Playmakers the Bengals Should Pair With Joe Burrow for His Rookie Season

The Cincinnati Bengals have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after finishing 2-14 last season. With the Andy Dalton era coming to a slow grinding finish, it's time to rebuild around a new franchise quarterback. Who better than 2019 Heisman Trophy winner and Ohio native Joe Burrow?

Assuming Burrow does end up with Cincinnati like expected, he's going to need some major improvements around him. After all, last year's Bengals' team was 2-14 for a reason. Besides bulking up the offensive line, which is always a high priority for a rookie signal-caller, here are some playmakers the Bengals could target on offense to help Burrow develop early in his career.

1. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU Tigers

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson was a top target for Burrow at LSU, so why not in the NFL as well? / Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The Bengals could use that high second rounder on offensive line in the draft, but with A.J. Green possibly walking, wide receiver is another need. The top names at this position may be off the board in the first round, but Burrow's second leading receiver with LSU last year should still be on the board. Justin Jefferson had 111 receptions for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns in the 2019 season with Burrow, and the two displayed tremendous trust and chemistry on big plays. Alongside a blossoming NFL WR1 in Tyler Boyd, Jefferson could make some magic with Burrow again, except for orange and black this time.

2. Hunter Henry, TE, Los Angeles Chargers (2020 Free Agent Class)

Hunter Henry could be the perfect Joe Burrow safety net in 2020. / Harry How/Getty Images

Cincinnati could use a tight end this offseason. The days of Tyler Eifert are finally over after many injury-ridden years, assuming they don't re-sign him, and this would be a nice opportunity to upgrade the position. Former Los Angeles Charger and soon-to-be NFL free agent Hunter Henry could be the perfect answer. He knows how to block, which the Bengals need help doing, and Henry has great hands as a possession receiver and red zone threat. A veteran tight end can be a young QB's best friend in the NFL, and Cincinnati could have a lot to gain by looking into this position in 2020.

3. Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota Golden Gophers

If the Bengals don't take a wide receiver in the second, there could be some options for them in the third. / Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

As previously stated, the Bengals may look to the offensive line in the second round. And if they elect to do so, passing on the Jefferson-tier of receiver, the third round should have plenty of WR talent available in a deep class at this position. One name that might fit Zac Taylor's offense is Minnesota wideout Tyler Johnson. He has a large, physical, 6-foot-2-inch frame at 200 pounds and tends to play as more of a possession receiver. With natural hands and smart route-running ability, Johnson could be the most fluid replacement for A.J. Green that's still available later in the draft.

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Michael Obermuller is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Michael Obermuller also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username king_mizzard. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.