2020 NFL Draft: Joe Burrow has played himself into QB1 spot

Joe Burrow was phenomenal in the biggest game of the season and isn’t just the Heisman favorite but now earning QB1 status in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Week 11 of the 2019 college football season saw one of the marquee matchups of the season. Joe Burrow and the LSU Tigers took on Tua Tagovailoa and the Alabama Crimson Tide in a showdown that saw Burrow make history. Burrow led the Tigers into Tuscaloosa and became the fifth team to beat a Nick Saban-coached Alabama team at home, also snapping LSU’s eight-game losing streak to the Tide.

One of the more glaring qualities from Burrow’s game against Alabama was his toughness. It’s an underrated quality that the LSU quarterback has in spades. He got knocked down and got back up, literally. Burrow was sacked five times but he stood tall in the pocket, unfazed by pressure that got to him. He still stepped into his throws, taking shots from defenders and completing passes.

Burrow felt the pressure, showing the ability to escape and elude defenders inside the pocket. When he got the opportunity to pull it down and run, he made a statement, finishing the game with 14 rushes for 64 yards. In fact, he had two big-time fourth-quarter runs that set up a touchdown.

When he dropped back to pass, Burrow showed he’s one of the best quarterback prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft class at reading defenses. Burrow was absolutely surgical, picking apart Alabama’s 21st ranked pass defense.

He entered the third quarter completing 20 out of 24 passes and three touchdowns. In the final two drives of the game, when LSU needed him most, Burrow completed 9-of-12 for 106 yards. Burrow showed off his arm strength by fitting passes into tight coverage and on sideline throws.

He also displayed savviness and poise, especially in the fourth quarter. On one play, he climbed into the pocket like it was a quarterback draw, fooling the Alabama defense before completing a pass.

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Burrow recognized the soft spots in the middle of Alabama defense and he exploited it. By the end of the game, Burrow finished going 31 of 39 with three passing touchdowns and close to 400 yards.

There are more than a few teams that could use Burrow, he’s a type of player that can galvanize a team. He’s a player that can change a team with his presence and his style of play. LSU has beaten four top-five ranked teams this season and the man touching the ball on every play, Joe Burrow, has a lot to do with it. Imagine bringing that to a franchise.