The Cincinnati Bengals have earned some mixed reviews this offseason in response to the team’s handling of free agency and especially the contract extensions for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
One underlying storyline that probably hasn’t come up enough is the idea that the Bengals don’t do extensions for both Chase and Higgins without loads of pressure from Joe Burrow.
In that way, Burrow’s actions have earned some NBA comparisons.
“It just proves that our league is becoming more like the NBA, with top players having more control,” an NFL executive told The Athletic’s Mike Sando.
Another executive told Sando that how the Bengals appeased Burrow could have some risky consequences.
“The thought of keeping their quarterback happy is good,” an exec said, per Sando, “but how can you build around him to get him where he needs to go? I’m going to go with fronts and defense over skill, especially when you already have one of the highest-paid receivers. To sign another one (Higgins) is interesting to me.”
For better or worse, the Bengals have approached this offseason with the idea that a few changes on the coaching staff in the offensive trenches and overall defense will be enough to spur serious improvement next season.
The approach by both Burrow and the Bengals will end up viewed in hindsight by whether the improvements actually happen on the field. For now, all outsiders and even people within the NFL can do is ruminate on the path traveled so far.
