Cincinnati Bengals: The Joe Burrow vs Jalen Hurts argument is over

To the Cincinnati Bengals fans who want to take Chase Young first overall then Jalen Hurts at 33, that argument may be put to rest. Here’s how the LSU vs Oklahoma game locks in Joe Burrow as the #1 quarterback in the draft.

If you watched Joe Burrow play Saturday, then you should be convinced. In my opinion, the first pick has to be Joe Burrow. Chase Young is a great player, but with the Cincinnati Bengals already having Carlos Dunlap, Sam Hubbard and Carl Lawson, there isn’t as much of a need at defensive end as there is at quarterback. With Andy Dalton wanting to be a starter somewhere, and the Bengals able to free up $17.5 million in cap space by parting ways with Dalton, now is the time to get our new franchise quarterback.

Bengals fans that still wanted Chase Young first overall were presented with a counter argument: if the Bengals select Chase Young, who is going to play quarterback? The most popular answer I saw was Jalen Hurts. This article isn’t saying that Jalen Hurts will be a bad player in the NFL, but the game Saturday showed just how much better Burrow is than Hurts right now. There’s a clear gap in skill between the two players, and I think if we’re going to go after a new franchise quarterback, we should do it right and select the best quarterback possible.

The first half of play from Joe Burrow can be described best with one word: dominance. Burrow played some the second half, but with LSU leading he sat most of it. Burrow lit up the Oklahoma defense with 493 yards and 7 touchdowns. Against the number 4 team in the country. In a playoff game. That’s exactly what Bengals fans should want. A quarterback that not only steps up in big games, but dominates. Burrow was surgical all game, almost every pass was where it needed to be. Burrow is a quarterback I can trust throwing the football in clutch situations.

With Trey Hopkins and 2019 first round pick Jonah Williams returning next year, the Bengals still have some moves to make before they have a solid offensive line. With picks at the top of the second and third rounds, they’ll have a chance to select a lineman that can make an impact immediately. The Bengals have money to spend in free agency as well, and can sign a lineman or two to insure Joe Burrow has protection.

In addition to a potentially improved offensive line, Burrow will enter the league with plenty of weapons on offense. Joe Mixon has had an outstanding second half of the season, and can establish the run and can set up passing situations as well as be a good short route option for Burrow. If A.J. Green returns, he’ll have a great number one option as well as Tyler Boyd in the slot. Besides the two star Bengals receivers, Auden Tate can be a reliable red zone option for Burrow and John Ross has the speed to get open and get big chunks of yards. If Tyler Eifert returns, he’ll have two good options at tight end alongside C.J. Uzomah. Even with all those weapons in place, the Cincinnati Bengals have the money and draft picks to add to that list as well.

This game proved one thing to me: Joe Burrow is the guy. We’re a rebuilding franchise, and getting a talented young quarterback that could be coming into the league immediately with an abundance of offensive weapons can speed up the rebuilding process. The first pick of the draft can be a turning point for this franchise, and Joe Burrow very well can be the guy we need to turn things around.