Joe Burrow Scouting Report

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The NFL combine kicks off in ten days on February 28th which means it’s time for some NFL draft content! We’ll be releasing some scouting reports on some of the top prospects in this year’s draft, starting with Joe Burrow. We’ll also be uploading film analysis videos on our YouTube channel so be on the lookout for them. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Joe Burrow is a quarterback from Louisiana State University and this year he had one of the greatest seasons in the history of college football. This past season he broke records, won a ton of awards, and achieved things very few players have ever achieved including winning the Heisman and the national championship in the same season. Joe Burrow was must-watch T.V. this year and his 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions speak for themselves. He was historically good and that’s why he went from a late-round pick at best last year to the projected number one overall pick this year. Joe Burrow is a phenomenal quarterback, and you won’t see many college quarterbacks quite like him.

Pros:

• A master of the mental aspect of the quarterback position. Great at making smart pre-snap and post-snap reads and excels against man coverage.

• One of if not the most accurate passer in this draft. Shows excellent ball placement not only on short routes (drags and screens) but also on throws deep down the field. Puts the ball right where it needs to be and rarely forces his receiver to make a play. Completion percentage can easily be manipulated or inflated, but in this case, Burrow’s 76% completion percentage is legitimate.

• Has an understanding of leverage and space on the field that is extremely rare.

• Can make throws into tight windows even without a ton of arm strength.

• Doesn’t put the ball in harm’s way too often which is why his number of interceptions is so low.

• Phenomenal against blitzes

• Doesn’t get rattled by pressure and can make throws with pressure in his face.

• Mobile inside and outside of the pocket which makes him really versatile

• Can make accurate throws on the run

Cons:

• Doesn’t have incredible arm strength teams look for in a franchise quarterback

• Would probably struggle in a city with cold weather and lots of wind because he lacks arm strength

• Has good mechanics, but there are too many times where his throws are wobbly which affects his velocity and accuracy

• Already 24 years old (same age as Patrick Mahomes)

- This isn’t a huge issue, but this means that Joe Burrow has less time to develop than the other prospects in this draft class

Biggest Strength: Accuracy

Biggest Weakness: Arm Strength

Position Ranking: 1st

Overall Ranking: 2nd

Draft Projection: 1st

Where He Should Be Drafted: Top 3

Joe Burrow isn’t physically gifted like most prototypical quarterbacks are now, but he is still worth the number one pick. He is an extremely accurate passer who has mastered reading defenses and processing what he sees on the field. None of the quarterbacks’ film has impressed me as much as Joe Burrow’s did. There were plays that Burrow made that left me speechless and confused because it’s hard to believe what he can do on the field without a super strong arm. It’s rare to see a college quarterback process defenses and make smart decisions like Burrow and It’s why he’s still the best quarterback in this draft even without a cannon for an arm. Joe Burrow doesn’t have the potential that other quarterbacks in this class have, but he has a high floor and is the safest pick out of all the quarterbacks. I absolutely love Joe Burrow, and even though I think the Bengals should seriously consider trading down or picking Chase Young due to the strength of next years’ quarterback class, he’s most likely gonna get drafted by Cincinnati and he’ll be great in the NFL. Let’s just hope the Bengals don’t ruin Burrow because he is truly special.