NFL Draft 2020: Chargers make right choice with Justin Herbert as franchise QB

Justin Herbert comes off the board as the third quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers as their future quarterback.

The Miami Dolphins made the biggest early decision of the 2020 NFL Draft on which quarterback would they take with the fifth overall pick.

The Dolphins decided to take a chance on Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. This left the Los Angeles Chargers to select the long-time Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick.

Between the two quarterbacks, Herbert is considered the safest pick at the quarterback position. This was a pick that needed to be made by the Chargers in their journey of getting back to the NFL playoffs since the 2018 season. Tyrod Taylor is giving the chance to be the starting quarterback for the Chargers this season despite the reports they would draft a quarterback in the first round.

Last season, the Chargers were ranked sixth in the league in passing yards per game (276.6). This was with elite wide receivers in Kennan Allen and Mike Williams each accounting for over 1,000 yards. Phillip Rivers is 38-years old and no longer with the Chargers. Rivers wasn’t the problem with the Chargers this past season but the offense was one-dimensional with running back Melvin Gordon holding out for a significant number of games.

The Chargers’ offense is looking to move on and create their program with a new franchise quarterback in a tall passer in Hebert who is 6-6, 236 pounds. He is a great passer in the pocket and can move on the run in scrambling situations. He isn’t as an electrifying passer as Tagovailoa or Joe Burrow but he has great strength in his throws.

In his senior season for the Ducks, Hebert threw for 3,471 yards, 32 touchdowns and only six touchdowns on 286 completions out of 428 attempts. Hebert had a very impressive 2020 Senior Bowl practice week and was named as the 2020 Senior Bowl game MVP.

He is considered more pro-ready than some of the other quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft class prospects. He is also a great reader of the routes by his receivers and the opposing defenses.

The Chargers, however, will likely use a redshirt season on Herbert to allow him to learn the NFL system and their playbook.

Grade: A-

It will also allow Hebert to learn to adjust to improve the trajectory of his throws at the point of contact instead of some significant overthrows. There might be some potential for Hebert to challenge Taylor for the starting quarterback position when the 2020-2021 NFL season starts.