Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray has been pegged as one of the front runners to win Defensive Rookie of the Year by oddsmakers already.
However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes Los Angeles possesses a potential Rookie of the Year on the other side of the ball.
Fowler, along with eight other NFL experts, made bold predictions for the 2020 draft class this upcoming season. For Fowler, he believes that quarterback Justin Herbert is going to win the OROY honors.
I’m betting Herbert gets on the field sooner rather than later despite the presence of Tyrod Taylor. The Chargers will simplify the playbook and let Herbert rip corner routes to Keenan Allen all day. There’s enough talent on this offense to make a rookie look good.
I believe that Herbert would have a legitimate shot, but there’s one thing that’s holding him back for the honors: Tyrod Taylor. Taylor is expected to enter the season as the starting signal-caller, while Herbert sits to work on the deficiencies in his game before taking the reins.
There’s a possibility that Herbert could see the field in 2020, but it likely wouldn’t come until later down the stretch, and that’s assuming the team performs poorly with Taylor under center, which leads the decision to change quarterbacks. Or Taylor goes down with an injury.
Herbert isn’t in a position where he will start away like Joe Burrow of the Bengals. That already hurts his chances and there are many immediate impact rookie skill players that he would have to fend off in order to walk away with the award.
The fact that Herbert isn’t likely to start Week 1 is the best thing for him, though. Even though he has the physical traits, arm talent and play-makers around him to flourish, there are mental aspects of the game that need development before he takes over as the team’s starter.