How Joe Burrow is having a major impact on the draft for all NFL teams
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is a dream come true for Cincy fans, but he's a nightmare for the majority of NFL franchises. Not only is Burrow an elite quarterback who is poised to be a postseason fixture for the next 15 years, but he's also causing headaches for NFL teams that are hoping to […]
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is a dream come true for Cincy fans, but he's a nightmare for the majority of NFL franchises.
Not only is Burrow an elite quarterback who is poised to be a postseason fixture for the next 15 years, but he's also causing headaches for NFL teams that are hoping to find their own Burrow.
Those teams are essentially searching for something that might not exist.
Not only are NFL teams hoping to find the next Burrow, but a long list of college football quarterbacks are hoping to be the next Burrow. And a lot of them are trying to follow a similar path as Burrow, which is one reason why the 2023 NFL Draft class is a bit light on quarterbacks.
One reason that some older quarterbacks are sticking around in college for another year is because of NIL deals. Another reason is that those older quarterbacks are hoping they can transfer and find Burrow-like success (quarterbacks like Bo Nix, Sam Hartman, etc).
From The Athletic: “Those second-tier QBs are chasing the Joe Burrow year,” said (attorney Michael) Caspino. “They want to have a year like Burrow did, and then they want to go in the first round high up. And they are saying to themselves, ‘I could make a significant amount of NIL money at the same time.’ It’s a win-win for them if they perform.”
Sticking around in college for an additional year to gain some important experience (and development) isn't a bad idea. But sticking around in the hopes of becoming the next Burrow is probably a poor plan. It seems like every quarterback that transfers after sitting at their previous program is compared to Burrow (Burrow transferred from Ohio State to LSU after seeing limited action in Columbus).
I know folks love symmetry in sports, but just because Burrow took a specific path to stardom doesn't mean that the same path will work for everyone. Regardless, Burrow appears to be having a major impact on the way young quarterbacks are approaching their collegiate careers and the NFL draft.
