2020 NFL Draft: 5 players Bengals could take in Round 1

1. Joe Burrow

There’s a real danger in over thinking things ahead of the NFL Draft. The Bengals should make sure they can’t be accused of that after they walk up to the podium with their No. 1 overall selection. Absent an amazing trade offer, Burrow has to be the guy for Cincinnati.

He may not be as polished as Andrew Luck was coming out of college, but no one has ever enjoyed a more productive season than Burrow did last year at LSU. His athletic gifts are significant, but the sheer confidence he plays the quarterback position with really stands out on film. He can give the Bengals offense some serious swagger right away.

The only way Cincinnati won’t take him is if he and representatives make it adamant they will not allow him to play for the Bengals. At the moment, that doesn’t seem like a likely eventuality. If Burrow is willing to sign with his home state team, they need to make it happen.

That doesn’t mean other teams shouldn’t be placing calls to test the franchise’s resolve. Burrow is a special prospect at the NFL’s most valuable position. Quarterback needy teams should be offering multiple first round picks for the chance to move up and build their offense around Burrow for years to come.

The odds still strongly favor the Bengals keeping things simple and taking Burrow No. 1. That’s an exciting outcome for a fan base that really deserves something to get excited about.