The Cincinnati Bengals haven't been to the playoffs since 2022, and they won't return in 2026 if they don't keep franchise quarterback Joe Burrow upright. The former LSU Tiger played just eight games in 2025, which was his third injury-shortened campaign since 2020.

Veteran left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. will be a key part of that mission, assuming he's still on the team in 2026. The Bengals signed the 2018 third-round pick to a four-year, $64 million deal in March 2023, which expires after next season.

Cincinnati would gain $14.2 million in cap space if it cuts Brown this offseason, but The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. thinks the team will keep him.

"Could the Bengals do better than Brown? Sure. But they love the chemistry up front right now, and he’s a big part of that equation along with center Ted Karras," he wrote. "They love his passion and energy on the field. He brings the personality and intensity necessary for the position and to help lift those around him."

Although Burrow missed nine games due to turf toe, the offensive line kept him cleaner than ever. The 29-year-old was sacked 17 times, which was less than twice per contest. Meanwhile, he averaged at least two and sometimes even more than three sacks a game.

"As was illustrated in the second half of the season, even in a down year for him [Brown], he was one-fifth of a group that kept Burrow clean and provided as much optimism for 2026 as any position on the roster," Dehner continued. "The Bengals need to be thinking about the future once Brown becomes a free agent in 2027, but they aren’t going to usher in an adjustment to a new left tackle right now, given all the challenges on the defense and the net positive he provides to the team."

Clearing $14.2 million in cap space would help Cincinnati address other needs like defense. The team finished 30th with 28.9 points allowed per game in 2025, so it could use help on that side of the ball.

However, the fate of the franchise hinges on Burrow's health, so maintaining continuity on the offensive line isn't a bad idea, even if it's expensive. Brown played all 1,057 offensive snaps this past season after an injury-shortened 2024 season, which proves he can still stay healthy as he approaches 30 years old.

Brown had a down year statistically, as he allowed a career-high nine sacks and logged a career-high 10 penalties, per Pro Football Focus. Still, maintaining chemistry on the line helps the unit's effectiveness overall, and it's worth having a seasoned veteran who is familiar with the squad protecting Burrow's blind side.

Brown was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018 before they traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs in April 2021. The former Oklahoma Sooner is a four-time Pro Bowler, as he earned the honor each year from 2019 to 2022.