Over the past year or two, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has emerged as one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.
At 6-foot-6 and nearly 240 pounds, he seems to have a mechanical arm, and he has shown his ability to make big plays under pressure.
A growing number of people are picking the Chargers to win the AFC West and possibly even reach the Super Bowl because of Herbert’s impressive skills.
But it’s a little too early to talk about him in terms of being an all-time great.
Still, Ryan Harris, an offensive lineman who played with both Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, thinks Herbert is already better than both of them.
Former Peyton Manning teammate (@salaams_from_68) says Justin Herbert is a better quarterback. pic.twitter.com/DzdGR3QWLg
— CBS Sports Radio (@CBSSportsRadio) August 25, 2022
“Justin Herbert is the best quarterback I’ve ever seen, and I played with Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. This guy is unbelievable … It is something that’s only going to continue to increase. He’s got the most talented arm in the NFL.”
Herbert Had A Banner 2021 Season
When Herbert was made the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by Los Angeles, there were questions about whether he would excel at the pro level.
He started his rookie season as a backup to Tyrod Taylor, but a rib injury to Taylor just prior to the team’s Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs catapulted Herbert into the starting lineup for good.
He had 311 yards while completing 22-of-33 passes in that contest, and he never looked back.
Herbert’s 4,336 passing yards and 31 touchdowns in 2020 got him the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and made it clear that, just after losing longtime franchise QB Philip Rivers, the Bolts had a new high-level signal-caller right away.
Last season, the University of Oregon product put up 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns, earning him a trip to the Pro Bowl.
Along the way, he showed how clutch he is by leading five game-winning drives and fourth-quarter comebacks that year.
Justin Herbert and Mike Williams don't care about your comeback.
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/AmlhIYIZ9q
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 22, 2021
Even though the Las Vegas Raiders defeated the Bolts by the slimmest of margins in Week 18 to end the season, Herbert came up big under pressure in that contest.
(2/3) #Chargers game-tying TD drive vs #Raiders by Justin Herbert as time expires:
Drive 2: 19 plays, 83 yds, 2:06
🔸6/19 completions
🔸7 (!) QB pressures
🔸Missed play by Ekeler
🔸4 drops pic.twitter.com/JCJL3Xqcz0— Dan W. (@DanWSports) January 11, 2022
With weapons such as Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams, and Keenan Allen at his disposal, Herbert should have the Bolts in contention for a world championship this season as long as they stay healthy.
The big reason for excitement in Southern California is their vastly upgraded defense, which should take some pressure off Herbert and his aforementioned weapons at the skill positions.
Calling Him Better Than Manning Is Hyperbole
On one hand, Herbert’s statistical production last year ranks with Manning’s best output.
Only once did Manning throw for more yards, and he had more touchdown passes in a single season in three out of his 17 NFL seasons.
But what would truly get Herbert onto his level is a Super Bowl win or two.
Manning had consistently shown excellence in the regular season early in his career, but it wasn’t until he won his first Super Bowl in the 2006 season that people started to truly talk about him as one of the all-time greats.
Of course, he ended his career the way very few pro athletes ever have – with another Super Bowl championship.
Herbert certainly has the team around him to bring a world championship to Los Angeles, and the team around him is young enough to give him multiple chances in the coming years.
NEXT: The Chargers Lead An Elite NFL Club In 2022