2020 NFL Draft: Patriots find a QB of the future in two-round mock draft

The Chargers and Justin Herbert is another pairing that has been frequent throughout my mock drafts. And even as the Chargers’ pick has gotten higher and higher, Herbert follows them up the 2020 NFL Draft board.

Aside from Burrow, at this point, Herbert is by far my favorite quarterback prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft class. Another senior, Herbert has proven himself year after year at Oregon. A player that may have been in the first overall pick conversation a year ago, Herbert returned to school and had another stellar season with the Ducks.

Herbert has a cannon for an arm and possesses the ability to make any throw you could ask him to make. Over his career in Eugene, Herbert has continued to improve the mental side of his game, working through his progression and making better decisions.

While Herbert still displays some inconsistency with his accuracy on occasion, He threw just six interceptions this season compared to 32 touchdowns. For someone with his natural arm talent to take care of the ball the way he does, he should be a valued target for quarterback-needy teams in the 2020 NFL Draft.

It is clearly time for the Chargers to move on from Phillip Rivers. They have a very talented roster that many expected to make the playoffs this season. Instead, they have a top-six pick, so things obviously didn’t go near as planned. Injuries and holdouts likely played a rather large role in their underwhelming season, but so did their quarterback play.

Unfortunately, Rivers just doesn’t seem to have the ability to get the ball down the field to his weapons. With Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry, Austin Ekeler and Melvin Gordon, the Chargers offense should be flourishing. Herbert, without a doubt, has the ability to make plays that Rivers can’t.

Some rumors suggest that Tom Brady could end up in Los Angeles if he does leave the Patriots, but I don’t love that fit for them. Brady also isn’t getting any younger and can’t drive the ball down the field like he used to, or like Herbert can.

To me, Justin Herbert is the perfect prospect for the Chargers. He is young and talented enough to rejuvenate the Chargers offense while being poised and experienced enough to lead a winning team right away. Herbert nearly led the Ducks to the College Football Championship this season and impressed, primarily with his legs, in their Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin.

Herbert has proven that he can play at a high level, and win at a high level. That is what the Chargers need right now to take advantage of their current roster that is capable of great things.