Ranking top situations for rookie QB's since 2000: Here's how Bears, Patriots' current situations stack up
CBSN
Chicago and New England have set their future rookie QB up for success
There are two lines of thinking when it comes to rookie quarterbacks. Some feel that it's better to have them sit and learn from a veteran, while others feel that playing right away is the way to go. For me, it depends on the player and the situation they inherit.
Take Joe Burrow, for example. Burrow was clearly ready to play as a rookie (he led the NFL in passing through 10 games), but the Bengals didn't have the talent around him yet, especially on the offensive line. Burrow's rookie campaign ultimately ended early after he suffered a season-ending injury.
The experience, though, of playing that season paid instant dividends for Burrow and the Bengals, as Cincinnati went to the Super Bowl the following year. Not all situations end up like that, though. Just ask Robert Griffin III, who enjoyed a fabulous rookie year but was never the same after getting seriously injured during the end of that season.