3. Justin Herbert, Oregon
Height: 6-6
Weight: 236 pounds
Projected 40-yard dash time (per WalterFootball.com): 4.72 seconds
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Justin Herbert made great strides in his senior year with the Oregon Ducks after spurning the draft last offseason and electing to return to school, finishing with 32 touchdown passes and only six interceptions.
He completed 66.8 percent of his passes on the season and ran for three scores in a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin. Herbert also led the Ducks to win the Pac-12 in a dominant victory over a talented Utah squad.
The native of Eugene, OR moves well, has a live arm and ideal size. He’s both intelligent and even-keeled and has inexplicably received criticism for being the latter. He has Pro Bowl upside and is a solid bet to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. Like most prospects, his progressions require polish, and he needs to develop more composure in the pocket in the face of pressure.
Expect Herbert to go as early as the fourth overall pick to a team in desperate need of a long-term answer at the quarterback position. In the right offense, he could produce QB2 numbers in fantasy football as early as this coming season, given sufficient skill position talent.
Likely Landing Spots: Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers