LSU Football: Joe Burrow’s combine interview left the Bengals impressed

Former LSU football quarterback Joe Burrow impressed during his combine interview.

Former LSU football quarterback Joe Burrow will be the top selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.

That’s not really debatable at this point.

The Cincinnati Bengals have the first overall pick in the draft and I can’t see them trading the pick (despite the fact the Miami Dolphins are poised to make an offer for the pick).

The Bengals have reportedly been locked in on Burrow since before the 2019 college football regular season ended.

Cincinnati.com reported this week that the Bengals were “reaffirmed” that Burrow was their guy at the combine, after an 18 minute formal interview.

According to the report, Cincinnati felt Burrow was “smart” and the “real deal”. They also said the Bengals believe Burrow will be “ready for the NFL”.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. One of Burrow’s best qualities is his leadership ability.

Burrow isn’t the most physically gifted quarterback in the draft (something that Burrow has acknowledged), but he’s likely the most prepared.

I believe leadership qualities matter more than almost any other attribute for a quarterback. Obviously the physical traits, to some extent, have to be there. But we’ve seen plenty of physically gifted quarterbacks fail to succeed in the NFL (Ryan Mallett and Blaine Gabbert anyone?).

When you think of the greatest quarterbacks of all time — Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Montana, etc — it’s their ability to lead that made them elite.

Burrow has that special “it” factor. He can rally a team unlike anyone else in this year’s draft.

That’s why I think he has the potential to completely change the trajectory of the Bengals’ franchise.

A transcendent quarterback can change everything for a team. Cincinnati would be incredibly foolish to give up the first pick for any amount of draft capital.

Fortunately for Bengals fans, it sounds like trading the first pick isn’t an option.