Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) takes the field before an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Pro Football Focus Ranks Joe Burrow Among NFL's Top-Three Quarterbacks

Originally posted on Cincinnati Bengals on SI
By Russell Heltman | Last updated May 21, 2025 4:10 PM ET

Pro Football Focus writer John Kosko ranked all 32 starting quarterbacks this week and had Joe Burrow in a respectable No. 2 position.

The reigning NFL passing yards and touchdowns leader slotted in just behind Patrick Mahomes.

"The only real knock on Joe Burrow is that he hasn’t entered a season at full strength in years," Kosko wrote. "But when he’s right, there may be no one better. Burrow's 93.5 passing grade and 95.2 overall grade over the past three seasons lead all quarterbacks, and his 51.3% success rate over that span ties Josh Allen for second-best in the league. If the Bengals can field even a league-average defense, Burrow would give them a real shot at winning the AFC every year."

Keeping Burrow as close to 100% as possible this summer is imperative to avoiding another winless start like most Zac Taylor-led seasons have mustered.

As for the defense, Burrow has no control over that, but is surely hoping the tutelage of Al Golden can whip the unit into at least mediocre shape to set him up for better win/loss success in 2025.