A talent-rich Bengals offense didn't need new faces or a new philosophy to reinvigorate its mindset entering the 2025 season.
Rather, by maintaining its wide receiving duo with big-money extensions for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, Cincinnati returned the dynamic fixtures of Joe Burrow's passing attack. That alone is already producing a difference in the eyes of stalwart left tackle Orlando Brown.
"We're really special," Brown said during a Tuesday appearance on NFL Network's The Insiders. "I'm really proud of the way that we worked this offseason, just with the intent and focus from us as individuals, as players. Everything that the coaches threw at us, we were able to respond really well. I mean, I'm excited, man. At the end of the day, paying Tee and Ja'Marr, making them more comfortable, knowing that they're going to be able to go out there and sell out even more than they have in the past, I think it's only going to make us better, to be honest."
Handing out a pair of $100 million-plus contracts to wideouts in one offseason is a rarity, but the deals instantly erased a couple of offseason distractions that loomed in Cincinnati this time last year. Still, Burrow and Co. nearly got the Bengals out of the muck in 2024 with an offense that led the league in passing (272.9 yards per game) and finished sixth in points per game (27.8). However, their slow 1-4 start and weak defense ultimately proved to be too much to overcome.
The Bengals sought great change on defense this offseason, firing longtime defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and hiring Al Golden to fill the role. That change of philosophy came with several additions in free agency and through the draft, but contract squabbles remain in Cincinnati.Trey Hendrickson skipped last week's mandatory minicamp, and first-round pick Shemar Stewart is still unsigned.
Brown believes the club will eventually prevent another distraction by training camp, which is set to begin on July 23.
"I'm very confident that they'll be out there," Brown said of Hendrickson and Stewart. "I imagine in Trey's situation, they'll get that figured out, man. He's one of the best in the league at what he does. I think in Shemar's case, I imagine they'll get that done, too, coming to terms on whatever the language or specific amount of money it is. These are two very important players for us. One being an All-Pro Defensive Player of the Year candidate, man. I imagine the team is going to take care of business."
Meanwhile, the Bengals offense will focus on fine-tuning one of the league's most exciting units in order to help turn around a club that has missed the playoffs the last two seasons.
"For us, I think the focus has been more on this year as opposed to last year and previous years," Brown said. "There's so many areas that we want to take the next step in. I think at the end of the day we know who we are, we know what our DNA is, especially as a team and as an offense. So, we have a ton of confidence in that. To me, I don't think it's necessarily gonna be a ton of carryover, although you think it would be."
