Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow headlines 7-round 2020 mock draft

There is no more obvious pick in any Cincinnati Bengals mock draft or general mock draft than Joe Burrow coming off the board with the No. 1 overall pick.

While he entered the 2019 college football season with little fanfare (if any), the LSU quarterback has been unbelievable in a revamped offense that has him slinging the ball all over the yard. Burrow is not the most physically gifted quarterback in the class but he has proven to be the best with his athleticism, decision-making and mental processing already on display.

It’s clear that the Bengals are ready to move on from Andy Dalton and bring in a new era for the franchise. However, they need the right player at quarterback for that transition to happen smoothly. Joe Burrow is the right player.

After you get your franchise quarterback, you need to protect him. And the offensive line that the Bengals have on the field in the 2019 season isn’t going to be able to do that. Yes, 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams should return next season to start at left tackle. However, there are still needs at right tackle and guard that need to be addressed for the offense to fully function in the future.

Thus, the Bengals add Williams’ former teammate, Alex Leatherwood, at the beginning of the second round. Leatherwood offers an intriguing option for Cincinnati as he’s played both guard and tackle for the Crimson Tide and done so with quite a bit of success. He’d be a welcome addition for Joe Mixon as a road-grader but has the requisite physical talent to also develop further as a high-end pass blocker.