Joe Burrow has emerged as the top NFL quarterback prospect for 2025, climbing higher than expected despite the Cincinnati Bengals’ recent setbacks. While the Bengals finished with a 9-8 record and failed to reach the playoffs, Burrow’s individual performance stood out for its volume and efficiency, solidifying his status as a premier NFL passer.

Escalating Recognition for Burrow’s Outstanding 2024 Season

Last year, ESPN placed Burrow as the fifth-best quarterback in the NFL, but on the latest executive, coach, and scout rankings for 2025, he advanced to third overall. This leap in standings reflects Burrow’s remarkable output where he led the league in attempts (460), completions (652), passing yards (4,918), and touchdowns (43), while limiting interceptions to just nine. His prolific numbers signify a quarterback carrying a heavy load with considerable accuracy and consistency.

ESPN analyst Jeremy Fowler praises Burrow’s 2024 season, highlighting both his statistical dominance and return from adversity.

Prolific is the best way to describe Burrow’s 2024 campaign, leading the NFL with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns on his way to a second Comeback Player of the Year award,

Fowler reports.

Burrow makes a compelling case as the game’s most accurate quarterback. His 70.6% completion rate against the backdrop of a league-high 652 attempts in 2024 is impressive. His 11.0% off-target rate is also the lowest among starting quarterbacks.

Challenges Faced Despite Exceptional Performance Under Pressure

Burrow’s physical and mental toughness becomes more evident considering the adversity he faces behind a struggling offensive line. Ranked 27th in the NFL, Cincinnati’s line fails to provide the protection seen by many top-tier signal callers. Warren Sharp of Sharp Analysis highlighted Burrow’s unique experience with pressure over the past four seasons.

Most brutal stat you’ll read today: Joe Burrow has been blitzed at the #1 LOWEST rate of any QB the last 4 years–but–he has been hit within 2.5 seconds of snap at the #1 HIGHEST rate,

Sharp wrote.

This means Burrow faces quick hits and pressure despite rarely being blitzed, a testament to both the poor protection upfront and his ability to perform rapidly under duress.

Comparison to Other QBs and a Scout’s Insight on Burrow’s Skillset

The top-ranked quarterback on ESPN’s list remains Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite Mahomes’ high ranking solidified by his team’s winning culture, his individual stats have not dominated the league in recent seasons. Meanwhile, Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles was listed considerably lower at ninth, which raises questions about what factors influence these rankings.

An experienced AFC scout weighed in with a strong endorsement of Burrow’s abilities, emphasizing his technical skills and mental command.

If we’re talking about playing the quarterback position, nobody is playing it better than him,

the scout stated.

Footwork, ball placement, the mental game at the line of scrimmage, feel for the pocket, eye level, finding creases to step up and throw — he’s the best right now. And he’s more mobile than he gets credit for.

Fowler also noted Burrow’s historic streak last season.

Last season, Burrow became the first player in NFL history with 250 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in eight straight games,

Fowler wrote.

And similar to Mahomes, he had much to overcome last year.

Burrow’s fantasy football owners no doubt noticed his consistent high-level performance throughout 2024.

Accomplishing Success With Limited Team Support

While the Bengals benefit from a talented receiving duo in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, their offensive line and running game are noticeably weak. Running back Chase Brown delivers solid but unspectacular production, failing to alleviate pressure on Burrow or to force defenses to commit more resources to stopping the run.

The team’s defensive deficiencies further exacerbate the challenge. Cincinnati recorded six losses in games where they scored 25 points or more, evidencing a porous defense that made the offense’s job tougher and allowed opponents to focus on disrupting Burrow’s passing attack.

An AFC executive summarized Burrow’s dual realities well.

I get the guy has two elite wideouts, but their run game was average and the offensive line was not very good either,

the executive said.

On top of all that, their defense was porous and he kept them in every single game for the most part. I thought it may have been his best year, but it didn’t get the same pub because of the other high-profile teams.

This perspective highlights how quarterbacks in consistently strong teams, like the Chiefs or Buffalo Bills, tend to receive greater recognition, even when a player like Burrow is producing under tougher circumstances.

Future Outlook and Impact on the NFL Quarterback Landscape

Joe Burrow’s ascendancy to the upper echelons of NFL quarterback rankings despite a challenging environment signals his rising dominance and resilience. His ability to post elite statistics with a poor supporting cast marks him as an elite player with rare skills and leadership.

As a “Joe Burrow top NFL quarterback” narrative gains traction, his performance sets a new benchmark for evaluating quarterback excellence beyond simply team success. Analysts and scouts will continue watching how Burrow navigates improving his team or whether the Bengals can build around him to fully capitalize on his talents.

Ultimately, Burrow’s rise challenges traditional metrics of quarterback greatness by demonstrating how much impact a player can have even when key team elements lag behind. His story adds an important layer to the ongoing discussion of who truly stands atop the NFL quarterback hierarchy going into 2025.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Who is better, Lamar or Joe Burrow?

A. I still dislike scary films. Haunted houses aren’t my thing, and I couldn’t sit through Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or House. As a kid, I was all about SpongeBob, Disney Channel, and Nickelodeon. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a Disney Channel fan.

Q. Who is Joe Burrow’s favorite rapper?

A. Joe Burrow’s buddy and top music artist, Kid Cudi, has plans to visit Cincinnati soon.

Q. What did Snoop Dogg say about Joe Burrow?

A. Snoop Dogg mentioned that Joe is nominated for many awards and likely to receive an invitation to a social gathering.

Last year, Joe spent $2.9 million on a Batmobile, which shows his wealth.

Q. Does Joe Burrow look like Eminem?

A. Many people likened Burrow’s new hairstyle to Eminem’s old one, but it’s not his first time with blonde hair. He previously dyed his hair blonde in high school when he was a quarterback during his senior year at Athens High School in southern Ohio in 2015.