What rookie QBs have in common with Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence

Bryce Young joined his 2023 NFL Draft peers C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson on Wednesday by being named team captain ahead of the start of the regular season.

That puts all three in pretty good company.

Since the modern captain initiative was established in 2007, quarterbacks Joe Burrow (Bengals) and Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) are the only other rookie QBs to be named a team captain during the preseason.

The Colts named then-rookie quarterback Andrew Luck team captain in December 2012.

The Panthers, Texans and Colts are expecting big things from their first-year pros, and, if they follow in Burrow's and Lawrence's footsteps, will deliver.

However, while Burrow and Lawrence are well-oiled machines in 2023, it took time for both to lead winning teams.

The Bengals were 2-7-1 in Burrow's 10 starts as a rookie, going 0-4 in games settled by less than seven points. Burrow was hardly the one to blame, however, putting up admirable stats behind an offensive line that allowed him to make a massive beating.

He finished his rookie year 264-of-404 (65.4%) for 2,688 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions while being sacked 32 times.

Whereas Burrow was saddled with a poor roster as a rookie, Lawrence was hamstrung with an all-time terrible NFL head coach in Urban Meyer when he became Jacksonville's starter in 2021.

That season, Lawerence was 359-of-602 (59.6%) for 3,641 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions as the Jaguars finished the season 3-14.

Both quarterbacks rebounded from humbling Year 1s to reach the postseason in their second year, which should give Carolina, Houston and Indianapolis hope if their young quarterbacks don't lead their teams to a winning record in 2023.

While it might take time for Young, Stroud and Richardson to develop into winning starting quarterbacks, based on each already being named team captain, they're right on schedule.