​The Cincinnati Bengals have found themselves in some intriguing spots so far this offseason as the biggest player rankings lists roll in. For the most part, these rankings have served as something to pass the time while awaiting the main event: Joe Burrow’s standing among the top quarterbacks. And now that list has finally materialized, driven by a poll from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that incorporates input from NFL executives, coaches, and scouts. Burrow was ranked fourth overall at the quarterback position.
Fowler explained that Burrow’s durability concerns pushed him out of the top three, a position he held for the past two seasons. Several voters dropped him out of the top five due in part to his absence from 2023, when he played in 16 games. Yet when the conversation centers on pure quarterback play, Burrow remains widely regarded as the closest contemporary to Tom Brady in terms of style and influence.
In terms of who sits above him, Burrow trails three other signal-callers. The ranking places him ahead of notable talents like Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert, among others, which preserves the sense that the top tier of quarterbacks is tightly contested and highly valued. There is a general sense that the top four or five spots are a matter of debate, as they often are in these exercises, with the real challenge—and the most meaningful hurdle—being the ability to roster one of these top-tier players. After all, the drop from the fifth spot to the rest of the pack is substantial, and teams feel the impact of that cliff more acutely as the season progresses.
For Burrow, the reason he isn’t higher on the list isn’t about a lack of talent or capability. It’s about availability. The Bengals quarterback has established himself as an elite cerebral player, someone whose game is often described in terms that echo Brady’s approach—smart reads, precise decision-making, and the ability to extend plays with accuracy and timing. When those descriptors are invoked in conjunction with Burrow’s name, it’s easy to see why the conversation would tilt toward a higher rating. The durability questions, however, dilute that argument somewhat for the voters who weigh those factors as heavily as performance metrics.
This discussion about Burrow’s ranking sits within a broader context of the quarterback market. The top tier remains a mix of established veterans and rising stars, with Burrow firmly in the conversation as a player who can lead a high-powered offense and elevate a team with his football IQ and precision. Although the exact placement can be debated, the consensus is clear that Burrow still sits among the league’s premier quarterbacks, one who has already proven he can operate at an elite level when he is available and fully at his peak.
In the end, the takeaway from Fowler’s poll is consistent with what Bengals fans have come to expect: Burrow is treated as a special talent whose impact goes beyond raw numbers. The comparison to Brady underscores a perception of him as a quarterback who can, and often does, make the critical plays that determine wins. The durability notes are a real concern and a reason for the drop from the very top, but they do not define his ceiling. If Burrow can maintain a healthy stretch and continue to play with the same perceptive, almost Brady-like command of the game, he will continue to be viewed as one of the very best in the league, regardless of where he lands exactly on the annual rankings. This piece originally appeared on Bengals Wire and highlights Burrow’s Brady comparison as part of the broader discussion on the NFL’s biggest quarterback rankings for 2024 and beyond.