The momentum for Joe Burrow is clear through the first half of his senior season at LSU. SEC Offensive Player of the Year? Sure. All-American? Yes. Heisman Trophy finalist? He is a top contender right now.

But first overall pick in the NFL Draft? According to the latest mock draft by Pro Football Focus makes its case.

“Burrow has sustained elite play every game for half a season,” PFF says, projected Burrow first to the Bengals. “He’s torched one of the best secondaries in college football. He’s got a stronger arm and quicker release that Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa. We’ve never seen a quarterback with a higher passing grade through the first seven weeks of the season. He may not be at the top of boards right now, but he’s shooting his way up there.”

The Bengals angle is fun because of the home-town storylines, but there are other quarterback options considered more conventional first overall picks like Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert. Of course, conventional did not matter in last year’s draft when Kyler Murray went first overall. And Burrow has more attention than ever after the win over Florida’s elite defense.

In what was supposed to be his toughest test of the season to date, the senior signal-caller torched for the Florida defense for 293 yards on 21-of-24 passing with three touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing for 43 yards on six carries to lead the Tigers to a 42-28 win over the seventh-ranked Gators at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Burrow sits at 2,157 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and three interceptions through the first half of the regular season. He threw 16 touchdowns all of last season after a graduate transfer decision out of Ohio State.

Pro Football Focus also projected Grant Delpit at No. 11 overall and Kristian Fulton No. 12 overall in the latest mock draft.

“Fulton has already given up more yards this season than he did in all of 2018, but over half of those came in the Texas game where he rolled his ankle in the first quarter. In all other games, he’s allowed 11-of-21 targets for only 110 yards and broken up three passes,” PFF said of Fulton. “He’s still one of the most complete corners in the draft, and the Bucs still need as much help as they can get at the position.”

Delpit and Fulton would join Jamal Adams, Tre’Davious White, Eric Reid and Patrick Peterson as first-round defensive backs this decade.

“Delpit is built to play safety in the NFL today,” PFF said. “Of his 356 snaps this season, 128 have come deep, 139 over the slot and 71 in the box. Him seamlessly filling all those roles and only allowing five catches so far this year is a fit for every defense in the league.”