Are The Cincinnati Bengals Overlooking Anthony Gordon?

As the Cincinnati Bengals switch back to Andy Dalton, the team still needs a new quarterback beyond this season. Anthony Gordon may be an under the radar target. 

The Bengals are in the midst of their worst season as a franchise. They’ve yet to notch a mark in the win column, the stadium is looking more empty each week, and you can hear the frustration in player’s voices during postgame interviews.

The fan base seems firmly split as too what they want the team to do with their highly valuable first round draft pick in the coming draft. However, there is one thing everyone seems to agree on. The team must address the quarterback position in some way.

For those who believe the front office should take a quarterback in the first round, they offer up the usual candidates of Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert.

Then, there are those who believe Chase Young is a can’t miss prospect and Bengals brass should wait until round two to address quarterback. Candidates at that point would include Jalen Hurts, Jacob Eason, Jake Fromm, and Jordan Love.

However, there is one prospect that seems to be overlooked and he has the potential to be just as good as any of the quarterbacks listed above. That player is Anthony Gordon out of Washington State.

Bleacher report recently detailed Gordon’s incredible rise, which can be found here. The most interesting part of the Cougar signal caller’s story is the long and winding path he has taken to get where he is today. Out of high school he  garnered no attention. Every major college football program refused to offer him. He lit up the junior college world until Washington State came calling. In his first campaign starting, he has proving they made the right decision to do so.

Statistically, nobody has been better than Gordon this season. He has thrown 45 touchdowns and gained 4,920 yards. He is doing it efficiently too, cashing in on 71% of his attempts.

You can see him dissect Oregon State on his way to breaking the Pac-12 single season record for touchdown passes in the clip above from @PFF_College.

He has an extremely strong arm. That much is evidenced by the New York Mets drafting the gunslinger in 2015. He uses that arm strength well, pairing it with nice anticipation and a quick release. These kinds of attributes are something  former Aaron Rodgers mentor and current Bengals quarterbacks coach, Alex Van Pelt, could use to mold Gordon into a star.

Gordon continues to be overlooked. Playing on the west coast for a non powerhouse school works against him. However, he doesn’t need the spotlight to thrive.

He has always had the talent, football IQ, and passion for the game. Now, he simply needs the chance.

As draft evaluation is beginning, the Bengals would be wise to do their due diligence on the California native. he could be the team’s ticket to acquiring the best overall player in the draft, Chase Young, while also adding a top tier talent at the most important position in the sport.