LSU QB Joe Burrow: “I’ll Play For Whoever Drafts Me”

At the NFL Scouting Combine, LSU QB Joe Burrow ended speculation that he didn’t want to be drafted by the Bengals with the No. 1 overall pick, telling reporters, “I’ll play for whoever drafts me,” per James Palmer.

Burrow also dropped another prominent bit of news, informing the assembled media that he will not be throwing or going through drills on the field this week, per Ian Rapoport.

Some in the media had connected dots to suggest Burrow wasn’t jazzed about the prospect of playing for the Bengals. Cincinnati’s commitment to winning was questioned by former QB Carson Palmer, while Burrow has been working out with Palmer’s brother, Jordan, and made comments about wanting to join an organization committed to winning.

That led to the theory Burrow could choose to sit out if the Bengals drafted him to force a trade to another team. However, Burrow refuted that idea. 

“I’m not going to not play. I’m a ballplayer. I’m going to show up,” Burrow said via Adam Schefter.

Burrow added he was just trying not to be “presumptuous” about being the No. 1 overall pick by not dousing the rumors sooner (Adam Beasley), but the media “kind of took that narrative and ran with it.”

“There has never been anything like that from my end,” Burrow said via Paul Dehner Jr.

This should just about rule out any possibility of Burrow not being the No. 1 overall pick by the Bengals. 

Burrow, 23, transferred to LSU to become the starter after three years at Ohio State. He had one of the best seasons for a quarterback in college football history in 2019, winning the Heisman, leading LSU to a national championship and cementing himself as a favorite for the first pick in the draft. 

In 2019, Burrow completed 76.3 percent of his passes for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns and six interceptions in 15 games. He also ran 115 times for 368 yards and an additional five touchdowns.