With the Cincinnati Bengals‘ 41-22 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, naturally people are going to revisit the 2020 NFL Draft and say the stripes made the wrong decision going with Joe Burrow No. 1 over Justin Herbert, who went No. 6 to the Chargers.
Yeah, those people need to can it.
Herbert had the better rookie campaign, no doubt, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. That was easier for him to do considering Burrow missed the final six games of the season due to injury.
Here are both quarterbacks’ numbers:
- Burrow – 3,135 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, 14 interceptions
- Herbert – 3,547 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, 11 interceptions
Herbert might have better overall numbers but Burrow is the right guy for the Bengals and there’s no debating that. He’s brought the swagger and attitude that this franchise needs if they want to eventually make the playoffs and it’s already shown in just his second year as the team’s starting quarterback.
Bengals made the right choice in selecting Joe Burrow over Justin Herbert
Herbert’s been incredible, there’s no denying that but when it comes to what this team needed, Burrow is the right man for the job.
Dan Orlovsky and the First Take crew discussed this very debate ahead of the Bengals’ matchup with the Chargers and he was all on board the Burrow bus. He compared the No. 1 overall pick to guys like Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, saying Burrow has ‘it’.
If he was starting a franchise today, @danorlovsky7 would choose Joe Burrow over Justin Herbert 👀
— First Take (@FirstTake) December 2, 2021
"I just think he's got that Aaron Rodgers in him, that Tom Brady ... There's guys that come into the NFL that have 'it' at a rare ... level. And I think Joe Burrow has that." pic.twitter.com/GsAC117vIU
Burrow was the best quarterback coming out of college in the 2019 season and that’s why Cincinnati took him No. 1. The guy had thrown for 5,671 yards, 60 touchdowns, and six interceptions, won the Heisman Trophy, and led his team to the National Championship title. Who wouldn’t want that guy taking over at quarterback for a team that won just two games the season prior?
Burrow vs Herbert is a debate we’ll constantly have throughout their careers and if Herbert continues to put up these kinds of numbers, people will criticize the Bengals for going with Burrow. Cincinnati knows that the team didn’t make a mistake though and that’s all that matters.
Justin Herbert might have won this round, but Joe Burrow was the right pick and he’s the right quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals.