Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, the Bengals don’t need an elite defense. They just need one that can get key stops and avoid back-breaking breakdowns.
Bengals’ 2025 Season Outlook
Ranked No. 2 in the preseason power rankings with a projected record of 11-6, Cincinnati is expected to challenge for the AFC crown. Few teams can match the offensive firepower they bring, and in a quarterback-driven league, that gives them a weekly advantage.
Still, questions remain. Can Golden coax improvement out of a young, inconsistent defense? Can the offensive line hold up when it matters most? And perhaps most importantly, can Burrow stay healthy for a full season?
The Bengals went big on Burrow and his weapons, and it’s hard to blame them. They have the talent, the continuity, and the quarterback to be one of the NFL’s best. Whether that finally translates to breaking through the AFC logjam depends on how quickly their revamped defense comes together.
For now, Cincinnati is positioned as a legitimate Super Bowl threat — and anything less than a deep playoff run will feel like failure.
Bengals Receive Surprise Ranking In AFC North Preview