Chargers Draft Their Quarterback of the Future

When the Chargers and quarterback Philip Rivers mutually agreed to part ways earlier this year, it left the team without a franchise quarterback or a quarterback of the future for the first time in about two decades. That hole lasted just a few months. With the 6th pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Chargers selected their quarterback of the future, Justin Herbert of the Oregon Ducks.

Herbert has all the tools to be an NFL franchise quarterback. Herbert is 6-feet-6, 236 pounds. He was the top athlete among quarterbacks at the NFL combine, running a 4.68 forty, with a vertical jump of 35.5," and a throw of 62 yards, flat-footed. A 62-yard pass without stepping into it is very impressive. Rivers was 6-foot 5, 230 pounds and ran a 5.08 forty coming out of college. Herbert has similar size but is a better athlete with a stronger arm.

On the academic side, Herbert won the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy for combined academic and athletic excellence among college football players, also known as the Academic Heisman trophy. Herbert majored in biology and had an overall grade point average of 4.01. Previous winners of the Campbell trophy included Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow.

Herbert led Oregon to the Pac-12 championship in 2019, then led the Ducks to a win over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, where he was named the Rose Bowl Offensive MVP. In the top post-season all-star game, the Senior Bowl, Herbert was named the MVP of the game. Watching the Rose Bowl and Senior Bowl, it was easy to see the leadership skills.

Herbert will not need to step in right away, as the Chargers have veteran Tyrod Taylor as the current starting quarterback. He will have time to develop behind Taylor, but this is an excellent place for Herbert to land. The Chargers have good talent on the roster and eventually, when Herbert is ready to take over the reins at quarterback for the Chargers, he will have a good supporting cast.