2. Joe Burrow

After putting together a truly historic final season at LSU, Joe Burrow solidified himself as the clear choice for the Bengals with the No. 1 pick. In his first NFL performance, he had to go up against a tough Chargers defense that pulled no punches.

Against the Chargers, Burrow struggled with his efficiency as a passer by completing just 23-of-36 (63.9%) pass attempts for 193 yards and one interception. Interestingly enough, he managed to chip in 46 rushing yards and one running score on eight carries.

There isn’t a player that embodies the X-Factor label on the Bengals more than Burrow. If he’s able to have a quick learning curve, he could substantially raise the ceiling of Cincinnati’s offense. That would make things difficult on the Browns in this matchup.

The Bengals are not expected to make a run at a playoff spot in Burrow’s rookie campaign. The goal should be to not finish last in the AFC North standings and head-to-head matchups with the Browns will be crucial in those efforts.