If anyone knows what it's like to be drafted No. 1 overall and the pressure and expectations that come with it, it's Peyton Manning. The five-time NFL MVP spoke on SportsCenter about the advice he gave Joe Burrow, who is the clear favorite to be drafted first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.

“What I told him, ‘Look, Joe, if you're the first pick in the NFL Draft, you are going to a team that has earned the first pick in the NFL Draft,” Manning said, via ESPN. There are going to be some holes there. There's a reason the Colts were picking No. 1 that year. There's a reason the Bengals are picking No. 1 this year.'”

Last season, the Bengals were arguably the worst team in all of football, as they finished the season with a 2-14 record. Led by first-year head coach Zac Taylor, the team struggled on both sides of the ball — ranking 30th in scoring offense and 25th in scoring defense.

Manning also spoke about the struggles of a rookie franchise quarterback with tremendous expectations.

Article Continues Below
More Cincinnati Bengals News
bengals, cincinnati bengals, bengals minicamp
3 hottest Cincinnati Bengals takes coming out of 2025 minicampGarrett Kerman ·
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) runs onto the field before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium.
Bengals’ Orlando Brown Jr. weighs in on Trey Hendrickson contract disputeRichard Pereira ·
Nov 17, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) reacts after sacking Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the first half at SoFi Stadium.
Adam Schefter reveals Trey Hendrickson Bengals offer falls way shortBen Strauss ·
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91)reacts to the missed field goal attempt by the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Paul Brown Stadium.
Bengals lineman ‘very confident’ Trey Hendrickson, Shemar Stewart will get signedBen Strauss ·
Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (75) runs onto the field before the game against the Denver Broncos.
Bengals’ Orlando Brown makes ‘special’ claim about offenseJosh Davis ·
Two mystery players in the middle, Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins around them, Cincinnati Bengals logo in the background
2 Cincinnati Bengals in danger of getting cut after 2025 minicampEnzo Flojo ·

“[Then-Colts head coach] Jim Mora never took me out,” Manning said of his experience. “I learned some things in the fourth quarter of those blowouts about what it took to be an NFL quarterback, and the next year we went from 3-13 to 13-3. That wouldn't have happened if I hadn't have hung in there and learned the ropes as a rookie, even though we took some bumps and bruises.

“So that's what I tried to encourage Joe and all the other rookie quarterbacks, that your rookie year is not going to be the same as your senior year in college. But if you learn how fast the defensive backs are, how soon you have to get rid of the ball, understand defenses, you can become a better player and really get it going the year or two after that.”

Peyton Manning went on to enjoy a 17-year NFL career and retired as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. Joe Burrow, meanwhile, is coming off a Heisman-winning season at LSU and will be expected to do great things with the Bengals at the next level.