Bengals: Burrow 'checks off a lot of boxes' as QB prospect

The Cincinnati Bengals are on the clock for the 2020 NFL Draft, and they like what they've seen from the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

The Bengals, who hold the No. 1 pick, will also be coaching at the upcoming Senior Bowl. While preparing for the prospect game, multiple members of Zac Taylor's staff offered glowing reviews of LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.

"He definitely checks off a lot of boxes early on in the evaluation process," quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt said of Burrow, via Bengals team writer Geoff Hobson. "He obviously looks like a very intriguing guy."

It's not yet known whether Burrow will participate in the Senior Bowl. The star passer is seen as the premier offensive prospect in his draft class and he'll likely be linked to Cincinnati throughout the process.

"He's got natural pocket feel. He feels it," Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said. "It seems like he never takes his eyes off down the field. He extends the play really, really well. He's a lot faster than you might assume when you see him running away from all those SEC guys. He's got incredible up-field accuracy. The ball hardly ever hits the ground in a game, which is rare. He just naturally puts the ball in places where those guys can make plays."

After finishing with a 2-14 record in 2019, the Bengals are searching for their quarterback of the future. Andy Dalton has been the starter since being drafted in 2011, but his level of play has declined in recent years.