Is Joe Burrow Questioning His Future in Cincinnati? NFL GM Raises Eyebrows

The Cincinnati Bengals are already navigating a rocky offseason, but now there's a new twist — could Joe Burrow himself be questioning his long-term future with the team?
That's the concern raised by former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum, who didn’t hold back while discussing the Bengals’ recent moves.

Appearing on ESPN’s Get Up, Tannenbaum addressed the Bengals’ decision to franchise-tag Tee Higgins for the second straight year and allow Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson to seek a trade. But the most striking part of his comments wasn’t about those players — it was about Burrow.

“If I’m Cincinnati, I am significantly worried about Joe Burrow,” Tannenbaum said. “He sat down with ESPN at the Super Bowl and talked in great detail about what players should get paid, cap numbers, and cash flow. And now you’re tagging Tee Higgins again and letting a guy like Trey Hendrickson, who has 35 sacks in two years, explore a trade.”
Then came the bombshell question: “Is Joe Burrow all-in here?”
Tannenbaum’s point was clear — when a team fumbles key roster decisions, it risks frustrating its franchise quarterback. And Burrow, who has already shown he’s savvy about contract dynamics, might not be immune to those frustrations.


The Bengals’ recent moves have left fans and analysts scratching their heads. Tee Higgins, clearly unimpressed with the franchise tag, announced the news himself with a blunt one-word social media post: “tag.” Hendrickson, meanwhile, is coming off a stellar 2024 season as the NFL’s sack leader — yet the team is letting him seek a trade.

While the Bengals are expected to lock in Ja’Marr Chase with a massive contract extension, it’s hard to ignore the growing tension surrounding the roster. With Higgins stuck on the tag and Hendrickson’s future in limbo, the burden once again falls on Burrow to carry the team — a familiar yet frustrating position.
To be clear, there’s no public indication that Joe Burrow is unhappy or considering a move — but Tannenbaum’s comments spotlight a deeper issue. If Cincinnati can’t balance paying its stars and building a competitive team, how long before their quarterback starts wondering if his championship window is closing?
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