By all indications, the Cincinnati Bengals will select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft in April. Until the pick is official, Burrow is unofficially getting some help from a former Bengals player.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the retired Bengals wide receiver, is training with the 23-year-old Heisman Trophy winner, via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.
“If I can drop him a nugget, help show him what an NFL receiver sees, every little bit helps. It showed his pocket presence and his ability to scramble and pass and run was impressive early on and that pretty much held true the rest of the season.”
Houshmandzadeh, 42, a one-time Pro Bowl receiver, spent the final three seasons of his 11-year NFL career with three different teams after parting with the Bengals, finally retiring following the 2011 season. Burrow is one of the most accomplished college quarterbacks in history after transferring from Ohio State and leading the LSU Tigers to the national championship in 2019-20.
While some top-ranked college gunslingers find the NFL adjustment difficult, the Bengals are trying to assist Burrow in any way they can in the lead-up to the draft and official coronation of the next No. 1 overall pick.
Not everybody faces trouble getting thrown into the best football league in the world, however, as we just saw Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray — another former Heisman Trophy-winning QB turned No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft — win Offensive Rookie of the Year this week.
If Burrow is on the same path as Murray, given all the similarities, then he should have no issue adjusting to the NFL. The Bengals are certainly hoping that's the case.
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