Approval Poll: Bengals select LSU QB Joe Burrow

There wasn’t any real suspense left in what was going to happen with the first-overall pick. The Bengals and LSU quarterback Joe Burrow have seemed destined to end up together since the team secured the top pick of the 2020 draft, and now it is official.

What does this mean? Simply put, Cincinnati has a new franchise quarterback. There is little doubt over Burrow being named the starter right away. That includes the unlikely situation of Andy Dalton remaining on the team. Head coach Zac Taylor now officially has his quarterback, and the Taylor and Burrow era for the Bengals has begun.

With all due respect for Dalton, we can expect Burrow to bring a higher level of quarterback play than we’ve been accustomed to seeing. The Heisman Trophy winner has consistently displayed the ability to make plays out of structure. He also has incredible vision and accuracy.

The thing you don’t see directly on the stat sheet also include his incredible drive to earn the game. He tirelessly pours over learning the game, and you can tell by the way he carries himself he feels like the most prepared player on the field. Not to mention the confidence he carries is so immense that it will no doubt make him an incredible leader.

We’ve talked a ton about all the things Burrow will be able to do, but we also need to keep in mind his rookie season isn’t going to be the one that defines him. He will almost certainly have some bumps along the way, and the conditions surrounding the season aren’t great either. We just need to make sure that we don’t get insane with our expectations as fans.

Still, it is hard not to get excited over what will likely be some of the best years for the Bengals going forward. Hard to remember the last time this franchise had so much hope.