Joe Burrow: This is most talented Bengals team I've been on - ESPN

CINCINNATI — For Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, the roster compiled ahead of the upcoming offseason might be as good as it gets.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the Cincinnati veteran lauded the work the team's front office did in recent months to overhaul a roster that has missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. The Bengals are coming off a 6-11 campaign that featured defensive struggles and a toe injury that kept Burrow off the field for nine games.

But after a slew of acquisitions, including a very unlikely trade for Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, Burrow said he believes this is the best collection of players he has played with in seven seasons, including the team that was in Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season.

«I think this is the most talented roster that we've had since I've been here,» Burrow said after Wednesday's voluntary workout.

In his first news conference since the end of last season, Burrow rattled off all the names Cincinnati added in the offseason. At the beginning of free agency, Cincinnati signed former Seattle Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year deal worth $60 million. The Bengals also signed former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook to a three-year deal worth just over $40 million.

Burrow noted that he did not have his usual postseason debrief with the team's front office at the end of last season. But he stayed in constant communication as the Bengals' personnel department, led by de facto general manager Duke Tobin, rebuilt the roster.

«We got guys that work really hard to put themselves in position to perform well, perform to our standard,» Burrow said. «We haven't necessarily done that for a couple of years, so we brought some guys in who have been