By Jordan Long
The NFL draft is a week from Thursday. The expected number one pick is going to be quarterback Joe Burrow to Cincinnati. The next quarterback to be selected might be Tua Tagovailoa followed by Justin Herbert. The question is who could be the top quarterback out of the 3?
Burrow had two outstanding years for LSU. He tossed for 8,565 yards, 76 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. This past season he won the Heisman Trophy for his play. Burrow threw for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns, and an impressively low 6 interceptions. His play helped LSU win the College Football Playoff.
Burrow has the talent to succeed in the NFL. The only downside is the style of offense he played in college. It wasn’t a pro-style offense but rather a spread offense. Burrow was in the shotgun with receivers to either side. He was rarely under center. Burrow must learn an NFL offense and show he can take snaps that way.
Tagovailoa was on his way to one of his best years at Alabama in 2019. Tagovailoa totaled 2,840 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. He read college defenses well with 3 interceptions and might have won the Heisman if not for his injury. Tagovailoa dislocated a hip that needed surgery. The injury occurred November 16th, 2019 in the second quarter when Alabama led 35-7 against Mississippi State. Questions were should Tagovailoa have been in the game with such a huge lead? There is not a guarantee that he would have stayed healthy if he was taken out. Alabama missed the College Football Playoff.
Tagovailoa has the upper hand on Burrow because of the offense he was in. Alabama ran a pro-style offense which is similar to an NFL offense. When he is picked, he will understand the offense. It may be a different language but at least he will know the offensive sets.
Not many experts are talking about Herbert. He played for the University of Oregon. He was the starter for the Ducks the past two years. Last season he threw for 3,471 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. The Ducks managed to win the PAC-12 Championship. They went to the Rose Bowl and knocked off Wisconsin.
The Ducks didn’t run a pro-style offense. He was used in the shotgun and the Ducks spread out his receivers. In the NFL it will be an adjustment for him to be lined up under the center. He has the skills to adapt to that style of offense.
In the end, the best quarterback in this years’ Draft is up in the air. Tagovailoa seems more ready for an NFL offense. That doesn’t mean he will be a better quarterback than Herbert or Burrow. The only way to know for sure is to see how their careers go. There could be a quarterback selected later in the Draft who may outplay all of them. For right now they will wait for their name to be called next week and begin their NFL dream.
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