The Los Angeles Chargers selected Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick in the draft. However, if the Miami Dolphins took him, the Chargers were still planning on taking a quarterback.
Coming into the 2020 NFL Draft, it appeared like the Los Angeles Chargers were going to be in the market for a quarterback. With Philip Rivers gone, the Chargers did still have Tyrod Taylor on the roster to be a potential starter.
While Taylor does have experience as a starter and is well-liked, he hasn’t shown the ability to be a franchise guy. With this in mind, it seemed like the Chargers taking a quarterback was going to be a lock.
When it finally came time to take a quarterback, the Chargers didn’t waste any time, as they selected Justin Herbert from Oregon. With the Miami Dolphins right in front of them, the Chargers knew they would likely be taking a quarterback as well.
Despite some injury concerns, the Dolphins decided to take Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick. There was a good amount of buzz before the draft that the Dolphins might have preferred Herbert, but that just ended up being smoke.
In a recent interview, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said that the Chargers would have taken Tua if the Dolphins took Herbert.
BREAKING: Tua would have been a member of the @Chargers if the #Dolphins took Herbert at 5
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 28, 2020
GM Tom Telesco confirms #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/ZEqeqFUmva
With the comments made by Telesco, it is clear that the Chargers prioritized getting a quarterback first and foremost in the draft. While Taylor might be the starter to begin the season, it seems like his days as a starter could be numbered.
Comparing Tua and Herbert is fairly difficult because of the health questions surrounding Tua. However, if Tua is healthy, he has the potential to be a great quarterback in the league. For Herbert, he wasn’t ranked nearly as high of a prospect, as he will have some work to do to become and starter and what the Chargers hope will be a franchise quarterback.
Time will tell who the better of the two quarterbacks will be. Since they were taken just a pick apart, their careers will be forever linked. For the Chargers, they will have to hope that they can groom Herbert into a star quarterback.