When Joe Burrow was drafted first overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, critics had their doubts about the young quarterback, especially concerns about his small hands. But he quickly put those questions to rest by leading Cincinnati to the Super Bowl in just his second season.

Still, the quarterback who ended Cincinnati’s Super Bowl drought of over three decades had no hesitation in naming Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes as the best in the league.

"I don't think there's any argument right now," Burrow said in June 2023. "It's Pat (Mahomes). Until somebody has a better year than he's had, he's the one to knock off."

At the time, Mahomes was coming off arguably the best season of his career. He led the league in passing yards (5,250), touchdowns (41), and QBR (79.0). On top of that, he guided the Chiefs to their second Super Bowl win in four years.

Even though the league had, and still has, elite quarterbacks like Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen and Burrow himself, none have matched Mahomes’ level of success.

"Until me or Joey or anybody else can win a Super Bowl, I think Pat's kind of the clear No. 1 right now," Allen said in 2023. "He's been playing at such a high level for so long, and he's got the rings to prove it."

And while Burrow has always aimed to be the best in the league, it becomes difficult to make that case when the team falls short of reaching the big stage.

Still, he has remained focused on his goal of getting to the "top of the mountain."

Joe Burrow Has Respect for Players at the Top

With Joe Burrow under center, the Bengals have made two postseason runs and reached the Super Bowl in the 2021 season, where they fell to the Los Angeles Rams. That experience gave Burrow a clear understanding of what it takes to reach that level.

"Whenever you're at the top of what you do, you always have respect for those guys," Burrow said at the time. "Because you know the work that it takes to get to that point."

However, the past three seasons have not gone in Burrow’s favor. After losing to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game in the 2022 season, Cincinnati has not made it back to the playoffs.

Despite Burrow continuing to put up strong numbers and deliver consistent performances, the Bengals' roster has not fully lived up to expectations.

That is something Cincinnati appears determined to fix heading into the upcoming season. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Shubhi Rathore

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore