By: Gio Annatelli | The GameDay
The 2023 NFL season is only a few months away, and with the NFL Draft coming up, plenty of the conversation has been around quarterbacks. Some teams will be looking to draft the future of their franchise in this upcoming draft, while other teams went out and signed or traded for their signal-caller.
One team that hasn’t had to worry about their quarterback situation is the Los Angeles Chargers, as they have one of the best young superstars in the league in Justin Herbert.
Taken No. 6 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa, Herbert has been a star since stepping onto the field. He took over for Tyrod Taylor in Week 2 of his rookie season and hasn’t looked back since, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and going to the Pro Bowl the following season.
Herbert has been considered a potential favorite to win the MVP award since his second year in the league and finished 9th in voting last season but hasn’t been able to secure the hardware.
Will Herbert be able to win the MVP in his fourth season with the competition getting even tougher?
The Case for Justin Herbert to Win Most Valuable Player
On Caesars Sportsbook, Herbert’s odds to win MVP are currently at +1500. He is currently behind Patrick Mahomes (+650), Joe Burrow (+750), Josh Allen (+750), and Jalen Hurts (+1200), along with being tied with Trevor Lawrence at +1500.
It shows how dominant the 2020 quarterback class is, with Burrow, Hurts, and Herbert all in the top 5. Even Tagovailoa is not far behind at +2200.
Herbert had a big year in 2022, leading the Chargers to a 10-7 record and their first playoff appearance since 2018. Herbert completed 68.2% of his passes, throwing for 4,739 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Across the league, Herbert was 2nd in completions, 2nd in attempts, 3rd in completion percentage, 2nd in yards, and 8th in touchdowns. He was also 2nd in Game-Winning Drives with five.
Herbert is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. He has great arm strength, poise in the pocket, excellent decision-making, and can turn a busted play into a significant gain.
It’s also important to note that Herbert can be successful without having premier talent. Keenan Allen missed six games last season and was limited in two additional games, while Mike Williams missed four games and was limited in one additional game. That means Herbert’s top receivers last year were Joshua Palmer and DeAndre Carter. Most QBs would struggle, but Herbert still was one of the best last season.
It won’t be easy outplaying the quarterbacks ahead of him (Mahomes, Burrow, Allen, Hurts, Lawrence). However, it very well can be done. Herbert has proven he can put up massive numbers in the NFL, as shown in his second season when he threw for over 5,000 yards and over 35 touchdowns.
If the Chargers can stay healthy on offense and Herbert continues his trajectory upward, there shouldn’t be any reason why he doesn’t win Most Valuable Player this upcoming season.