What was Joe Burrow's age when he was drafted by Bengals?

When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted 23-years-old Joe Burrow as the first overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, they hoped to find their franchise quarterback for a long time to come. While no one knows what the future holds, based on current evidence, they have been well rewarded.

Joe Burrow was drafted at the young age of 23 and in just two years, he has proven to be a huge hit with the long-suffering franchise. The first year went well until he tore his ACL and MCL in his left knee, which curtailed his rookie season. He returned healthy for his second year in 2021 and took the Bengals to their best season since 1988 as they made it to the Super Bowl.

Along the way, he set franchise records for passer rating, completion percentage, and single-game passing yards at the age of 25. By leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl, he tied Boomer Esiason for the most playoff wins in franchise history. That, more than anything else, raised Joe Burrow's stock as Cincinnati had the longest playoff win drought of any team coming into 2021.

He has started strong this season as well and looks well-positioned to do so for many years to come. This season, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to have multiple games with more than 500 yards passing and four or more touchdowns.

What lies ahead for Joe Burrow?

At the moment, it appears that Joe Burrow does not have greatness written all over him. Despite their talent, even the best quarterbacks, such as Dan Marino, have discovered that there is no guarantee of success. He's been to the Super Bowl before. He must now figure out how to lift the Lombardi Trophy.

The AFC presents a unique challenge, with many talented young quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert. Given their similar age profiles, Joe Burrow will have to consistently outgun them to have a chance of achieving his dreams.

Another consideration that could derail his career is his sometimes rash approach to inviting contact. He has already suffered an injury in his rookie season, and further serious injuries could jeopardize his career in the future. To that end, the Bengals' offensive line needs to be improved to provide him with more protection.

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At this young age, everything seems possible. But for it to work out, all the pieces would have to fall into place.