3. The Joe Burrow situation
It’s not exactly Eli and Archie Manning 2004 issues with the then-San Diego Chargers, but the Joe Burrow camp doesn’t appear to be doing cartwheels over the idea of playing for Cincinnati.
No. Burrow isn’t going to sit out the season if he does become a Bengal, and yes, the odds are that GM Mike Brown doesn’t mess around and simply takes the reigning Heisman winner, but ….
There are a few teams with a whole lot of big things to offer Cincinnati for that No. 1 overall pick.
Joe Burrow Scenario No. 1
Cincinnati selects him, there’s a wee bit of grousing, and then everyone says the right things, and the franchise quarterback is in place for the next decade.
Joe Burrow Scenario No. 2
The Bengals get weird, take Ohio State pass rushing superstar Chase Young with the first pick, hang on to Andy Dalton, teams rush to try to trade with Washington to get up to the No. 2 to get Burrow, and everyone goes on with their lives.
Joe Burrow Scenario No. 3
The Bengals get weird, take Chase Young, and no one is able to swing a deal to move up. Miami gets what they want and drafts Burrow at the 5.
Joe Burrow Scenario No. 4
The New England Patriots go really, really bold. They trade their first round pick – the 23 overall – a future first round pick, their second round pick in this year’s draft, and at least three other selections in the mid-to-late rounds. They take Burrow No. 1.
And finally, because the entire theme of this piece is go throw it all against the wall and go with something potentially stupid (but this juuuuuust might happen) …
Joe Burrow Scenario No. 5
Miami. The Dolphins have the 5, the 18, and the 26 in the first round, and they haven’t been shy about how much they want Burrow. They trade away the 5 and the 26 in this year’s draft, a third rounder in this year’s draft, and one of the two second rounders they own in next year’s draft all to move up those four extra spots.
That changes up the dynamic a bit, and then it’s game on for the rest of the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft …
– The old guy free agents
– The NFL teams that need another option
– How the NFL Draft will go
– All 32 Week 1 starters will be …