Why Justin Herbert should be the first QB taken in 2020 NFL Draft

Justin Herbert is one of the more perplexing prospects, but an argument can be made that he should be the first QB off the board in the 2020 NFL Draft.

For months, the Cincinnati Bengals have needed a true leader under center after benching veteran signal-caller, Andy Dalton. In desperate need of a savior, the talented, strong-armed, smart, and athletic Justin Herbert may be the answer they need. Could Oregon’s Justin Herbert be that answer in the 2020 NFL Draft?

Arm Talent and Strength

There is no denying the arm talent that Herbert possesses, as he has one of the most talented arms in the entire country. Watch here as Herbert keeps his feet moving in the pocket and throws a strike downfield to his receiver in a spot where only they can make a play.

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In the Bengals offense, the intermediate and long throws are a staple which is why the arm talent and strength should be considered with the first pick. Off script, Herbert does not lose strength in his throws, an important asset to a team that has a struggling offensive line.

Athleticism

Herbert can move. Plain and simple, it is a fact. At Oregon, they used him in designed QB runs in which he consistently picks up positive yardage. The athleticism that Herbert possesses is something the Bengals have lacked and would benefit from greatly. The offensive line unit for the Bengals is great at giving up the pressure, and having a quarterback athletic enough to escape the pocket and deliver a well-placed ball or even run for positive yards would be a delight to this offense. Take this play, for example, Herbert escapes the pressure once the pocket collapses and makes a terrific throw on the run where only his receiver could make a play.

Intelligence

Justin Herbert was not asked to do much in the Oregon offense, and I do not believe for one second it was because he could not handle the mental aspect of the game. Herbert graduated from Oregon

with over a 4.0 GPA as a biology major.

With that kind of brainpower, it is easy to see why Herbert, when asked to do more pre-snap, will be able to execute at the highest level possible.

Overall Outlook

Justin Herbert will come into the league with all of the tools you could want or need from a quarterback and should be an instant starter. Herbert has the ability to take the NFL by storm with his unique skillset, a blend of size, power, athleticism, and arm talent.