It was no shock to see the Cincinnati Bengals give Joe Burrow $275 million. He led them to a Super Bowl in his second-year as a starter, a year where he was coming off of a season ending injury.
Burrow’s team may have missed the playoffs in the last two seasons, but the hunger is there. Even with all of their defensive question marks, this former NFL quarterback knows that Burrow is in the conversation for the league’s best QB.
Dan Orlovsky Ranks Joe Burrow at the Top of Four Different QB Categories
Dan Orlovsky introduced this list last year for ESPN. It features a different approach from the usual QB rankings. The 12-year veteran breaks down seven categories: arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, decision-making, pocket presence, rushing ability, and second reaction.
Safe to say his list last year didn’t exactly age well. Orlovsky had Will Levis ranked at No. 6 in terms of arm strength. He had Aaron Rodgers No. 1 with decision making as Rodgers threw over 10 interceptions for only the fourth time in his career. It was even more puzzling to see Gardner Minshew ranked No. 9 at second-reaction ability.
I’m always honored to do this:https://t.co/fry5BNNJNV
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 11, 2025
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Regardless, Burrow made his mark on the 2024 season. Orlovsky had him ranked No. 1 in ball placement and mechanics. This year, Burrow tops the chart in four categories.
Burrow immediately makes his presence felt with a No. 7 ranking in the arm strength category. He fell out of the Top 10 in rushing ability this year after clocking in at No. 8 last season. Knowing Burrow’s injury history, it’s best for the Bengals to keep him in the pocket. Elsewhere, he was No. 7 for second-reaction ability.
Heading into the 2025 season, Orlovsky believes Cincinnati’s QB has the best ball placement, mechanics, decision-making with the football, and pocket presence.
Orlovsky Speaks on His High Praise for Burrow
Ball placement is one of the two categories Burrow was ranked No. 1 in last season. Orlovsky believes that hasn’t changed, ” In 2024, he had the NFL’s lowest off-target rate (11.0%), fourth-highest completion percentage (70.6%) and second-highest completion rate over expectation (4.9%, per NFL Next Gen Stats).”
Orlovsky called Burrow, “the gold standard in this department, and nothing has changed”. He continued as Burrow’s No. 1 ranking in mechanics also echoes his ranking from last season.
“You almost can’t tell what kind of throw he’s [Burrow] making because they all look the same until the release point. It’s amazing consistency, and he’s still the best in the NFL in this area,” Orlovsky said.
The veteran NFL player turned analyst acknowledged that decision-making with the football is the third straight list where he has Burrow at No. 1. He put the two MVP candidates, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, right behind him.
“See the open man, throw to the open man. Burrow (1.4%), Allen (1.2%) and Jackson (0.8%) all ranked in the top five in interception rate last season, too,” Orlovsky commented.
“A fourth straight list led by Burrow, but who is going to argue with me?” Orlovsky said in regard to Burrow being No. 1 in pocket presence. “Burrow is dominant in creating operational space, even when it’s a muddy pocket… Burrow had the league’s fourth-best QBR from inside the pocket (71.7), throwing 35 touchdown passes.”
While one veteran’s list doesn’t indicate how the 2025 season will go, Bengals fans should be more than pleased to see their QB top these charts. He’s ranked above the league’s best QB’s in numerous categories which goes with Zac Taylor’s assessment that Burrow has somehow gotten better.
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