Joe Burrow’s swagger was on full display before the 2024 season even kicked off. On Pardon My Take, he casually shrugged off fame with a “not giving a sh*t anymore” attitude. But when the lights came on, JB backed it all up. A career-best year followed. Nearly 5,000 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and one of the highest QB ratings in the league. So, yes, even ‘Who Dey’ didn’t hold him down to that one interview because he delivered. Because the fame that was once dimming (because of the injury-ridden seasons), it was now chasing him.

And everything was pointing towards one of the best redemption arcs the sporting scene has witnessed… Until it wasn’t. A 9-8 finish left their playoff hopes hanging on a Chiefs win… and Kansas City blew it against Denver. So here they are, back in April, piecing together a support system around their $275M franchise QB.

The latest move? Re-signing veteran quarterback Logan Woodside to a one-year deal. I mean, it’s not a screaming outta the poster signing, but it’s clear: the Bengals want no drama in the QB room. Woodside, who spent last season as QB3 behind Burrow and Jake Browning, is the steady hand in the background—quiet, experienced, and familiar with the system.

This is a continuity play. Woodside might never even step on the gridiron in this next year. Plus, his career stat-sheet is not reading elite: just 14 career pass attempts in seven NFL seasons. But he’s reliable insurance. The Bengals originally drafted him in 2018, and after bouncing around with the Titans and Falcons, he’s found his way back to Cincy, now for a second straight season.

The timing is no accident either. With just eight days until the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bengals are essentially signaling they’re locked and loaded at quarterback. Burrow is the guy. Browning’s the backup. Woodside’s the safety valve. No need to spend draft capital on another arm.

So while all eyes remain on Burrow and what could be a redemption tour in 2025, the Bengals are doing the behind-the-scenes work. Making sure that there’s no stone left unturned.

Joe Burrow spoke: the front office listened and sealed

Back in February, Joe Burrow was already in GM mode. He went on Breakfast Ball, and when asked if he’d be open to restructuring his contract to help keep his crew together, Burrow didn’t flinch: “Of course!”

But let’s be real—saying it and making it happen? Two different playbooks. “I have faith… We have the cap space to get it done. I want to make it happen.” And when your QB1 is publicly flexing his team-first muscle? That’s pressure on the front office, whether they admit it or not. However, the fans don’t care about that. What they do care about is that Tee Higgins, a Bengal, and Ja’Marr Chase, a Bengal at the end of all that back and forth.

So, how exactly did the Bengals pull this off without blowing up the vault? Here’s the twist: Burrow’s contract, signed back in September 2023, wasn’t just a mega deal—it was a salary cap chess move. Thanks to a quirky vesting schedule in Burrow’s guarantees, the Bengals were able to recycle the escrow funds year after year. In 2025, that cash covers Burrow. In 2026? It smoothly transitions to cover Chase.

And if you look closely, the math lines up too well to be accidental. The funding rule—NFL’s way of saying “don’t write checks you can’t cash”—forces teams to stash money for future guarantees. But the Bengals found a loophole in the calendar. By shifting when guarantees vest, they kept the same escrow cash in play. No extra deposits. No panic. Just a quiet financial maneuvering that let them keep both Burrow and his favorite targets.

Could they have done it sooner and saved more? Probably. Though this wasn’t about cap gymnastics—it was about cash. Cold, hard spending power. And in the end, it looks like Cincinnati was always playing the long game. Burrow spoke. It became a PR whirlwind. And the Bengals finally did it. Made it look like it’s the QB’s franchise. Maybe it is… But the game’s there for all of us to see.