Riggo's Rag
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2020 NFL Mock Draft: Sifting through the pre-draft noise

By Jacob Camenker

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: Andrew Thomas #71 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up on the field before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: Andrew Thomas #71 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up on the field before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 05: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks calls out plays in the first quarter against the California Golden Bears during their game at Autzen Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON – OCTOBER 05: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks calls out plays in the first quarter against the California Golden Bears during their game at Autzen Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

6. player. 13. . Quarterback. Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Herbert

I know that the Chargers have stated repeatedly that they are comfortable going with Tyrod Taylor as a starter this year. They may well do that.

But even if they roll with Taylor, they are rebuilding and need a quarterback of the future. Herbert would be just that.

Herbert is a prototypical passer for the next level. The 6-foot-6 passer has prototypical size, solid accuracy, a big arm, and good mobility that should afford him a chance to find success at the next level. Last season, he completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 3,471 yards, 32 touchdowns, and six interceptions while adding four scores on the ground for the Ducks.

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Herbert lacked a killer instinct in big moments during his collegiate career. But that may have stemmed from how Mario Cristobal used him on offense. Perhaps with good coaching at the NFL level, Herbert could improve in that area and find a way to win games. And doing so in the pressure-free environment of Los Angeles — the Chargers arguably have the NFL’s weakest fan base — would probably be ideal.

With the coaching staff’s affinity for Taylor, Herbert could be given a year to develop and improve, or at least half a season to do that. He would be much better off with that time to improve even though he was a four-year starter at Oregon. He has all the tools needed to find success; it’s just a matter of whether or not he’ll find himself in the right situation to do so.

If the Chargers don’t want to draft a quarterback, they could opt for an offensive lineman to play left tackle. If they do that, the team could sign Cam Newton or Jameis Winston to compete with Taylor in 2021 with eyes toward Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields in next year’s draft if nobody emerges as a quality starter. But for now, the team should be favored to draft a quarterback at some point early.

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