Joe Burrow makes Bengals a popular destination in free agency

The Cincinnati Bengals have evolved from a playoff doormat to a Super Bowl heavyweight in the span of a year, and now the team is one of the hottest destination for free agents. All thanks to one man: Joe Burrow.

Other offensive weapons have buoyed the Bengals’ recent rise, but Burrow stands at the center of it all.

Tampa Bay tight end Rob Gronkowski recently paid his compliments to Burrow after the Super Bowl, and Gronk is just one of many players who look up to the young gunslinger and would potentially love to play with him.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler wrote about free agency and trade buzz surrounding the 2022 offseason and believes that Cincinnati has quickly turned into an NFL player’s paradise.

"Here’s a thing that would have sounded silly two combines ago: Free agents really want to play for the Bengals. Burrow has changed everything about that franchise, and players want to go play with him."

Cincinnati Bengals have become a prime destination thanks to Joe Burrow

And why wouldn’t free agents want to play here? A top-five quarterback, a talented wide receiver room, a stalwart defense…need we go on?

Graziano and Fowler also note that the Bengals have spent an exorbitant amount of money in past offseasons and “no longer seem afraid to use that route to improve their team.”

The Bengals are projected to have roughly $50 million in available cap space for 2022, though safety Jessie Bates has yet to solidify his future on the team. Even then, Cincinnati should have plenty of money to sign a few talented offensive linemen this free agency — made easier by the fact that the Bengals stand as a suddenly reputable destination for ring-chasers and young bucks alike.

Burrow, Chase, and this current generation of Bengals players will welcome free agents with open arms in 2022 as Cincy heads down another path to the Super Bowl.

This offseason should be an exciting one.