The Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to protect Joe Burrow over the years. Case in point is the photo of Dexter Lawrence sacking the superstar quarterback that leads this article.
It's no secret Cincinnati's offensive line is still a talking point. Burrow hasn't had a good running game for many years. He's gotten pummeled in the pocket and missed a lot of games in two of the last three seasons.
But thanks to Lawrence's arrival, a sort of iron-sharpens-iron dynamic is playing out on the Bengals practice fields.
Connor Lew getting all he can handle on Bengals scout team vs. Lawrence
Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson reported on how rookie fourth-round center Connor Lew is benefiting already from taking on Dexter Lawrence in practices:
"I'm already going against the best nose tackle in the league. You can't get any harder than that...He's elite. There's no question about that. I've been talking to the other scout teams guys about that. And when we look back two weeks from now, I know that's a small amount of time in football, but you look at that, and I think we'll make a big jump and grow going against those guys."
Lew was a pleasant surprise in Bengals camp. He just turned 21 years old but was coming off a torn ACL he suffered during his final season at Auburn. If not for that injury, Lew might've been drafted far earlier and never landed in a position to block Lawrence on a daily basis.
Not only is it awesome that Lew is back in action so soon to round out his NFL learning curve, but he's getting quality reps against the most formidable adversary he could possibly imagine.
Sexy Dexy is forging Burrow's long-term center in a trial by fire
Dexter Lawrence is a two-time All-Pro who was saddled with a losing situation during his time with the New York Giants. Now that Joe Burrow and the Bengals' high-octane offense can back him up, Lawrence should be unleashed like never before.
And that is only going to help Connor Lew take up the assumed mantle he's in line for as Ted Karras' long-term successor as the starting center.
In a perfect world, Burrow's prime is still many years long. The harsh reality of the NFL is that Karras, dependable and savvy of a center as he is, doesn't have much longer. He will not last nearly as long as Burrow due to the mere nature of the position he plays.
Lew has a very long runway ahead, and Lawrence is helping to pave the way for him. It's not only a benefit to Lew himself — it's also reassuring that Burrow will have an eventual center in Lew who will have developed under circumstances in which he couldn't afford to make a mistake often. Lawrence brings that kind of elite standard to the gridiron, and it's a legit occupational/safety hazard to go up against him without being on point.
It's a win-win scenario whether or not Ted Karras holds off Lew in 2027
The story linked in the intro features a quote from current starting center Ted Karras about Dexter Lawrence, which appears to more or less be ringing true for Connor Lew:
"The level of stress I feel at the line of scrimmage...[No.] 97, he gets like one a day on me which I gotta eliminate. [...] You better bring your f*****g s*** when you're going against Dexter Lawrence."
Say that Karras, a 33-year-old pending free agent, defies the odds and has one more quality season to give to Cincinnati. That'd be great. It gives Lew more time to grow on the practice field versus Lawrence, and probably puts Joe Burrow's mind at ease even more.
But if this really is the so-called last dance for Karras in the Queen City, well, Lawrence will make darn sure that the all-important position of who snaps Burrow the ball is in good hands going forward.
Oh, and once Lew gets the call up to the starting lineup? Fellow rookie Brian Parker II has taken plenty of reps at center, as has surprise 53-man roster player Jacob Bayer. Both of them should have the chance to compete for the No. 2 job, or an eventual starting spot at right guard if Dalton Risner signs elsewhere next offseason or the one after.
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