If you turned on sports-talk radio or ESPN/Fox Sports/NFL Network in the last 48 hours, you likely heard and saw broadcasters discussing the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow, once again.
"This is a critical season for Joe Burrow in Cincinnati," ESPN's Adam Schefter said. "The Bengals are doing what they can ... to make sure that they try to win this year to keep Joe Burrow happy."
"This is a critical season for Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. ... The Bengals are doing what they can ... to make sure that they try to win this year to keep Joe Burrow happy."—@AdamSchefter on the Dexter Lawrence trade between the Giants and Bengals ✍️ pic.twitter.com/Pj0pozzHvG
The tone and message was different this time around. And that’s because of the Bengals’ recent blockbuster trade for defensive tackle Dexter Jackson. Cincinnati sent its No. 10 pick in the first round in the upcoming NFL draft to the New York Giants in exchange for Lawrence on April 18.
A shocking, yet revolutionizing move for a franchise hoping to win the Super Bowl with Burrow at the helm. This was the first time in franchise history that the club traded away a first-round pick for a current player.
Lawrence is one of the best defensive players in the NFL and immediately upgrades a defense that has struggled mightily in the last two seasons. Cincinnati is unquestionably better because of the Lawrence acquisition.
And while the impact Lawrence will make on the Bengals’ defense seems like the biggest point of emphasis, what this move symbolized to Burrow could end up being even more impactful.
Burrow wasn’t shy about stating the Bengals for what some deemed as the most important offseason in franchise history after the 6-11 season in 2025.
“We certainly aren’t where we need or want to be … not where I expect to be,” Burrow said Jan. 4. “We have to figure it out.”
The Bengals have missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons after reaching the AFC championship game in 2021-22.
He wants to get back to winning, and the move for Lawrence gives the Bengals a better chance of doing so.
During a tumultuous season, Burrow created a news cycle for himself with comments about if he’s enjoying playing football anymore.
"If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it," Burrow said in 2025. “I've been through a lot and if it's not fun, then what am I doing it for? So that's the mindset I'm trying to bring to the table."
NFL pundits took Burrow’s comments and ran with them, creating rumors that Burrow was unhappy playing for the Bengals.
“Joe Burrow is not unhappy because the Bengals linebackers can’t tackle in space….he’s unhappy because he has the cheapest owner in the league,” FOX Sports broadcaster Collin Cowherd said.
Burrow was asked to address his comments about his mindset and said it had nothing to do with how he feels about playing for the Bengals. But that didn’t stop the conversation about Burrow’s happiness in Cincinnati.
“My comments had nothing to do with Cincinnati,” Burrow said. “My comments had everything to do with me and my mindset, and football.”
Over the last five years, NFL teams have become more willing to part ways with first-round picks if they can get a proven player who can help immediate. The Los Angeles Rams have been at the forefront of this movement, same with the Philadelphia Eagles.
AFC North foe, the Baltimore Ravens, showed they were willing to do try and take a big swing to get over the hump with Lamar Jackson when they agreed to a trade for All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby. It didn’t pan out due to a failed physical, but the Ravens were willing to give up two first-round picks for Crosby.
In acquiring Lawrence, the Bengas showed Burrow they were willing to adapt and exhaust every avenue to try and win a Lombardi Trophy.