While Super Bowl LIV has yet to take place, the NFL offseason has already begun for all but two teams. Although it is still three months away, the 2020 NFL Draft is the next big calendar event for teams like the Los Angeles Rams.
Although the Rams do not have a shot at him, Joe Burrow is the name on everyone’s lips for the this year’s draft. The LSU Heisman Trophy and National Championship winning quarterback is expected to be the first overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals barring any unexpected changes.
Burrow will not be the only former LSU Tiger to join the Bengals, as Rams veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth was drafted by the Bengals in the second round in 2006. After spending his first 11 seasons in Cincinnati, Whitworth has been a key piece upfront in Los Angeles for the last three seasons.
In a recent appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Whitworth discussed why he feels his fellow Tiger is worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick this year:
“Honestly, everything that everyone says. That he’s special and that a lot of guys, they just buy into him. The players around him want him to be successful. They’re excited at the opportunity to play for him and with him. Just that he has that infectious personality and mentality of the game. He seemed to show it all year. It’s kind of the impression I got watching him from afar, but talking to people there and realizing how much guys want to play with him and they want to play for him, it’s cool to see. Obviously, an LSU quarterback, to play at that level and an offense to operate [at] that level, I would have probably lost the bet with you. I wouldn’t have voted on it either, I don’t think it would have happened, but it did and they were a special football team this year.”
Whitworth is currently a free agent but has stated that he hopes to rejoin the Rams for the 2020 season. While his main focus was with his own team in 2020, Whitworth also paid close attention to his Alma Mater’s historic season so it’s not surprising to see that he is a big fan of Burrow, who had one of the best college seasons of all-time.
Despite all of his success in college, it’s not a sure bet that Burrow will be able to come into the NFL and tear the league up right away so that will be an interesting storyline going into the 2020 season.
