3 Reasons Joe Burrow is the QB Who Will Finally Save the Bengals
By Brady Williams
Well, it finally happened.
On Thursday night, the Cincinnati Bengals selected LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It was practically a given when Whodey Nation clinched the top selection before the end of the regular season. However, the Bengals have been in a tough spot for years now, and it's going to take a lot to drag them up from the depths. As good as Joe Burrow looks on paper, many are wondering if he's truly going to be the man for the job.
The answer is yes, and here's why.
3. Numbers Don't Lie
Let's just look at the statistics for a second. Burrow threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns in 2019. He set the FBS records for single-season passing touchdowns. It's probably the greatest season for an individual player in the history of college football. His absurd stat line includes a 76.3% completion rate on 527 passes. He proved to be an elite player in the right system. His numbers alone make him the best prospect since Andrew Luck. No matter how good the situation around him was, a player doesn't put up outrageous stats like that unless they're truly special.
2. He Fits the System
Even great quarterbacks can struggle in the wrong system. The good news is that Zac Taylor's offense will cater to Burrow's skills and abilities. Burrow excelled in the spread offense in LSU, and his quick read abilities will allow him to adjust to the West Coast style -- similar to what Sean McVay runs in LA -- Taylor has administered in Cincinnati. It will take only a slight adjustment, but Cincy's mixed bag approach utilizes all of the elements of Burrow's game, and the playbook could be the best of both worlds for the young star. Giving him A.J. Green as a target certainly helps a whole lot, too.
1. He's Not Your Average No. 1 Overall Pick
Burrow was overlooked during his time at Ohio State (though that was due to the presence of JT Barrett and Dwayne Haskins) and didn't get to taste any of the spotlight in Columbus. So what did he do? He graduated in three years, transferred to LSU, earned the starting job by beating out 4-star prospect Myles Brennan, and led the Tigers to two postseason victories, including the National Championship this past year. This isn't your average top quarterback coming out of college. Yes, Burrow was a 4-star prospect coming out of high school, but the red carpet wasn't laid out for him. He knows what it takes to seize the opportunity and overcome adversity, which is exactly the moxie Cincinnati needs at the moment.