Burrow says – Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow compared the team’s 2026 roster to LSU’s 2019 national-championship squad after an offseason focused on defense—especially the addition of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II—arguing the Bengals are finally bu
For Joe Burrow, the excitement isn’t abstract. It has a specific reference point: LSU’s 2019 champions, a team Burrow says his Bengals roster now resembles.
He laid out that comparison when he met with reporters on June 17. speaking as Cincinnati works through a season of change across the AFC North. Burrow said he “feels very similarly about this team. ” adding that he’s eager to “get started and get moving” and to carry that momentum straight into training camp so the Bengals can keep improving.
His praise is not just about talent on paper. It comes after an offseason designed to fix something the Bengals have chased before: a defense that can hold up and a roster that isn’t built around a few stars.
Cincinnati’s stated priority this offseason was improvement on defense, particularly along the defensive line. The most visible move came through the acquisition of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II. which cost the Bengals the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft from the New York Giants. Burrow named Lawrence and also referenced Jonathan Allen as players who have a chance to thrive.
Burrow’s point was about who the team is targeting. He described having veterans and high performers who have delivered individual success, but said that’s not always the same as team success. The urgency, in his view, is tied to making sure the pieces don’t just work in isolation.
“We have guys that have been there and done that and also guys that have had a lot of individual success and not necessarily the team success that are looking for it,” Burrow said.
By the time he spoke to reporters, Burrow believed Cincinnati had completed the work needed to start the season with a stronger foundation. He said, “We have everything we need,” describing the roster as “deep at just about every single position.”
That depth matters because Burrow believes earlier versions of the Bengals were “top-heavy. ” while this year’s team has competition “all the way down to the final roster spots.” He called it “the first year that is really the case” and framed it as an opportunity to build something cohesive rather than simply assemble talent.
“This is the first year that is really the case in my opinion and it’s an exciting place to be when you have too many good players. ” Burrow said. “Now it’s our job to try to find a way to make this a cohesive unit and like I said before. build that trust and build those relationships so we can go out and execute.”.
The quarterback also tied roster depth to the moments that often decide games—especially on special teams. where small mistakes can swing outcomes. Burrow pointed to recent playoff examples. saying there were games where “somebody knocks a ball out on special teams” and games where “somebody muffs a punt on special teams.” In his view. those are exactly the situations where the bench players can become decisive—because they are the ones you need to trust when the game tightens.
“You have to have guys that you can count on because they’re going to be in those spots,” Burrow said. “And if you have guys that can make plays in those spots, it’s a game-changer.”
Even with the roster upgrades. Burrow returned to the same truth that defines every season for the Bengals: they go as far as he takes them. He’s framed himself as the driving force in Cincinnati. calling himself “the real game-changer. ” and said the team’s path depends on whether he can stay healthy.
On paper, the fit sounds clean. Burrow’s offseason message is that the pieces now align better than they have before—depth, defensive upgrades, and competition that reaches the final roster spots. The test, as always, will be whether those pieces translate into execution when the games begin.
Time will tell if the LSU 2019 comparison holds up once the AFC North and its continuing offseason turnover fully meet Cincinnati in practice and in September.
Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals LSU 2019 Dexter Lawrence II Jonathan Allen 2026 NFL Draft AFC North special teams NFL roster depth