Andrew Whitworth Highlights Bengals' Draft Struggles as Biggest Reason for Lack of Super Bowl Title

Former Bengals offensive tackle says Cincinnati's inability to draft well has held the team back from winning a championship with Joe Burrow.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:55am

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In a recent interview, former Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth discussed the team's struggles to win a Super Bowl despite having talented players like quarterback Joe Burrow. Whitworth believes the Bengals' biggest issue has been their inconsistent drafting, which has prevented them from building a complete roster capable of winning a championship.

Why it matters

The Bengals have been one of the more promising teams in the NFL in recent years, led by the emergence of star quarterback Joe Burrow. However, they have yet to win a Super Bowl title, which has been a source of frustration for the organization and its fans. Whitworth's insights shed light on a key factor that has held the Bengals back from reaching the pinnacle of the sport.

The details

Whitworth, who played for the Bengals from 2006 to 2017, believes the team's inability to consistently draft well has been the biggest reason they haven't secured a Super Bowl championship with Burrow. He noted that the Bengals, as a small-market franchise, are not able to rely on free agency and trades to build their roster, so they must nail their draft picks. However, Whitworth said the team has struggled in that area, which has led to defensive struggles and an overall lack of depth on the roster.

  • Whitworth played for the Bengals from 2006-2017.
  • Whitworth made these comments in a recent interview with The Enquirer's Kelsey Conway.

The players

Andrew Whitworth

A former offensive tackle who played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2006 to 2017. He is currently an analyst for Amazon's Thursday Night Football team.

Joe Burrow

The star quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, who has led the team to recent success but has yet to win a Super Bowl title.

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What they’re saying

“I think the biggest problem has probably been not being able to bring in the kind of guys that draft well. A franchise like Cincinnati, let's be real with each other, they're not going to live in a trade world, (they're not) going to overpay guys. So guess what? You're going to have to draft well. And when you don't, the whole entire team suffers, and it's been a problem.”

— Andrew Whitworth, Former Bengals Offensive Tackle

“You want to make moves that are significant. Everyone in the building is like, it's go time. That, to me, is what I'm looking for. My point is that now here you are in another window where you've got some young talent on the team, don't let it go by and not shoot your shot. Shooting your shot is paying guys who have been there and have proven that they have earned money. Shooting your shot is like, this is something that seems a little risky, and we're putting ourselves out there, but it's what we think gets us over the hump.”

— Andrew Whitworth, Former Bengals Offensive Tackle

What’s next

The Bengals will look to address their draft struggles in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft, where they have five picks in the first six rounds, including a top-10 selection. Finding 3-5 eventual starters from this draft class will be crucial for the team's chances of winning a Super Bowl with Joe Burrow.

The takeaway

Whitworth's comments highlight the importance of consistent and effective drafting for small-market NFL teams like the Bengals, who cannot rely as heavily on free agency and trades to build their roster. The Bengals' inability to draft well has been a major factor in their failure to win a Super Bowl title despite having a talented quarterback in Joe Burrow. If the team can improve its draft performance, it could finally break through and capture the elusive championship that has eluded the organization for decades.