When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell calls out Joe Burrow’s name to confirm his selection in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night, it will complete a remarkable rise for the former LSU Tigers quarterback.
While Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama and Oregon's Justin Herbert have long been considered among the top QB talents in college football, Burrow was barely a blip on the radar of most NFL teams a year ago.
Previously considered by many to be a mid-round selection, the 23-year-old is now universally regarded as one of the leading prospects in this week’s Draft following one of the best seasons ever seen from a college quarterback.
He is widely expected to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the No.1 overall pick - ahead of Tagovailoa - after an injury hit year - and Herbert, who are both also expected to be selected in the top 10.
“For me, Joe Burrow is the best quarterback in this Draft from an overall standpoint,” says former NFL defensive lineman Marlon Favorite, a Super Bowl champion with the New Orleans Saints in 2010.
“I think Tua has the most talent and Herbert has the most upside – but your overall package of Day One quarterback who can come straight in and win games for you is definitely Joe Burrow.”
Burrow transferred to LSU before the start 2018 season after a frustrating three years at Ohio State, where he initially found himself as a back-up before missing out on the starting job to Dwayne Haskins – a first-round selection for the Washington Redskins last year.
And while his first season with the Tigers was a solid one with some impressive moments, it did little to convince onlookers that he was among the elite quarterbacks in his draft class.
His second year was a different story.
Burrow threw for a massive 5,671 yards - completing 76.3 percent of his passes - and a record 60 touchdowns during the 2019 college season as he helped Ed Orgeron’s unbeaten side to win the National Championship in January.
He was also rewarded for his individual performances with the Heisman Trophy – the prestigious award handed to college football's best player.
Favorite, who also won a National title with LSU in 2008 and now works as an analyst for LSU Sports Network and NFL Network, believes that the quarterback is more than capable of making a successful step up to the NFL.
“I understand some of the concerns surrounding Burrow in the fact we have only really seen one season of him playing to this standard,” he says.
“However, I’ve had a chance to watch him closely over the last couple of seasons and I saw him develop and get better with every game during the 2018 season.
“Then bringing in a passing game co-ordinator like Joe Brady for the 2019 campaign really allowed his talents to be showcased last year – those two really were a perfect match.”
The arrival of Brady – a former assistant with the Saints who was recently appointed as the Carolina Panthers' new offensive co-ordinator – brought with it an overhaul of the LSU offense that allowed the quality of Burrow and his impressive wide receivers to shine through.
The first real indication that the quarterback had what it takes to be a genuine contender for the first overall pick came during the Tigers’ second game of the season at the University of Texas. On that day, he threw for 471 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-38 victory over the ninth-ranked school in the country.
Although other impressive displays followed, such as in the 46-41 win over third-ranked Alabama and in the National Championship triumph over Clemson in January, it was his performance against Texas that sticks in Favorite’s memory.
“I’ll never forget watching that Texas game in September. I think that was when a lot of people started to pay real attention,” says the former Super Bowl champion.
“That game, he showed me everything I needed to see - from using his offensive line to a full extent, to being able to exploit the quality of his receivers.
“Furthermore, he showed the ability to go on the road and fight to beat a Top 10 team and to do it repeatedly against other big teams like Auburn and Alabama.
“That’s why I feel like he is THE top guy.
“It’s really tough to go through the gauntlet like that. LSU finished the season beating seven Top 10 teams and that speaks volumes about the type of winning quarterback he is.”
Burrow's arm may not be as strong as the likes of Tagovailoa or Herbert, but he boasts excellent awareness and movement in the pocket, as well as his decision-making.
“One of the big things I think gets overlooked sometimes is a quarterback’s pocket presence, his poise and the decisions he makes under pressure," adds Favorite.
“That’s what the team that drafts Burrow will be getting from day one – someone who understands the game and has a really high football IQ.
"They will also be getting a guy that is determined and is a fierce leader.”
Although Favorite feels that Burrow’s set of skills might be better suited elsewhere, he fully expects the quarterback to be a member of the Cincinnati Bengals by the time the first round of the Draft ends on Thursday night.
“He is a native of the area, so I think it will be good for the state of Ohio to have a hometown boy there,” he continues. “However, I personally don’t think the Bengals would be the best fit for him.
“Among the teams currently in the market for a QB, I think Miami is the best fit for Burrow but I don’t foresee the Bengals passing up the chance to bring him in.
“If he does end up there, I think they should also look at bringing in some other receivers during the Draft – maybe a successor for AJ Green – and really build the programme around him.
“What he showed all the NFL scouts and coaches out is that, if they surround him with a talented group of receivers, he will make things happen.”
Watch the stars of the future in the 2020 NFL Draft, live Thursday night from 1 a.m. on NFL Game Pass, Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Mix or listen along with talkSPORT.
