3 reasons Bengals fans should not forget about Oregon QB Justin Herbert

EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 05: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks looks to throw the ball while being hit by Cameron Goode #19 of the California Golden Bears in the third quarter during their game at Autzen Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - OCTOBER 05: Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks looks to throw the ball while being hit by Cameron Goode #19 of the California Golden Bears in the third quarter during their game at Autzen Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
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TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 19: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is pressured out of the pocket by Greg Emerson #90 of the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – OCTOBER 19: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is pressured out of the pocket by Greg Emerson #90 of the Tennessee Volunteers in the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

On thing about drafting a quarterback with the first pick is that it is by in large, a crapshoot. The NFL Draft is littered with No. #1 and #2 QB’s who were either near or absolute busts. Think names like Ryan Leaf, JaMarcus Russell, Tim Couch, David Carr. All big names coming out, and all who left an asterisk on the way out.

Will Tua, Joe, or Justin do the same? It’s anyone’s guess, but if there is one wary eye on anyone, it might be Tagliaovoa.

The Crimson Tide quarterback who exploded onto the scene at the National Championship Game against the Georgia Bulldogs, returned Saturday after a high ankle sprain had left him sidelined. For the record, it’s his second such injury in as many years.

Does that mean he’s injury prone? Maybe, maybe not. But at 6’-1” and 218 lbs, his ability to take punishment at the NFL level is a consideration.

Meanwhile, Herbert has a significantly larger frame. At 6’-6” and a heavier 237 lbs, some experts have already made a comparison to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. While the comparison is strictly along body measurables, it’s something the Bengals and any NFL team is likely to factor in on some evaluation metric.

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