Joe Burrow’s ‘frustration’ comments spark trade talk
The Cincinnati Bengals has had a difficult 2025 season and the starting quarterback has made his unhappiness clear.
The 2025 NFL season has not gone to plan for the Cincinnati Bengals, nor for quarterback Joe Burrow.
Last season Burrow led the league for passing yards and passing touchdowns, winning the league’s Comeback Player of the Year award for a second time. Now 29 years old, Burrow was hoping for an injury-free campaign but a turf toe injury sustained in Week 2 has left him sidelined for most of the season.
Frustrations arise for Burrow
Burrow has featured in just six of the Bengals’ first 15 games this season as the team has slipped from playoff contention. Burrow will miss the postseason for a third consecutive season and is reportedly the subject of trade talks after venting his frustrations recently.
When asked whether his frustrations were football-related or personal, Burrow replied: “All of the above.”
"If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it. I have been through a lot. If it's not fun, then what am I doing it for?"
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 10, 2025
Joe Burrow says there’s a lot going on for him right nowpic.twitter.com/C9FbUnqDpq
This week, with just two games remaining for the Bengals, reports emerged suggesting that the Bengals face the prospect of losing their starting QB in the offseason. In 2023 Burrow signed a five-year extension worth $275 million, meaning that it would take a huge trade offer to tempt the Bengals to move on from the quarterback.
“Probably depends on if a team has a young QB or players to offer but imagine they won’t even answer the phone if you don’t have at least two first-round picks plus more,” one NFC front office executive told CBS Sports. “Maybe even three if you’re not doing it with any players involved.”
Teams that would likely be interested in Burrow included the Raiders, Browns, Jets, Dolphins and Cardinals, all of whom are looking to improve their options at QB. Of those teams, the New York Jets have the most draft capital with two first-round and two second-round picks in 2026, and three first-round picks in 2027.
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