The first six picks of the 2020 NFL Draft on Thursday night saw three quarterbacks selected, with LSU’s Joe Burrow going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the top overall pick and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa being taken by the Miami Dolphins with the fifth selection.
The next quarterback taken, Oregon’s Justin Herbert, went to the Los Angeles Chargers with the sixth overall pick and has the potential to turn his new team’s offense into one of the league’s most deadly attacks.
Pre-draft opinion on Herbert was largely mixed, with some evaluators praising Herbert’s 6’6″, 240 pound frame and top-class speed for the quarterback position. His arm strength. intelligence, and composure were other factors that led to him being a top ten pick.
On the other hand, some aren’t so sold on the former Oregon Duck, pointing out inconsistencies in decision-making and passing accuracy which could hamper his ability to succeed in the National Football League.
Herbert, however, has the potential to make his new team an offensive juggernaut after being placed in an offense that looks almost custom-tailored for his success.
The Eugene, Oregon native spent three and a half seasons as a starting quarterback in college, compiling a 29-14 win-loss record and throwing 95 touchdowns compared to only 25 interceptions.
Herbert’s Ducks, until his final season with the team which ended with a Pac-12 Championship and a Rose Bowl trophy, were a largely mediocre to above-average team that didn’t surround the quarterback with the weapons that Burrow and Tagovailoa had.
This, however, will completely change for the 22-year-old in Los Angeles.
The Chargers have one of the most talented and complete receiving corps in the National Football League, an advantage that Herbert largely lacked during his time in college. This will lead to the quarterback’s natural arm strength and play-making ability to take off, teaming up with threats such as Keenan Allen, Mike Henry, and Hunter Henry to pair a massively-talented signal caller with an elite group of pass catchers.
Herbert also gives the Chargers a new dimension of running ability, as he is lauded for his foot speed and agility. Coaches largely told Herbert not to run while in college due to concerns about his health, however, his 4.68 second 40 yard dash time shows just how talented of a runner he can be.
Herbert will have work to do in order to adjust to the NFL game and become accustomed to the speed of defenses in the league, and he would still benefit from the Chargers making some upgrades at the offensive line positions in order to protect him better.
However, it’s clear that the elements of Herbert along with a skilled and talented group of wide receivers give the Chargers the unique ability to become one of the league’s most electric offenses in the near future.
