There’s something undeniably electric about Cincinnati’s offense these days. When you look at Joe Burrow — a quarterback who’s already become one of the faces of the league — and his two dynamic wide receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, it’s hard not to feel excited. 

But with massive contract extensions piling up for these stars, plus a potential blockbuster for Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals might be walking the tightrope between brilliance and breakdown. 

Sure, having an elite passing game is every team’s dream, but can you really compete for a Super Bowl when half your cap space is tied up in three or four players?

Paying for Fireworks: The Cost of Keeping Chase and Higgins

Ja’Marr Chase secured a four-year, $161 million extension, with $112 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history at an average of $40.25 million per year. Tee Higgins also locked in a four-year, $115 million deal, keeping their dynamic receiving duo together but at a massive cost. 

By the time you combine the salaries for Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, you’re looking at roughly 44% of the entire 2025 cap. That leaves just over half the remaining budget to cover the other 49 players on the roster. 

In the NFL, depth matters, and this much money wrapped up in so few players severely limits how you fill out the rest of the team.

A Defense in Desperate Need

Look, a star-studded offense is exciting and sells tickets, but championship teams also stop opponents when it counts. Last season, the Bengals allowed a whopping 25.5 points per game and famously became the first team ever to lose four games when scoring 33 or more points. That’s not exactly a recipe for postseason success. Trey Hendrickson was a bright spot with his league-leading sack totals, but beyond him? It’s slim pickings.

They struggled at linebacker, lacked consistency in the secondary, and couldn’t defend explosive plays. The outcome? A mediocre 9-8 record, missing the playoffs despite often lighting up the scoreboard. 

If you think one or two draft picks can fix that in an offseason — especially while you’re simultaneously juggling monster contracts — let’s just say you’re more optimistic than most.

The Hendrickson Factor

Trey Hendrickson is the lone proven standout on this defense. If the Bengals lose him, they risk dropping from a below-average defense to one of the league’s worst. But the cost to keep him could be steep. After Maxx Crosby signed for $35.5 million per year this offseason, Hendrickson’s asking price is likely around $36 million. And once you tack that on top of Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, you’re looking at a mind-blowing 56% of your cap devoted to just four players.

At one point, the Bengals even granted Hendrickson permission to seek a trade partner — a sign they weren’t entirely sure they could (or should) pay him. Given his production, his market value should've been sky-high, yet the Bengals want a hefty return to let him go. 

So there’s this awkward dance: if he stays, the team goes deeper into cap crunch mode; if he leaves, the defense takes a massive hit. Neither scenario is especially comforting.

Missed Opportunities

There’s a reason fans and analysts looked at this offseason as crucial: there were plenty of solid defensive players available, along with some decent options to help protect Burrow up front. But instead of making a big splash on that side of the ball, the Bengals were locked into handling their own business first—securing long-term deals for Chase and Higgins. By the time those deals were finalized, the top defensive free agents had already been scooped up, leaving Cincinnati with limited options.

Some will argue that keeping Higgins was the right call — continuity matters, and losing a top-tier weapon would have been a tough pill to swallow. But if the Bengals had explored a tag-and-trade, they could have recouped valuable draft capital or landed defensive reinforcements. Instead, they doubled down on offense, meaning any defensive improvements will have to come from the draft or under-the-radar free agency moves. That’s a risky bet considering how much help this defense needs.

Is Burrow to Blame

Burrow made it publicly clear that he wanted Higgins to stay. On one hand, that’s what you’d expect from a franchise quarterback who has great chemistry with his wideouts. On the other hand, if you’re thinking about the bigger picture — like winning a championship — sometimes you have to let a good player walk so you can address glaring deficiencies elsewhere.

Guys like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have restructured or taken less at times to help their teams sign additional talent, but also understood that keeping their favorite weapons around wasn't always best for the team. 

Burrow hasn’t really gone that route, instead pushing to keep Higgins around. Of course, it’s not entirely on him — players want to win, and the front office makes the final calls — but you can’t deny his influence in shaping these moves.

No Free Wins in the AFC North

In case the Bengals have forgotten, they play in a division known for stout defenses. The Ravens, with Lamar Jackson healthy, are always a threat, and the Steelers recently bulked up their receiving corps by adding DK Metcalf to pair with George Pickens. 

Even the Browns could be a wildcard if they figure out their quarterback issues. If Cincinnati’s defense continues to be vulnerable, these matchups could turn into shootouts — and shootouts are never predictable, even with a top-tier offense.

You can’t just rely on Burrow and friends to bail you out every week. Score one touchdown too few, and you’re looking at another heartbreaker. It’s a risky game to play in a division that rarely hands out easy wins.

Realistic Expectations 

With essentially the same roster as last season, the best-case scenario isn't much better than they got last year: Burrow avoids another slow start, the offensive line holds up, the defense overperforms just enough, and Cincinnati sneaks into the playoffs. Maybe they even snag a win in the wild-card round if they catch an opponent off guard.

On the flip side, the worst case might see a flameout that makes last year look like a walk in the park. One injury to this big-three, or a defense that never clicks, and this team could quickly find themselves in last place in the AFC North, without the depth to climb back up. 

The Bengals can put up 30-plus points on any given Sunday, but if they’re giving up 35, it doesn’t really matter.

The Long Game

The Bengals are banking on two things: that the salary cap keeps climbing and that they can draft and develop defensive talent fast enough to patch their holes. It’s a gamble, but at this point, it’s their only real option. 

That’s not impossible. The cap does go up most seasons, and one or two stellar draft classes can completely change a team’s fortunes.

Still, as the saying goes, hope is not a strategy. Relying on everything to break just right is the kind of gamble that can leave a fan base frustrated if it doesn’t pay off — and frustrated fans often put pressure on the front office to pivot in a hurry.

Bengals’ Big Gamble

One thing is certain: the Bengals will be fun to watch. Between Burrow’s pinpoint accuracy, Chase’s game-breaking speed, and Higgins’ knack for contested catches, this offense is bound to be explosive. But NFL history is full of teams that could score a ton and never quite got that ring because they couldn’t stop anyone.

The Bengals have all the firepower in the world, but without a defense that can hold up when it matters, it’s hard to see them getting over the hump. If they can’t figure out how to balance their roster, they risk becoming another team that racks up highlights but falls short when the games matter most. The talent is there — now it’s on them to prove they can build a complete contender.