Quarterback Joe Burrow says the Cincinnati Bengals are entering next season with heightened expectations after addressing several holes on their roster.
"This is a lot of urgency. A lot of urgency this year, certainly," Burrow said Wednesday. "We have everything we need. We're deep at just about every single position on the team."
The Bengals have made significant moves to improve their roster this offseason after finishing 6-11 in 2025. On defense - long considered the team's Achilles' heel - they added Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, and three-time Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence, whom Cincinnati traded the 10th overall pick in the draft to acquire.
Burrow recently agreed to a restructured contract to create $10 million in cap space as well.
The 29-year-old believes that the Bengals, with a veteran-led lineup, have a good chance at reclaiming their status as Super Bowl contenders.
"We're going in expecting to win every game that we step foot on the field," he said. "Obviously, you want to win a Super Bowl, and that's certainly the plan, but you've got to take it one day at a time, one week at a time. I'm excited for the journey."
Additionally, Cincinnati, which has missed the playoffs each of the past three seasons, retained director of player personnel Duke Tobin and head coach Zac Taylor in hopes that consistency will pay off.
"We think they deserve another opportunity to prove that we can do what we hope we can do," executive vice president Katie Blackburn said Monday, per The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr.
Burrow, meanwhile, is choosing to embrace the added weight that accompanies next season.
"Put pressure on guys. I love it. I thrive in it. We'll find out who else does," he said. "I know that we have the kind of people that want to be in that spot. I want everybody talking about the Bengals. I want everybody talking about what I'm saying in my press conferences.
"You go back and watch what I said before the 2019 season at LSU. I feel very similarly about this team. I'm so excited to get started and get moving. I wish we ramped this right into training camp so we can continue to improve."
