Justin Herbert makes the right call by heading to the Senior Bowl

Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert is headed to the Senior Bowl, a smart decision for the young signal-caller.

It’s big news out of Senior Bowl headquarters tonight, as executive director Jim Nagy announced that Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert will be officially coming down to Mobile in two weeks. The quarterback class at the initial roster reveal was a little short, meaning that Nagy and his team probably saw big names on the way.

Herbert is certainly one of those big names, and this decision for him was absolutely the right call as we turn the page to draft season.

Herbert though about declaring for the 2019 draft as a junior last season, as he was getting the hype then as potentially the first quarterback that could come off the board. He threw for 3,151 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions during his junior season, but opted to stay for his senior year.

As the 2019 college football season came to a close, it felt like Herbert hadn’t really moved the needle in terms of his draft stock. He threw for 3,471 yards, 32 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. He had a better season, but with the rise of Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa meeting expectations, he finds himself behind those two in terms of a prospect.

With Herbert, it felt like the same scouting reports would be written. He has incredible arm talent and an ability to make plays on the run, while also being a solid athlete who could make some plays with his feet. However, the inconsistency still shows with his accuracy, and he has made some bad decisions late in games.

The good news for Herbert is that there are a plethora of NFL teams looking for a quarterback in the 2020 NFL Draft, and Herbert is consistently being mocked in the top 10 picks. So why attend the Senior Bowl?

One reason for Herbert to do so lies within reports going around throughout the season. Those reports have been questioning his leadership, noting that he lacks an alpha mentality to lead an NFL locker room, even though it clearly shows on the field that his teammates enjoy playing with him.

The other concern, his consistency with his accuracy, is something teams are also worried about. There are games where he is hot and everything is clicking, and then there are games where he looks off and throws are all over the place.

All of that can be put to bed with Herbert taking charge at the practices and showing he can be a leader out there and show his ability as a passer. If he can be that leader out on the practice field, interview well with teams, and show off the arm talent, Herbert can solidify himself as a top quarterback prospect with everything teams want.

Who knows? Maybe the Dolphins or Chargers will fall for him down there and make him their guy heading into April.