A Bengals Offseason Tradition

We have a bit of an annual tradition that kicks off around this time of year. Once the first waves of free agency and the NFL Draft are in the rearview mirror, we turn our attention to identifying which Bengals players might be poised to take that all-important next step in their careers.

Spotlight Series: “Potential Bengals Breakout Players”

Here at Cincy Jungle and on our associated podcasts, we launch a recurring series each offseason titled “Potential Bengals Breakout Players.” It’s our way of forecasting which players could step into larger roles, show significant growth from the previous season, or otherwise emerge as key contributors in the upcoming year.

This isn’t just guesswork. It’s based on their likely increased responsibilities, glimpses of talent, and how they’ve been developing behind the scenes.

Introducing: “Make-or-Break Year”

Building off that tradition, we’re rolling out a new companion series: “Make-or-Break Year.” This series spotlights Bengals players who are entering pivotal stretches in their careers—those who need to prove themselves now or risk fading from the team’s long-term plans.

These are players at a crossroads. Whether it’s due to inconsistent performance, off-field concerns, or simply needing to show growth, the next few months could be career-defining.

Jermaine Burton

To kick off the series, we start with a talented but troubled player entering his second season.

The Bengals spent a high draft pick on wide receiver Jermaine Burton just a year ago. While his physical abilities are undeniable, his rookie season was overshadowed by inconsistency and questions about his discipline. Now, just one year into his NFL career, Burton faces significant pressure to turn things around.

If he can channel his potential and prove he’s a reliable piece of the offense, Burton has a chance to cement his place in Cincinnati’s future. If not, the team could start looking elsewhere.

Background

Heading into the 2024 NFL Draft, Burton was viewed as a wide receiver with first-round talent. He showcased big-play ability during his final two seasons at Alabama, finishing with 15 total touchdown receptions from 2022 to 2023 and averaging 20.5 yards per catch as a senior.

However, despite his top-end talent, he received Day 2 grades due to a variety of concerns. Effort and attitude were among the primary red flags—issues that were publicly highlighted by Burton’s former coach, Nick Saban, who openly addressed them on national television after the Bengals selected him with the No. 80 overall pick.

“Emotional maturity is the best way to say it… Do the right things all the time… There’s a difference between playing with emotion and being emotional. When you get emotional, you make bad decisions and lose your brain.” – Nick Saban on Alabama WR Jermaine Burton #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/c1BZoeFT4C

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 27, 2024

A honeymoon phase between Burton and the Bengals began with his impressive performances during spring workouts. Buzz started building that the team had found a legitimate new No. 3 receiver, with Andrei Iosivas and Charlie Jones rounding out a talented group from top to bottom.

The preseason featured some highlight-reel plays from Burton, but also inconsistencies in his timing and connection with the quarterbacks. As the regular season approached, things gradually began to unravel, and Burton slid down the depth chart in the receiver room.

Perhaps he lost focus after not immediately becoming an “alpha dog” in the offense, or maybe old bad habits began to resurface—despite his early status as a training camp standout. Most likely, it was a mix of both. Whatever the case, Burton quickly found himself in the coaching staff’s doghouse.

Vague reports emerged of him sleeping through position meetings and skipping walkthroughs, which led to healthy game-day scratches. Frustration over his missed potential—especially during a season plagued by early struggles—was palpable among team leaders. While Joe Burrow and Zac Taylor didn’t publicly criticize Burton, they made it clear that the rookie needed to better prepare and approach the game the right way.

Unfortunately, Burton’s rookie season continued to spiral. Additional reports of off-field issues surfaced, capping off a tumultuous and disappointing 2024 campaign.

This offseason, Cincinnati took care of business by extending its two star receivers, securing them for the next several years. Meanwhile, Iosivas took a big step forward in his development, posting 36 receptions (up from 15 in 2023), 476 yards (up from 116), and six touchdowns (four of them in 2024), solidifying his place in the team’s 2025 plans.

Notably, the Bengals did not bring in new help at the position, perhaps signaling that they still believe Burton has the talent to turn things around. But now, it’s entirely up to him to get his NFL career back on track.

What Burton Needs to Prove:

The biggest goal on this list is for Burton to become trustworthy in the eyes of the organization. He needs to prove that he can move past his previous transgressions and become a reliable contributor to the offense.

Cincinnati has a history of taking chances on players with questionable backgrounds or off-field issues, and in some cases, those risks have paid off—even if only as short-term solutions to roster needs. You can look at the late Cedric Benson and Chris Henry, as well as players like Vontaze Burfict, Adam Jones, Tank Johnson, and Ahmad Brooks (who found more success with the 49ers), to understand why the Bengals have occasionally gambled on players with both baggage and high upside.

However, there’s an important distinction: all of those examples came under Marvin Lewis’s leadership. Taylor has intentionally moved away from that approach during his tenure, favoring players known for leadership qualities and strong locker-room presence—many of whom have been team captains in college or the pros.

Coming off of the big win against the Raiders last year, we spoke with T.J. Houshmandzadeh about a number of things—one of them being Burton. He said he had a “looooooooooong conversation” with Burton that weekend when he was in Cincinnati and Burton was a healthy scratch for the game.

Unfortunately, Burton didn’t seem to take that conversation to heart—but perhaps Houshmandzadeh’s continued mentorship, along with the team’s commitment to him through his struggles, will eventually help things click. Once Burton shows the coaching staff that he can be trusted, the rest should fall into place.

In college and during limited action as a pro, Burton demonstrated the ability to be a big-play receiver—averaging 26.8 yards per reception in 2024—as well as someone capable of making contested catches. Both of those traits align well with Burrow’s strengths, potentially making Burton a valuable asset in this offense.

With renewed focus must come a deeper understanding of the playbook. Although Burton had a few big catches during the regular season, his four receptions on 14 targets (28.6% catch rate) highlighted a lack of chemistry with his quarterback. That needs to change—drastically.

As a rookie, Burton also contributed as a kick returner, averaging 29.1 yards per kickoff return. Special teams may serve as the foundation for rebuilding the coaching staff’s trust in him, and carrying that momentum from 2024 could go a long way toward earning back favor.

Look—Burton’s roster spot is likely safe this year, even if things don’t improve much. As previously mentioned, Cincinnati hasn’t added any high-profile wide receivers this offseason, and Burton remains a cost-effective option in just the second year of his rookie deal (with a cap hit of roughly $1.32 million).

As John Sheeran noted on our show, some pressure should be off Burton this year, especially with both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins—a player Burton may have been expected to replace had contract negotiations gone south—now locked in long-term. Expectations are lower for Burton after a rocky rookie campaign, so… there’s nowhere to go but up, right? Right…?

If Burton can refocus, he has the tools to be both a special teams weapon and a dynamic addition to an already potent offense. In that case, he’d essentially become one of those “extra draft picks” this year by finally living up to his potential.

However, if the issues persist, Cincinnati will be forced to reassess his future with the club—despite multiple years remaining on his rookie deal. Burton needs a strong summer and must show a consistent level of reliability if he hopes to have a future with the Bengals beyond 2025.