Over the next two months, the Indianapolis Colts will be turning over every rock on quarterback prospects in the 2020 NFL draft. Among the top prospects at the position this year is former Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.
It is still a mystery whether the Colts will invest heavily in the quarterback position during the draft. Many believe they should, but whether the Colts actually do is a completely different story.
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Regardless, they are taking a look at all of the quarterbacks in this class. Head coach Frank Reich has been catching up on tape and has some positive praise for Herbert’s game.
“Obviously, I focus on both sides of the ball, but mostly on offense. So, I’ve been watching. I started with receivers, watched as many of those as I can then get to the quarterbacks,” Reich said at the combine. “Justin (Herbert) certainly has had a good career, his tape is exciting. He does a lot of good things.”
The Colts love to keep their guard up and even admitted to playing the smokescreen game throughout the offseason. So we won’t be seeing Reich gush over any particular player, but Herbert is one of the best in the class.
Though inconsistent at times, Herbert has traits that could keep him in the league for a long time. He has a cannon for an arm, great mobility and has extensive work in RPO and zone-reads, which is a big part of Reich’s offense.
Herbert would be a solid fit for the Colts. He has high upside as a passer given his arm strength and mobility. There are several areas that he needs to improve, most of his footwork in the pocket. It can betray him at times leading to inconsistent touch and inaccuracy when moving around the pocket.
Regardless, those are traits that can be taught. Having Reich as a head coach would only expedite that development.
It will be interesting to see if the Colts wind up taking a quarterback during the draft and if they do, Herbert should be on the list of potential prospects.
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