Three Joe Burrow trade destinations that would actually make sense as he chases a Super Bowl

The Joe Burrow talk around the NFL world has picked up steam in recent weeks, and it now feels like something to seriously keep an eye on this offseason.

A third injury plagued season in his sixth year with the Cincinnati Bengals (3-6) is concerning to begin with. Combine that with how productive 40-year-old Joe Flacco has been in his absence, and the whispers start to grow. 

Factor in that ESPN insider Adam Schefter was unwilling to shut down talk of the New York Jets landing Burrow with all of their draft capital, and this has become more than just fantasy talk, as unlikely as it still remains.

If it ever does get to the point where Burrow wants to be traded, many teams outside of the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs will at least kick the tires. That being said, the landing spot would have to make sense for Burrow, so let’s dive into three of them that would give him a legitimate chance to compete for Super Bowls now and moving forward. 

Minnesota Vikings

This would see Burrow go from playing with one former college teammate, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, to another in wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The Vikings have all of the pieces in place to be a Super Bowl contender; all that’s missing is the quarterback.

The hope is that J.J. McCarthy turns out to be that guy, but from the small sample size we’ve seen thus far, it doesn’t look all that promising. That could change with time and more experience, but the odds of McCarthy becoming anywhere near the caliber of a player like Burrow are slim, so why not pursue the sure thing?

Burrow would have weapons in Jefferson, wide receiver Jordan Addison and tight end T.J. Hockenson, a solid offensive line with a young building block in Christian Darrisaw, a consistently strong defense led by Brian Flores and one of the best minds in football manning the helm in Kevin O’Connell. 

San Francisco 49ers

Another team that has had a loaded roster every year propping up their mid-level quarterback is the 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo, Brock Purdy and now Mac Jones have taken this team as far as they’re capable of, which has always been short of the ultimate goal: a Super Bowl win.

All of the aforementioned quarterbacks have done their job quite well in San Francisco; just imagine a talent like Burrow under center instead —that’s what they’ve been seeking for quite some time now. 

Running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle and a handful of solid wide receivers would give Burrow plenty to work with while a star-studded defense holds it down on the other side. Of course, he’d also have the best offensive mind in football calling the shots in Kyle Shanahan, a scary thought for the rest of the NFC and the NFL as a whole. 

Atlanta Falcons

This one feels unlikely, but man, could Burrow thrive in the situation down in Atlanta? The Falcons personify a team that has everything figured out but the quarterback position. 

As with McCarthy in Minnesota, it’s still too early to give up on Michael Penix Jr., but Burrow is in a different class, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where he emerges into something close to that level. 

The set of weapons in Atlanta is second to none in the NFL, with running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts, while the offensive line and the defense are stout, with several young studs just getting started.

To cap it all off, Burrow could find himself in the softest division in the NFC, wide open for the taking each and every season.