The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Can NFL’S 2020 QB draft class be among the best ever?
That seems to be case since one QB from that class has been in Super Bowl for past two seasons.
J| oe Burrow is not only the NFL’S highest-paid quarterback, he is the leader of a draft class that in a short time is making a run to be one of the best. The 2020 QB draft class has had one of its own in the Super Bowl the past two seasons — Burrow with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021 and Jalen Hurts last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers has the most passing yards by a player in his first three seasons while Tua Tagovailoa helped lead the Miami Dolphins to their first playoff appearance since 2016. With Jordan Love taking over in Green Bay, Sunday marks the first time since 2012 that the top five selected quarterbacks in a draft class started in a season opener.
Joe Burrow is not only the NFL’S receivers. highest-paid quarterback, he is “That offense he’s running now the leader of a draft class that in with Mike Mcdaniels is about a short time is making a run to being accurate and on time with be one of the best. the football. It’s the catch and
The 2020 QB draft class has run,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s why had one of its own in the Super the 49ers are so good and efficient Bowl the past two seasons — Burrow in what they do, and that’s with the Cincinnati Bengals his strength. He’s got an offense in 2021 and Jalen Hurts last season and a coach tailor-made to him, with the Philadelphia Eagles. to his personality and the way
Burrow and Hurts are in the he plays the game.” top five in The Associated Press Many were surprised when the ranking of quarterbacks. Eagles drafted Hurts in the second
The rest of the group also has round and 53rd overall, but its share of accomplishments. he has continued to prove skeptics
Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles wrong. Chargers has the most passing In his second season as the fulltime yards by a player in his first starter, Hurts became the three seasons, while Tua Tagovailoa fourth quarterback ever with at helped lead the Miami Dolphins least 3,000 passing yards (3,701), to their first playoff appearance 20 touchdown passes (22) and 10 since 2016. rushing touchdowns (13) in a single
With Jordan Love taking over season. Simms and Fitzpatrick in Green Bay, Sunday marked think Hurts is just scratching the first time since 2012 that the the surface of what he can top five selected quarterbacks do as a passer. in a draft class started in a season “I watched at the Super Bowl opener. how far he’s come as a passer.
“You’ve got a class where three The pinpoint accuracy, making of the six are the face of the NFL. the right decisions and being able We haven’t seen a class this talented to lead his football team,” Fitzpatrick in a long time,” said Amazon said. “He was a couple Prime Video analyst Ryan of minutes away from being the Fitzpatrick, who played 17 years MVP. He had maybe his best game in the league. of the year on the biggest stage.”
At least not since 2004, when Love finally gets his opportunity the trio of Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger to show he can pick up the mantle and Philip Rivers took from Brett Favre and Aaron the league by storm. All three have Rodgers and keep the Packers a Hall of Fame-worthy resumes, contender in the NFC. Green Bay and Manning and Roethlisberger has one of the youngest rosters own a pair of Super Bowl rings. in the NFC, but Simms says it has
With its depth, though, the perhaps the most talented group 2020 group could make a run in the NFC North. at the greatest of all time, the “I think he’s got all the physical Class of 1983. It is the only one abilities to be a mainstay at quarterback with three Hall of Famers — John for a long time,” Simms Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly said. “He’s big, he throws well and — and it has a combined 11 Super his mechanics have improved. He Bowl appearances. was careful not to make mistakes
It already has equaled the his first few years, but now he’s 1983ers by having two quarterbacks throwing lasers around the field.” reach the Super Bowl within Love is eager for his chance to their first three years in the league show what he can do, beginning (Marino and Tony Eason). Sunday at Chicago.
The 1983 group went 100-55 “It’s been awesome to see those (including the playoffs) as starters guys. They’ve all kind of made in its first three seasons while their mark pretty early,” he said. the 2020 QBS were 100-71-1 going “They did a great job, but yeah into the 2023 openers. I’m definitely excited to finally
The one area where the current get my shot.”
group has its predecessors beat is money. With Burrow agreeing to an Nfl-record five-year, $275 million extension Thursday, three of the four top-paid quarterbacks are from the 2020 class, with Burrow, Herbert and Hurts all averaging at least $51 million per season.
Burrow, the top pick in 2020, was tied for second in the league with 35 TD passes last season. He joined Andrew Luck as the only players with at least 75 touchdown passes (82) and 10 rushing scores in their first three seasons.
NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms thinks Burrow is the second-best quarterback coming into the season, behind Kansas City’s Patrick
Mahomes.
“He’s got special qualities and leadership but also just the cool calm and clutchness to his game that is phenomenal. And he’s a great thrower,” Simms said.
Many consider Herbert to have the strongest arm in the group. He has 14,089 career passing yards, the most by a player in his first three seasons. His 94 touchdown passes are the second most.
With Kellen Moore taking over as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, Fitzpatrick thinks this might be the season that Herbert can lead LA to the next level.
“Maybe not a jump statistically because he’s been so efficient,
but in leading that team to more wins, getting them to the playoffs and doing some damage. I think we’re just at the beginning of the greatness we’re going to see with Herbert,” Fitzpatrick said.
Tagovailoa led the league with a 105.5 passer rating last year. Until a three-game losing streak at the end of the season, he was on a stretch where he had won 14 of 17 starts.
Fitzpatrick, who was Tagovailoa’s teammate in 2020, said the important thing to remember about Tagovailoa is the improvement he has made each year. That should continue with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle as his top