Despite the fact that many believe Justin Herbert would be the top pick of the 2019 NFL Draft if he came out after his junior season, it’s being reported that the Oregon quarterback will return for his senior campaign.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports noted on Sunday that, “…numerous sources said that there is a very strong sentiment from the Oregon program that Herbert will remain in school for 2019. Several scouts from NFL teams who have held informal discussions with friends and contacts on the Oregon staff said they would be very surprised if the quarterback opted to turn pro this spring.”
This report mirrors what a family friend recently said during an interview with a local newspaper in Oregon. Herbert is said to be very interested in staying in school one final year with the added bonus that he might be able to play with his brother Patrick.
Quite aside from all that, Herbert might do well to stay in school simply so that he has more experience once he does declare for the NFL draft. His physical tools are right up there with some of the best we’ve seen in years, and he routinely makes throws (like this) that scream “NFL franchise passer.”
But it’s also clear he has plenty of work to sharpen up those tools. So far this season, the junior signal caller is completing 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,883 yards with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.