NFL executives and coaches split on Joe Burrow's potential
The Bengals took Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Most analysts praised Cincinnati for taking the Heisman Trophy winner with the top selection.
Not everyone in the NFL feels the same way.
"He played with arguably the best college football team of all time," an NFL assistant coach told Sports Illustrated. "He's good, but the hype isn't real."
That coach isn't the only one that isn't on the 'Burrow train.'
“If I were their GM, I’d play free agency for the quarterback, take Chase Young, a once-in-a-generation talent, and get a Joe Burrow at a different time,” one general manager told Mike Sando of The Athletic.
“I have concerns,” another said. “He does not have a lot of power or strength in his arm at all. He is a one-year producer. Love the brain, like the short accuracy. He is Alex Smith-like, and Alex was the No. 1 pick in the draft, nothing wrong with that.”
Naturally, there are going to be doubters. That's part of the pressure that comes with being the No. 1 pick.
“You don’t think about it [pressure], you just continue to work really hard and do what got you here," Burrow said moments after being drafted. "I’m the No. 1 pick, but it doesn’t mean anything in four months, so I’m going to continue to work really hard to be the best player that I can be for this team, for this franchise and this city.”
The Bengals' organization doesn't have any doubts about Burrow. They treated him like any other prospect during the evaluation process, which ended with him at the top of their board.
"Both statistically, and just watching him, he is the most accurate I’ve graded in the NFL so far," offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said. "The only guy that was probably close in terms of (being) a total package was Andrew Luck when he came out. He (Burrow) is exceptionally accurate. It’s by far one of his greatest strengths.”
Plenty of coaches and players believe in Burrow, but everyone has their doubters. He just wants to win.
"I’m going to work as hard as I can to bring winning to Cincinnati," Burrow said. "Whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it."
