Cincinnati Bengals Stun NFL: Blockbuster Draft-Day Trade Lands Joe Burrow a New Superstar Target

The Cincinnati Bengals found themselves at the center of the NFL conversation this week after quarterback Joe Burrow publicly questioned why the team drew only three national-window kickoffs in the newly released 2025 schedule. Less than 48 hours later, league scheduling vice president Mike North conceded that the Bengals’ franchise player “had a fair point,” hinting that flex protections could boost Cincinnati’s national exposure as the season unfolds. Burrow’s comments landed Monday during an offseason media availability at Paycor Stadium, where he noted that a roster featuring himself, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and an overhauled offensive line “shouldn’t be hidden in the 1 p.m. window every other week.” The star passer’s remarks quickly trended across social platforms, energizing a fanbase already counting the days until the NFL officially releases the full 18-week slate on May 14 at 8 p.m. ET. By Wednesday, the league issued a rare public response. In a New York Post interview, North acknowledged that the Bengals’ 2025 itinerary does skew heavy toward early-window Sundays but stressed that the NFL’s new broadcast contracts give the league “unprecedented flexibility” to protect high-profile matchups for late-season prime time. “We absolutely reserve the right to move Cincinnati into 4:25 p.m. CBS doubleheaders or Sunday Night Football if their playoff chase is as compelling as we expect,” North said. What the schedule looks like now • Season opener: at Pittsburgh (Week 1) – a renewal of the AFC North’s nastiest rivalry • Home opener: vs. Jacksonville (Week 2) – Trevor Lawrence vs. Burrow for the third straight year • Only scheduled Sunday night game: Week 6 vs. Kansas City, a rematch of the 2024 AFC wild-card thriller • Possible flex candidate: Week 13 at Buffalo, currently slated for 1 p.m. but holding late-season TV appeal Inside Paycor Stadium, players brushed off the chatter. “When you win, the cameras come,” edge rusher Trey Hendrickson said after Tuesday’s OTA session. Still, the Bengals’ front office privately views national windows as vital to brand growth, especially as negotiations continue with Hamilton County on a new 20-year Paycor lease projected to pump millions into stadium upgrades. Roster notes fueling optimism The schedule dust-up overshadowed one of the more intriguing stories of OTAs: rookie second-rounder Jalen Rivers taking first-team snaps at right tackle instead of the guard spot many analysts projected. Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher confirmed the experiment is “full-speed ahead,” potentially giving Burrow the bookend protection he lacked during last season’s playoff run. Meanwhile, Higgins’ absence from voluntary workouts remains the lone cloud over camp. The franchise-tagged wideout has yet to sign his tender, but team sources maintain they’re optimistic about a July extension. Chase, entering the fourth year of his rookie deal, declined to discuss his own contract but said he’s “pumped” about new offensive wrinkles designed to flood the middle of the field. Why the Bengals are still a prime-time bet Even if the initial calendar leaves fans wanting, several factors could catapult Cincinnati onto larger stages: 1. Star power: Burrow-Chase is among the league’s most marketable duos. 2. Competitive window: Oddsmakers list the Bengals top-five in Super Bowl futures. 3. Flex rules: Weeks 5-17 allow any game to move to NBC, ESPN or Amazon, while Weeks 12-17 open additional late-afternoon “doubleheader” slots. For SEO-minded readers, keep an eye on keywords like “Cincinnati Bengals 2025 schedule,” “Joe Burrow primetime games,” and “NFL flex rules” as the season approaches. Each time the league reshuffles kickoff times—something that happens almost weekly after mid-October—search interest spikes, driving fresh traffic to Bengals content across the web. Bottom line Burrow spoke; the NFL listened. While Cincinnati’s 2025 slate still leans early Sunday, the quarterback’s comments and the league’s quick response suggest the Bengals’ fight for the spotlight is far from over. With a healthy roster, a tackle experiment worth watching, and a schedule built for late-season drama, Cincinnati may wind up under the bright lights more often than the initial release lets on—exactly what the fanbase, and search engines, want to see.