Joe Burrow still showed up near the top of ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky’s annual quarterback trait rankings, even after the turf toe injury that knocked him out for more than half of the 2025 season.
Burrow landed inside the top 10 in five of the seven categories entering his seventh NFL season, a strong showing that reflects just how much Orlovsky still trusts the Cincinnati quarterback’s game. The injury pushed him down in some areas, but not out of the elite tier.
The biggest drop came in ball placement. Burrow had been No. 1 in that trait on both of Orlovsky’s previous lists, but this time he slid to No.
- Orlovsky still praised Burrow’s ability to “pin the ball to his receivers,” while also noting that missed time mattered in the evaluation.
“Fair or not, I’m factoring in time on task. And Stafford came out every Sunday and fired bull’s-eyes with conviction.”
Orlovsky also drew a tight comparison between Burrow and Matthew Stafford, saying the two are essentially separated by very little. “It's neck and neck between Matthew Stafford and Burrow. Things that matter here:
That last one is key for Stafford and Burrow. Defenses don't know what's coming because every throw looks the same coming out.
It's amazing consistency. The tight connection between Stafford's upper and lower body allows him to pull off all those no-look throws.
Defenses can't tell the difference until his release, and bam, the ball is going somewhere unexpected.”
Burrow stayed at No. 2 in decision-making, with Orlovsky highlighting the way he handles chaos when the pocket gets messy. “Here are the league's top problem solvers.
Being a good decision-maker means making the right choice when things are going to plan, but it also means making the only choice when things are falling apart. Find the correct outlet, but avoid mistakes, turnovers, and negative plays.
Despite the injuries that derailed his season, I kept Burrow second on the list. I love watching him operate in a phone booth, with tiny adjustments to stay clean and deliver the ball in a composed manner over and over again.” Orlovsky also pointed to the progress made by Sam Darnold and Caleb Williams in pocket presence, while mentioning that Williams led the league in sack rate at 3.3%.
Burrow also remained part of a crowded group of quarterbacks with strong cases for the top 10 overall. Orlovsky named Jordan Love, Justin Herbert, Burrow and Jalen Hurts as players who could all fit, and added Trevor Lawrence to that mix. He also flagged Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart as names to watch if they make a jump in 2026.
In the end, Burrow’s profile still came out strong across the board. A healthy 2026, Orlovsky suggested, could push him even higher when these rankings come around again next summer.
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