It’s the most unique draft in NFL history, but this year’s completely virtual experience kicked off Thursday night with a couple of picks we all expected at the top, and plenty of surprises and drama the rest of the way.
With all 32 picks of this year’s first round officially in the books, here are our early grades for every selection thus far:
1. Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow | QB | LSU
Some years, the team picking at No. 1 overall desperately needs a franchise quarterback, but there’s not one worth taking. Thankfully for the Bengals and their fans, that’s not the case this year.
Burrow put together the most prolific season college football has ever seen from a quarterback, on his way to winning the Heisman Trophy and a national title. Not only does he have the intangibles it takes to be a successful quarterback at the next level, but he has all the physical tools to be worthy of this pick.
It’s possible a team like the Miami Dolphins inquired about moving up to this pick (they’re the only team with enough ammo to even have that conversation), but a true franchise quarterback isn’t worth passing up. I doubt any potential trade talks went terribly far.
The Bengals have been stuck in QB Purgatory for too long. Not any longer with Burrow in the fold.