Back in 2020, the Miami Dolphins were reportedly ready to go all-in to land Joe Burrow. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dolphins offered the Cincinnati Bengals a massive haul - four first-round picks - in an attempt to move up and grab the No. 1 overall selection in that year’s draft.
The goal? Secure their franchise quarterback.
But the Bengals didn’t bite. In fact, they didn’t even entertain the conversation.
Schefter reports that Cincinnati shut down the talks before they had a chance to gain any momentum. They had their eyes set on Burrow and weren’t willing to budge - not even for a king’s ransom.
The Dolphins, left holding their original No. 5 pick, selected Tua Tagovailoa. Fast-forward to now, and the two franchises have taken very different paths at quarterback.
Tua’s future in Miami is cloudy - he’s recently been benched, and the long-term outlook is murky at best. Meanwhile, Burrow remains the face of the Bengals, though this season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.
There’s been some noise in the media about Burrow’s postgame comments and what they might signal about his future in Cincinnati. But Burrow has been quick to shut that down, saying he fully expects to be with the Bengals next season. If there’s any doubt, it’s not coming from him.
Still, the pressure is building in Cincinnati. The Bengals went all-in this past offseason, doubling down on their core trio of Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
On paper, it looked like a group built for a deep playoff run. But the reality has been far from that - injuries have piled up, performances have dipped, and the team is now staring at another season without postseason football.
Schefter notes that next year could be a pivotal one for the franchise. If the Bengals can’t right the ship, the whispers around Burrow’s future could get a lot louder.
And in today’s NFL, quarterback stability is everything. Cincinnati made their bet on Burrow - and they’ve backed it up financially, too.
Burrow, now 28, was the No. 1 overall pick out of LSU in 2020 and signed a four-year rookie deal worth just over $36 million, including nearly $24 million in signing bonus money. The Bengals picked up his fifth-year option and then locked him down long-term with a record-setting five-year, $275 million extension.
This season, though, hasn’t been what anyone envisioned. Burrow has played in just five games, completing 60.5% of his passes for 959 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions. Injuries have once again been a factor, and the offense has struggled to find its rhythm.
The Bengals made a bold call in 2020 when they refused to trade that No. 1 pick. They believed Burrow was the guy - and they still do.
But in the NFL, belief only goes so far. Results matter.
And next season, the Bengals will need to prove that their franchise quarterback - and the roster built around him - is still capable of delivering on the promise that once had other teams offering the world just for a chance at him.