Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow gives glimpse at future in National Championship Game

Joe Burrow will lead the LSU Tigers in the National Championship Game and give Cincinnati Bengals fans a glimpse into the bright future of their franchise.

Unless there is a drastic change from either the Cincinnati Bengals or Joe Burrow, the LSU Tigers quarterback will be coronated as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft in a little more than three months. But before he fully starts his venture into pro football, he’ll try to cap off his Heisman Trophy-winning season with a National Championship victory.

On Monday night, Burrow will lead LSU against the defending champion Clemson Tigers and another elite quarterback prospect — though not until at least 2021 — Trevor Lawrence. For Bengals fans, however, this will be the biggest stage that they’ll have the chance to see their likely franchise quarterback play on before he suits up in a new set of stripes.

After a pedestrian 2018 season in Baton Rouge as a transfer from Ohio State, Burrow’s stock skyrocketed in 2019 as passing game coordinator Joe Brady joined the LSU staff and helped unlock the potential of the quarterback — and boy did he ever do that.

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In the simplest terms, Burrow has been about as close to perfect as you could hope this season for the Tigers. Through 14 games, including the College Football Playoff semifinal win over Oklahoma, Burrow has completed 77.6 percent of his passes for 5,208 yards, 55 touchdowns and six interceptions. Oh, he’s also rushed for 310 yards and four scores as well.

When you look at Burrow and his NFL future with the Bengals as they prepare to move on from Andy Dalton, what you’ll see in the National Championship Game isn’t a player with the most elite physical tools. He’s got above-average arm strength and solid-enough athletic ability but he’s not a world-beater in either regard.

What has set Burrow apart is the full tool chest that he works with and has worked tirelessly to develop. Burrow’s accuracy has been second to none this season, consistently anticipating routes and coverages and delivering balls on a dime. When you couple that with his ability to absorb contact and avoid pressure to still make throws along with much-improved and polished technique as a thrower, you get an elite quarterback prospect.

Dalton’s time with the Bengals has been filled with many playoff appearances but the quarterback has never been the one to get them over the hump — Joe Burrow can be that guy. Because not only is the LSU star and Heisman-winner in possession of the complete package but he also has the confidence and leadership ability to take over an offense and lead his team into battle.

And if you aren’t aware of his confidence and charisma as a leader, let this pre-National Championship Game exchange enlighten you on the matter:

“Looks like a National Champion” — and he also looks like the future of the Cincinnati Bengals.

You could make the argument that Clemson will be the toughest test Joe Burrow and LSU have faced this season, which stands to reason given that their meeting with the title on the line. Having said that, if Burrow’s season has been any indication, there’s no one in college football that can stop him.

And Bengals fans watching on Monday night have to believe that’s a glimpse into what’s to come in Cincinnati for many years.