Joe Burrow Has “Russell Wilson Traits,” Says an NFL Scout
Without even taking his first NFL snap, Joe Burrow has already drawn parallels to Seahawks legend Russell Wilson.
Expectations are understandably high for Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick and the man who can turn the Cincinnati Bengals back into playoff contenders.
But what do Burrow and Wilson, arguably the league’s second-best quarterback behind Patrick Mahomes, have in common? One scout is eager to explain.
Joe Burrow could be the Bengals’ savior
Every No. 1 overall pick enters their respective league with tremendous expectations.
That applies even more so when said player is coming off one of the greatest seasons in college football history. After an acceptable 2018 season where Burrow completed 57.8% of his passes for 2,894 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions, the Ohio State broke out in a big way last year.
Burrow completed 76.3% of his passes for 5,671 yards, an FBS-record 60 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback also totaled 368 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Led by Burrow, Clyde-Edwards Helaire, and many others, LSU defeated Trevor Lawrence and Clemson in the national championship.
How high are the expectations for Burrow in Cincinnati? The Bengals already named Burrow a team captain.
Burrow is already drawing comparisons to Russell Wilson
Pro comparisons are always interesting, especially in the weeks leading up to the pre-draft process.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper compared Burrow to Tony Romo, while Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller tweeted Burrow’s style and traits reminded him of former Colts star Andrew Luck.
NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein even compared Burrow to Pro Football Hall of Fame signal-caller Kurt Warner.
The latest comparison between Burrow and another quarterback, though, might be more interesting than the Burrow-Warner tweet. One unnamed scout told The Athletic that they already saw some parallels between Burrow and Wilson.
The keyword is “some,” though.
“I’m not saying he’s Russell Wilson, but I think Joe Burrow has Russell Wilson traits. He’s super smart. He’s pretty mobile, and his accuracy on the college tape is outstanding.”
Those things are all true. Burrow is an agile quarterback — although Wilson might be more athletic — and the LSU standout definitely impressed last year.
Still, comparing Burrow and Wilson might be just a bit too much.
Joe Burrow can handle any Russell Wilson comparisons
Joe Burrow has yet to take an NFL snap. Russell Wilson already has a Hall of Fame resume to his name.
Wilson completed 64.5% of his passes in his first eight seasons for 29,734 yards, 227 touchdowns, and only 68 interceptions. The former third-round pick and Super Bowl champion has never thrown more than 11 interceptions in one season.
The scout clarified they only saw parallels between the two in certain areas. But add Wilson to the long list of quarterbacks who Burrow has already drawn comparisons to before making his debut.
The pressure is on Burrow to break through and turn the Bengals around. Given everything else Burrow has experienced in his life, another comparison to an NFL legend shouldn’t affect him too much.
Who knows? Maybe like Wilson, Burrow can win a Super Bowl in his second season and restore the faith of a long-tortured fanbase.
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