Surprise NFC Team Is Pursuing Blockbuster Trade For Joe Burrow, Massive Offer Revealed
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
A top NFC team is planning to submit an astronomical offer to the Cincinnati Bengals for superstar quarterback Joe Burrow, according to a new report.
There’s no clear-cut indicator that Joe Burrow will request a trade from the Bengals this offseason. But Burrow turned some heads in December with his reponse to a reporter’s question about the possibility of playing elsewhere.
Burrow said, “You think about a lot of things.” And this came a week after Burrow raised concerns with a somber press conference, where he admitted he had “a lot of things going on” both in football and in his personal life.
Grant Cohn, a 49ers beat reporter at Sports Illustrated, shut down speculation that the Minnesota Vikings could trade star wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Additionally, Cohn indicated that the Vikings will submit a giant offer to the Bengals for Burrow:
“They’re planning to offer JJ McCarthy, Jonathan Greenard and two firsts to the Cincinnati Bengals for Joe Burrow. And if the Bengals say no, they might go out and get Kirk Cousins…bring him back. They’re not going to trade Justin Jefferson to the Niners…If the Niners want a wide receiver from Minnesota, it’s Justin Jefferson.”
RUMOR: VIKINGS TO PURSUE JOE BURROW
A source “close to the Vikings” told @grantcohn that the team is preparing to offer JJ McCarthy, Jonathan Greenard, and multiple first round picks to the Bengals this offseason for superstar QB Joe Burrow. pic.twitter.com/cqHnmEOqDo
— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) January 23, 2026
Cohn’s report hasn’t been brought up by reputable insiders like Ian Rapoport or Adam Schefter, so make of it what you will. And for what it’s worth, Greenard had this to say about the rapidly spreading trade rumor:
This app never ceases to amaze me by the ignorance of ppl. Don’t assume cause…yall know the rest
— Jonathan Greenard (@jongreenard7) January 23, 2026
Hey, a Vikings fan can dream.
Bengals Need To Build A Contender Around Joe Burrow, And Quickly
Burrow signed a five-year extension worth $275 million in Sept. 2023. But that was before the Bengals missed the playoffs for three consecutive years, largely due to a terrible offensive line and defense.
If Burrow had a better o-line in front of him, he may not have missed seven and nine games in 2023 and 2025, respectively. That’s on ownership and the front office for hardly spending the money and resources.
Should things get worse in Cincinnati in 2026, it’s not unrealistic to think Burrow may ask for a trade. Mike Brown and Duke Tobin better show Burrow they’re committed to building a winner; otherwise, he could be out of Cincy sooner rather than later.
