Tag: Justin Herbert

Could Jalen Hurts be the Buccaneers’ answer at quarterback?

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts could be the perfect player to draft to replace Jameis Winston.

Several Jameis Winston defenders have come at me this season for pointing out the obvious, which is that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be better off parting ways with the quarterback at the end of the season and going in a different direction.

It’s no secret that the former Heisman Trophy winner’s tenure in Tampa Bay has been marred by inconsistent play and a very public scandal involving an Uber driver, an incident which ultimately resulted in the league handing Winston a three-game suspension prior to the 2018 season.

After the team hired quarterback guru Bruce Arians this past offseason, it was clear the organization was giving Winston one more chance to prove himself in the fifth and final year of his rookie contract.

But at 4-7 and with Winston leading the league in interceptions with 20 through 11 games, the team needs to think about the long-term plan. They have a proven head coach in Arians and the best receiving duo in the game in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, so it’s imperative the Bucs find a way to turn things around sooner rather than later.

Should they land a high draft pick, the 2020 NFL Draft could be the perfect spot to find a quarterback. Guys like Tua Tagovailoa (should he declare), Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow are sure to be the biggest names on the draft board come next year, but there could be one quarterback we are overlooking: Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts.

Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times gave a list earlier this month of five college prospects worth scouting for the Bucs, and along with Oregon quarterback Herbert, Stroud had Hurts on the list.

Here’s what he had to say:

“He could go midway in the first round where the Bucs are most likely to pick. Again, if Winston moves on, no reason Hurts couldn’t do what Kyler Murray is doing for the Cardinals. Proven winner but would have to change the offense.”

Comparing Hurts to Murray may be a stretch, but there’s no denying that Hurts has evolved as a passer in Lincoln Riley’s system at OU. The chart below, courtesy of Sports Reference, shows the leap Hurts has made this year.

Remember, Hurts played a supporting role in 2018 when he served as Tagovailoa’s backup.

Hurts has the ability to be a dual-threat quarterback in the NFL, and spending a year under Riley will certainly go a long way in convincing NFL scouts that he can play at the next level. I mean, after all, Oklahoma has produced the last two number one picks in the NFL draft in both Murray and Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Plus, can you imagine teams having to account for Hurts’ ability to run the ball on top of trying to defend Evans and Godwin? It would open this offense up even more.

Again, it’s all speculation at this point, but you have to imagine the Bucs will leave no stone unturned when it comes to finding a new franchise quarterback.

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CBS Sports’ 2020 mock draft is a real head-scratcher when it comes to the Bucs

Find out who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are predicted to select in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 4-7 right now, with the playoffs looking like nothing more than a pipe dream.

When the season does finally come to an end, the Buccaneers will have to face several tough questions, the primary one being what to do with quarterback Jameis Winston.

Winston, who is playing on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, hasn’t lived up to expectations this season, having already thrown a league-high 20 interceptions. The guy with the second-most interceptions this season? Philip Rivers with 14.

Should the team decide that it’s time to move on from Winston, the 2020 NFL Draft is one place they could look to for their quarterback of the future. But, several mock drafts have shown the Bucs going in a direction other than quarterback.

In last week’s mock draft, CBS Sports had offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs headed to Tampa Bay. This week, Wirfs has moved up into the top 5, going to the Denver Broncos.

The Bucs, projected now to pick 12th, again pass on a quarterback in CBS’ latest mock, opting to go with an offensive tackle, but their choice is a bit of a head-scratcher.

Right now, CBS has Tampa Bay taking offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. out of Alabama. Here’s their reasoning:

“Demar Dotson is 34 years old and whomever ends up under center next season for the Bus will need to be protected. Tampa’s O-line came into the week ranked 20th in run blocking and 22nd in pass protection, according to Football Outsiders. Wills has had a solid 2019 campaign for Alabama and could end up going higher in the draft than teammate Alex Leatherwood.”

Don’t get me wrong, the Buccaneers need to upgrade their O-line, but Wills seems like a bit of a reach, especially when you consider CBS currently has him ranked as the 80th-best prospect in the draft and eighth at his position.

Seems like the Buccaneers could find better value at that spot, especially if a top-rated quarterback prospect like Justin Herbert is available.

Stay tuned…

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2020 NFL mock draft: Updated 4-round projections

Luke Easterling updates his early projections for the 2020 NFL draft, expanding his forecast to cover the first four rounds

November is winding down, which means both the college football and NFL seasons are ramping up.

Few games remain for top college prospects to show pro decision-makers what they can do on the field, while the homestretch of the NFL season will set the top of the draft order for April’s big weekend.

As many prep for holiday celebrations this week, let’s take another stab at projecting the early going of the 2020 draft, expanding to cover the first four rounds using the latest updated order:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

For the longest time now, it’s seemed Tua Tagovailoa was written into this spot with permanent marker. But Burrow’s performance so far this season has launched him into the No. 1 overall conversation, while a hip injury has ended Tagovailoa’s season. Burrow looks like the real deal in every way.

2. New York Giants | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

This team has needs on offense if they want Daniel Jones to develop quickly, but there’s no way the Giants should pass on the best overall prospect in this class. Landing a rare talent like Young would be a huge steal, even at No. 2 overall.

3. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

After his season-ending hip injury, Tagovailoa is obviously the biggest wild-card in this year’s class. He’s since had successful surgery, and is expected to make a full recovery. That being the case, I’m leaving him in this spot for now. If his recovery has any setbacks that cause him to miss key workouts leading up to the draft, his stock could still take a hit.

4. Washington Redskins | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

This is a tough call between giving Dwayne Haskins a replacement for Trent Williams at left tackle, or this year’s most polished and electrifying pass-catcher. Jeudy is one of the most pro-ready prospects in this draft, giving him the slight edge here.

5. Denver Broncos | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

This scenario is a huge win for the Broncos, who desperately need an upgrade at left tackle, regardless of who ends up throwing passes for them in 2020 and beyond. Thomas is the best prospect in a deep offensive tackle class.

6. Atlanta Falcons | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

In today’s NFL, you can never have too many quality corners. The Falcons may have more pressing needs elsewhere, but with this pick, they land one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country. Okudah is keeping up the trend of sending blue-chip defensive backs from Columbus to the pros.

7. Detroit Lions | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

Matt Patricia’s defense needs more help across the board in the trenches, making this pick a choice between the best value at defensive tackle or on the edge. In this scenario, Brown’s incredible athleticism and limitless upside give him the nod.

8. Arizona Cardinals | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

The Cards need to protect their investment in 2019 No. 1 pick Kyler Murray, and that means getting him a franchise left tackle. Wirfs is a polished, powerful blocker who could be a plug-and-play starter in one of the NFL’s most vastly improved offenses.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

No matter who is playing quarterback for the Jags next year, that passer will need a blue-chip No. 1 receiver to make this offense reach its potential. Lamb has been a one-man highlight reel all season long, and has all the tools to be that player from Day 1.

10. New York Jets | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

With the top offensive tackles off the board, the Jets should turn their attention to the defense in this scenario, looking for the best value at either the corner spot or on the edge. Epenesa gets the call here, giving New York a versatile, dominant presence to pair with Quinnen Williams.

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2020 NFL draft order: Broncos would have 5th pick if season ended today

If the season ended today, the Broncos would be scheduled to select fifth overall in the 2020 NFL draft.

If the season ended today, the Denver Broncos would be scheduled to select fifth overall in the 2020 NFL draft, the same spot the team drafted last year. In 2019, Denver selected N.C. State edge defender Bradley Chubb with the fifth overall pick. Chubb went on to earn Pro Bowl alternate honors as a rookie after totaling 60 tackles and 12 sacks.

Here’s a look at the current order of the top-10 selections for next year’s draft, according to Tankathon.com:

  1. Cincinnati Bengals (0-11)
  2. New York Giants (2-9)
  3. Miami Dolphins (2-9)
  4. Washington Redskins (2-9)
  5. Denver Broncos (3-8)
  6. Atlanta Falcons (3-8)
  7. Detroit Lions (3-7-1)
  8. Arizona Cardinals (3-7-1)
  9. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-7)
  10. New York Jets (4-7)

The list of top prospects expected to be available in the 2020 NFL draft includes Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and Ohio State edge defender Chase Young.

The list of quarterbacks entering the draft is expected to include Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, Oregon’s Justin Herbert, Georgia’s Jake Fromm and LSU’s Joe Burrow. Denver selected Missouri QB Drew Lock in the second round of April’s draft but he is yet to play this season.

Next year’s draft will take place from April 23-25 in Las Vegas.

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Prospects for Jags fans to watch: Oregon QB Justin Herbert

If a new front office comes to Jacksonville, look for the team to keep their eyes on top QB prospect Justin Herbert out of Oregon.

Just three weeks ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars were entering a division rivalry at 4-4 before heading into the bye week. Since, they’ve been blown out two consecutive weeks by their AFC South foes, leading to a lot of frustration among fans — and rightfully so.

Many of those fans are calling for the firing of the front office and coaching staff. While that discussion is for another article, I am here to discuss what could happen if that were to transpire.

If the Jaguars were to let go of their front office and coaching staff, the Jags would have to be looking at a new quarterback in the draft. Usually, when a team hires a new general manager and head coach, a new quarterback soon follows. It would be naive to think any differently for Jacksonville. While the team may be out of range for Louisiana State gunslinger Joe Burrow, they certainly may end up in the range for Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.

Herbert is a lot of fan’s dream quarterback, checking off just about every box one could have. Herbert brings A+ arm strength and athleticism to the table to go along with his 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame. In many ways, Herbert is comparable to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. That type of size, arm talent, and athleticism is a rare combination and is why many have drooled over this particular Oregon Duck.

In a crucial final year for the senior quarterback, Herbert has only further solidified himself as an elite prospect. The PAC 12 passer has gone on an absolute tear, leading the Ducks to a 9-1 record and a possible playoff bid. Herbert has completed 70% of his passes on the year, throwing for 2,662 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. With numbers like that, it will be interesting to see if Herbert can lead the Ducks to the playoffs.

Academically, Herbert also checks several boxes and currently has a 4.0 GPA, majoring in biology at Oregon. He has been brilliant on and off the field and also has proven to be a terrific teammate. Simply put, fans wouldn’t have to worry about him off the field.

What does the 6-foot-6 Duck bring to the table as a prospect, though, you ask?

Herbert possesses a lot of desirable traits from an NFL standpoint. As previously mentioned, his arm talent is atop the list. With the Jags having vertical threats like DJ Chark Jr., Herbert would fit right in and could give the Jags’ offense more explosion.

In my opinion, Herbert has the strongest arm in his class and it is easy to notice watching the young signal-caller.

WHEW! That’s a throw some quarterbacks in the league can’t make. Meanwhile, Herbert makes it look easy, not only displaying his arm strength but his accuracy, too. This is the throw that teams will ask prospects to make during workouts and senior days. It appears Herbert will have no trouble making these high difficulty NFL throws and making them look effortless.

At 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, Herbert brings toughness to his game as well. He’s shown the ability to stand in the pocket despite taking some shots in the process.

Herbert is big and strong and shows off his grit on this play above, taking a nice lick before delivering an absolutely beautiful pass to move the chains. One of my favorite characteristics of Blake Bortles was his toughness and Herbert will bring a similar level of selfishness and toughness that many covet and respect. Whether playing through injuries or giving up your body for a play, Herbert will go above and beyond to help his team win.

Lastly, Herbert shows the ability to improvise and make plays when things break down. While he is massive, Herbert is a threat outside of the pocket. He can take off running or extend a play as seen below.

If I had to pick one play to display Herbert as a prospect, it would be this play. The combination of his improvisational skills, arm talent, and ball placement are all on display, showing why he has been such a big name in the scouting world for so long. He may be hindered by his surrounding talent at Oregon, but if a team supports Herbert, he no doubt can become a franchise quarterback. In most classes, Herbert would be the top quarterback.

If he is on the board when Jacksonville is on the clock, I would expect the new front office to take a good, long, hard look at this Duck. At the end of the day, his talent may just be too good to pass up.

Titans QB Ryan Tannehill has been one of the league’s most efficient passers in 2019

He’s completed 71.3% of his passes in 2019, which ranks third in the league among all passers with at least 90 attempts.

The Tennessee Titans offense has been efficient since Ryan Tannehill took the reins from Marcus Mariota in Week 6’s shutout loss to the Denver Broncos.

Tannehill has posted a 3-1 overall record as a starter for the Titans, as the team has put together 105 points in its past four contests.

The quarterback is 97-of-136 passing for 1,161 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions for a rating of 104.4.

He’s completed 71.3% of his passes in 2019, which ranks third in the league among all passers with at least 90 attempts.

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With this, the former Miami Dolphins signal-caller trails only New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (75.4) and the Oakland Raiders’ Derek Carr (72.3).

Tannehill’s inconsistencies in the past when he was in Miami make it kind of difficult to trust his ability to perform at a high level and lead the team in the long-term, but it’s clear to see he’s off to a strong start.

Neither Tannehill not Mariota is under contract for the next season, and it’s safe to say the writing is on the wall for the latter at this point.

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It will be interesting to see if the Titans make quarterback a priority in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, with names like Tua Tagovailoa, Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Justin Herbert and others presenting solid options for the future.

Tannehill and the Titans will face the Jaguars at 3:05 p.m. CT on Sunday in Nissan Stadium.

Report: Duke Tobin attended Oregon game to scout QB Justin Herbert

The Bengals were reportedly checking in on Oregon QB Justin Herbert.

The quest to evaluate the top passers in the 2020 NFL draft continues for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Most recently, it sounds like the Bengals had top brass checking in on Oregon Ducks passer Justin Herbert.

According to James Crepea of the Oregonian (via ESPN’s Ben Baby), Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin was in attendance at the Ducks’ November 16, 34-6 win over Arizona.

There, Herbert put on a show with 333 yards and four scores, moving the needle to a 69.6 completion percentage with 28 touchdowns against three interceptions on the season.

The Bengals were probably going to do due diligence on Herbert either way given the trajectory of the team’s first-round pick this year. But checking in on Herbert seems more important than usual in the wake of the serious injury to potential No. 1 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa out of Alabama.

Herbert remains a top-10 candidate even if he hasn’t had the hype of other passers lately. Cincinnati reportedly traveling to see him again reaffirms the direction the franchise will likely take this offseason.

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Future QB Rankings: Rating all 32 NFL teams’ situations from worst to best

Touchdown Wire ranks the 32 NFL teams in terms of stability and potential at the game’s most important position over the next 3-4 seasons.

 

Future QB Rankings: Rating all 32 NFL teams’ situations from worst to best

Touchdown Wire ranks the 32 NFL teams in terms of stability and potential at the game’s most important position over the next 3-4 seasons.

Tom Brady might be the best quarterback ever, but he’s not the best in the NFL right now. He certainly won’t be the best in 2022.

He’s human, after all, and at age 42, regression is inevitable even for someone with six Super Bowl rings. That puts the New England Patriots in an uncertain situation at quarterback two or three years down the road. The New Orleans Saints, with 40-year-old Drew Brees under center, find themselves in a similar scenario.

Other teams, such as the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers, likely will face difficult personnel decisions at the quarterback position much sooner than that. Only a handful of teams, notably the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks, appear secure in their quarterback situation for years to come.

All this got us thinking about the quarterback situations of the future — and where each of the NFL’s 32 teams ranks in terms of preparedness at the game’s most crucial position.

By quarterback situations, we mean the full overview of each team’s quarterbacks group, including backups and a potential succession plan, if necessary. For this exercise, we will define the future as three to four years down the road.

To help form these opinions, we consulted with a blue-ribbon panel of one former head coach, two former general managers and one current general manager. They were asked for their thoughts on each team’s quarterback situation. They provided insight to inform our rankings.

With that in mind, we present Touchdown Wire’s future quarterback rankings for every NFL team, from worst to first:

32. Miami Dolphins

Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this season, many observers accused the Dolphins of tanking to earn the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and presumably select a quarterback. Since then, Miami (2-8) has been eclipsed by the ineptitude of Cincinnati (0-10) and Washington (1-9), so the Dolphins might not get the first QB off the board. Currently, the Dolphins have Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen on their roster. Rosen has failed in his playing time. There’s no way he’ll be back next year. The Dolphins have the option to hang onto Fitzpatrick, 36, who’s currently under contract next season at $5.5 million. It makes sense to keep Fitzpatrick around for one more year to help groom a young quarterback. That could be LSU’s Joe Burrow, Alabama’s Tua Tagavailoa (although his recent hip injury now complicates his draft status), Oregon’s Justin Herbert or Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts. Two members of my panel said they like Burrow better than Tagovailoa. Either way, it’s going to take some time to develop a young quarterback.

31. Chicago Bears

Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

For the moment, Mitchell Trubisky is Chicago’s starting quarterback. But it doesn’t appear that he will be in that role next year — although he remains under contract and the team holds a fifth-year option on the No. 2 overall pick from 2017. Given his level of play this season, it’s highly unlikely he will receive the option year, and he might not even see 2020 with the Bears — although the cap hit for cutting him would be slightly more than $9 million. The Bears are 4-6 after going 12-4 last year. There’s one main reason for the decline. That’s Trubisky. My panelists say he’s holding the offense back and could end up keeping a good team out of the playoffs. All four panelists agree Trubisky should be nothing more than a backup. Current backup Chase Daniel’s contract expires after this season. So there’s no telling who will be Chicago’s quarterback next year. Maybe the Bears will draft a quarterback. But with a talented roster already in place, the Bears should be first in line to sign New Orleans backup Teddy Bridgewater as a free agent.

30. Cincinnati Bengals

David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran Andy Dalton has been benched, and the Bengals are giving rookie fourth-rounder Ryan Finley a shot. There should be no turning back to Dalton, even though he remains under contract for 2020 with a $17.5 million scheduled salary. The Bengals can cut Dalton after the season without any salary cap ramifications. It’s too early to judge Finley. Cincinnati is going to end up with an early draft pick and could have a shot at Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert or Jalen Hurts. The Bengals will be starting over. But, given their current state, that’s not a bad thing. “Dalton had more than enough time and couldn’t win consistently,” one panelist said. “I have no idea what they have in Finley. But they have to draft a quarterback if they’re sitting there at No. 1 or 2.”

29. Washington Redskins

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The current situation is a mess. Veterans Colt McCoy and Case Keenum, who clearly aren’t the answer, each is in the last year of their contract. The Redskins have little choice but to play rookie Dwayne Haskins, who has five interceptions and two touchdown passes, the rest of this season. Call it an audition for Haskins. But this situation is complicated because the Redskins currently have interim coach Bill Callahan, who took over when Jay Gruden was fired. There will be a new coach next year, and he might not like Haskins. With an early draft pick likely, the new coach might want his own guy. Give up on Haskins after only one season? Arizona did it with 2018 first-round pick Josh Rosen after drafting Kyler Murray. All four of our panelists said Haskins was overrated when he was drafted.

28-25 / 24-21 / 20-17 / 16-13 / 12-9 / 8-5 / 4-1

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Should Tua Tagovailoa enter the 2020 NFL Draft?

Many believe Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has taken his last snaps in a Crimson Tide uniform, after injuring his hip in a contest against Mississippi State which resulted in season-ending surgery. The question that continues to loom is if he …

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Many believe Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has taken his last snaps in a Crimson Tide uniform, after injuring his hip in a contest against Mississippi State which resulted in season-ending surgery.

The question that continues to loom is if he should enter the 2020 NFL Draft and forego his senior season, or rehabilitate his injury and play one more year at the collegiate level before going pro.

Yahoo! Sports college football analyst, Pete Thamel, weighed in on what it would mean for Tagovailoa, financially, and the ramifications of his future decision.

Thamel explains that Tagovailoa was clearly one of the best quarterbacks eligible for the draft and probably the No. 1 overall pick.

With this season-ending injury, among other health issues he’s had in the last two years, teams may be thinking twice in 2020 about selecting him early.

“It’s very difficult, you don’t know what you’re drafting,” said a veteran NFL executive. “I see him maybe going toward the end of the first round.”

Being selected towards the end of the first round is still not bad, but having been projected to be the first player taken, it has to hurt your morale.

But there’s more than just morale involved, as Thamel goes on to explain.

The difference in the money from being the No. 1 overall pick to the No. 32 overall pick in the first round could cost Tagovailoa more the $25 million.

It is expected that his recovery could take upwards of six months. As Thamel explained in his piece, this would mean NFL teams won’t have the opportunity to see Tagovailoa before the draft.

This is a very heavy draft class when it comes to quarter backs.

Names like Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert and others are expected to go in the first round.

This is also a very “quarter back friendly” draft. Many teams are either looking for their quick-fix at the position now, or they are seeking out the future signal caller for their franchise.

Should Tagovailoa decide to enter the draft now and leave his final year of eligibility behind, he will almost certainly not be the first quarterback taken, and will likely fall late in the first round, as the one senior NFL executive had claimed.

However, if he is looking for one more year to prepare and fully heal before entering the NFL, he could stay with Nick Saban at Alabama one more year and enter the less-crowded quarterback class of the 2021 NFL Draft.

There are a lot of concerns surrounding this decision, because if he goes pro now, then the question asked would be “Well, where would he be if he stayed one more year?”

If he stays at Alabama he runs the risk of furthering any of his current injuries and damaging his draft stock even more, or he may even not play at the same level he has been over the last two seasons, which could cause him to drop even further in the draft.

This is something Tagovailoa will have some time to think about and talk over with his family to see what the best course of action may be.

For now, all we can do is speculate and weigh the options visible to us.