Just as expected, Joe Burrow ended up being the No. 1 pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2020 NFL Draft. Upon his arrival in Cincinnati, former NFL quarterback David Carr imparted some wisdom to Burrow.
“The offensive line needs to improve,” Carr fittingly said, via Tyler Dragon in the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It’s only gonna be about what they put around him. It’s all it’s gonna be.
“When you’re young you have a tendency to not be as assertive because there are older guys in the room,” Carr said. “I didn’t speak up as much as I should have. I would say do what you’re comfortable with. Obviously learn the system, ingrain yourself with the team. But the quarterback is king. That’s what you kind of have to remember because the team is only gonna go as far as you are. If you’re not comfortable with something, then you need to do it a different way.”
Back in 2002, before Burrow joined the Bengals, Carr was the No. 1 pick of the new expansion franchise, the Houston Texans. When Carr was selected by the Texans, there wasn't much talent around him—especially on the offensive line.
As a matter of fact, Carr was sacked a jaw-dropping 76 times as a rookie. While they refused to improve the offensive line, the Texans parted ways with Carr after just five seasons.
Provided that, Carr knows firsthand that having a formidable offensive line could make or break Burrow's career. Just last season, the Bengals offensive line allowed 48 sacks, which was the ninth-most in the NFL.
As good as Burrow is, having an inadequate offensive line could prove to be costly for his career. If the Bengals want to avoid having another Carr situation, their next focus should be on beefing up their offensive front.
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