It doesn’t sound like anyone will be able to talk the Bengals out of taking Joe Burrow. In an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, head coach Zac Taylor more or less dismissed the possibility of trading the No. 1 pick. 
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“It doesn’t look that way,” Taylor said (via Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “If there is a guy there that you believe in that can really change the franchise over the next 10-15 years, then that’s a hard thing to pass up on. You know, people all the time ask me what would it take to give up that pick and if there’s somebody there that people are willing to give up a lot for, that they believe in, then that just really verifies what we think about those players as well.”
The Giants are “open for business” at No. 4. The Lions are at least willing to listen on offers for the No. 3 pick. Beyond that, it doesn’t sound like teams will be able to move much higher up the board. By all accounts, the Redskins are laser-focused on Ohio State pass rusher Chase Young at No. 2, and the Bengals are locked in on Burrow.
The Bengals’ infatuation with Burrow has been apparent for months. The only thing that was in question, really, was Burrow’s desire to play in Cincinnati. But, at the combine in February, the LSU star put that speculation to rest.
“Yeah. I’m not going to not play. I’m a ball player,” Burrow said. “Whoever picks me, I’m going to show up.”
That’s good news for the Bengals and bad news for other teams hoping to snag Burrow. The Dolphins, at one point, had their sights set on him.
smoke screen?
They have the choice. They’re first over all. They don’t need a “smoke screen”. They hold all the dmn cards.
It seems you don’t fully understand what a smoke screen is.
Insert shocked face
If they do not draft a QB (especially Burrow) or trade back. Would that be the biggest draft surprise ever?
Unless they have begun contract negotiations with Burrow then I wouldn’t believe this for a second.
What are young to negotiate. Rookie contracts are set numbers.
offset , guarantee payout , etc etc … otherwise Nick Bosa would have played a full offseason and regular season his first year.
Also if he would even accept a contract with the bengals as there were doubts about that previously (think john elway, eli manning and others)..
I expect the Bengals to stand pat at #1 but the simple reality is that it takes more than one player to turn a franchise around. No team knows that better than the Lions who got a terrific player in Stafford first overall in 2009 but have never been able to put the other necessary pieces in place.
Poor poor Burrows will be playing for the lowly Ben Gals.
…and beating your a$$.