The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, but they keep missing the playoffs. That's not only an unacceptable outcome, but it's not promising for their future.

In addition to being a two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year and Pro Bowler, veteran signal-caller Joe Burrow is in his prime at 29 years old. The former LSU Tiger is also under contract through 2029, which buys Cincinnati several years before it has to worry about him walking in free agency.

Still, the team needs to give Burrow the supporting cast he deserves if it wants him to stay in town past the end of his current deal. For example, the former Heisman Trophy winner led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns last year, but it didn't make the postseason due to its subpar defense.

Not only did the defense struggle again in 2025, but Burrow's pass protection sabotaged him. The former CFP national champion played just eight games due to a turf toe ailment, his third injury-shortened season since the organization drafted him No. 1 overall in 2020. He's already taken 213 sacks in 77 career games, which is already 39 more than former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck took over 86 contests. The latter player retired in 2019 due to his constant injury issues.

Burrow took 17 sacks in 2025, averaging almost two per game. That's at least down from his 2024 average of 2.82, but he could end up like Luck if he doesn't get that average down. 

Meanwhile, the team gave up an average of 28.9 points per game in 2025 (30th in the NFL), up 3.4 points from the previous year. Cincinnati at least finished 9-8 in 2024 thanks to Burrow and the offense, but fell to 6-11 this past season with its star sidelined for half the year.

The defense and offensive line are clearly the two areas where Cincinnati must improve moving forward to have any chance of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2022, but that's been the case for multiple seasons now. At some point, Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin and the front office have to figure it out before Burrow either asks out, leaves when his contract expires, or retires due to injury.

The Bengals deserve credit for developing a star quarterback, which is the hardest thing to do in the NFL. Plenty of collegiate stars at the position flame out at the top level, but Burrow nearly won them a Super Bowl in his second season and has excelled individually despite the adversity. Now, the front office must succeed in developing other areas besides quarterback and the skill positions.