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Tony Pauline tweets that Justin Herbert has received top grade for all seniors in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.
I'm told scouts ranked Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert as the top NFL prospect from the senior class in meetings last month. Herbert received one of the highest grades attained by any senior from the past decade. pic.twitter.com/N9NPO5gtfY
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) June 21, 2019
After being lambasted by an anonymous scout last month for not being mentally tough enough to handle the rigors of the National Football League, significant praise has arrived for one Justin Herbert.
To labeled with such a prestigious title is a tremendous honor and burden for Herbert. Physically, he compares favorably to Andrew Luck as a prospect. Mentally, it remains to be seen.
While he is one of the better quarterback prospects available in the 2020 draft, he isn’t the top senior in my estimation. Top ten is certainly an argument that can be had but we are in an era of football where it is a quarterback driven league. He is the top ranked quarterback on my offseason draft board even with his deficiencies as a prospect.
Herbert will have much to prove as the draft hype builds as we move along in the season. It's possible that he garners a Senior Bowl invite after the season. He certainly has the tools around him to cement himself as the top QB prospect in the class.
The first obstacle on the Herbert hype train is a difficult one as Auburn has a fearsome defense featuring multiple projected high draft picks in prime time, no less. If he passes that test with a stellar performance, the hype around him will be at a fever pitch. So will the naysayers should he fail in leading the Ducks to a win.
Much will be expected of Justin Herbert in 2019. Can he finally deliver on a career once filled with so much potential like Carson Palmer did as a senior?