Bengals pitched to make insane Joe Burrow trade to replace another team’s Hall of Fame QB originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Cincinnati Bengals have a franchise quarterback, Joe Burrow.
Players like that rarely, if ever, get traded anywhere near the middle of their prime.
Despite that, well-followed NFL analyst Evan Sidery has an idea. He thinks the Bengals could trade Burrow to the Los Angeles Rams when Matthew Stafford retires.
The deal Sidery proposes would send Burrow to L.A. for Ty Simpson and first-round picks in three consecutive seasons.
He also notes that the Bengals would save $32.5 million by making the deal.
Is this even plausible?
The all-in Rams can legally offer this trade in 2028, if Matthew Stafford retires once his extension ends:
LA receives: Joe Burrow
Bengals receive: Ty Simpson, 2028 1st, 2029 1st, 2030 1st
Cincinnati would also save $32.5 million against the cap, if Burrow asks out in 2028. pic.twitter.com/GEOIcnxCKG
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) June 3, 2026
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Clearly, that’s mostly posted for engagement, because so much can happen in two years that it’s not worth overly contemplating.
By the same token, it would certainly fit the Rams’ approach to deals. It’s just not clear it would make sense for the Bengals.
Burrow is one of the best QBs on the planet. Guys like that aren’t easily replaced. Unless Simpson felt like a sure thing, the Bengals probably wouldn’t take this risk.
But hey, apparently there’s going to be Burrow speculation for the next few seasons. Cincy fans should mentally prepare themselves now for all that might be rumored if the Bengals don’t get off to a strong start this season.