NFL Draft: 2020 QB Class vs. 2004 QB Class

The 2004 NFL Draft class produced a historically great group of quarterbacks, which include the likes of Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger. Does the 2020 QB class consisting of Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert measure up? It’s always a tough exercise to take a group of prospects who have never played a down in the NFL and compare them to a group of potential hall of fame players. However, as analysts, we have to be bold and at least try to predict the future.

How good was the 2004 QB class?

Outside of the 1983 draft class, which produced the likes of John Elway, Dan Marino, and Jim Kelly, the 2004 quarterback group is the best in NFL Draft history. The first pick of the draft was the San Diego Chargers selecting Manning. Just a few picks later, the New York Giants selected Rivers, followed by a Rivers-for-Manning trade, as Eli’s camp made it crystal clear that he had no intentions of playing in San Diego.

The home run pick of the draft was the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Roethlisberger with the 11th selection. This trio went on to produce an impressive 410-307 record, including four Super Bowl victories. In the third round, the Atlanta Falcons selected Matt Schaub, who went on to have a solid career. There was, however, one bust of the 2004 class, when the Bills selected J.P. Losman with the 22nd pick. Safe to say he didn’t pan out in Buffalo. All in all, the astonishing 2004 class will likely produce four Super Bowl wins, two Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, and one player that will be the poster child of being in “the hall of very good”. There is no doubt that the 2004 quarterback draft class was special, and it will go down as one of the very best.

What about the future?

The 2020 QB class is loaded with talent as well. LSU’s Burrow is coming off of one of the best seasons for a quarterback in college football history. His pocket mobility is elite, and he plays his best football when the lights are brightest. Pro Football Network’s own A.J. Schulte recently did an amazing job of highlighting Burrow’s greatness. Burrow is charismatic, accurate, poised, and has an unparalleled ability to maneuver in the pocket to create big plays downfield. As it stands today, Burrow is a lock to be selected with the first overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Then there is Alabama’s phenom, Tagovailoa, who is a lethally accurate passer, possesses a natural twitch, and is one of the most cerebral passers in college football history. Prior to a significant hip injury, Tagovailoa was the consensus number one overall pick, even igniting a “Tank for Tua” movement. Despite the injury, the draft community remains sky-high on Tagovailoa, with Pro Football Network’s Senior Draft Analyst Tony Pauline having him ranked as the best quarterback in this draft class.

Let’s not forget about Oregon’s Herbert, who oozes elite traits, led by an absolute cannon of an arm and breathtaking mobility. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that many have deemed Herbert too have never reached his full potential at Oregon and has been knocked for his passive personality. With that said, Herbert has owned the draft season thus far, winning the Senior Bowl Most Valuable Player award and wowing scouts with his arm strength and accuracy at the NFL Scouting Combine. Since the collegiate football season ended, Herbert has done everything in his power to solidify himself as a top prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. This group has not only produced jaw-dropping numbers, but they have also produced a Heisman Trophy winner and two national championships.

The beauty of the 2020 QB group is that there is significant talent at the position outside of the top three players. Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, Washington’s Jacob Eason, and Georgia’s Jake Fromm should all be high selections on day two of the draft. Hurts has really helped himself as of late, and it would not surprise me in the least bit to see his name called towards the end of round one.

While it may be too early to truly compare the 2020 QB class vs. the 2004 QB class, it’s certainly not too early to say that this year’s class is as talented as nearly 16 years ago. We will all get the opportunity to sit back and watch whether or not the trio of Burrow, Tagovailoa, and Herbert can enjoy the same amount of success as Manning, Rivers, and Roethlisberger. One thing is for sure, the modern-day NFL is a game where young, athletic quarterbacks in the mold of Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Lamar Jackson are thriving. The 2020 QB group certainly brings that young and athletic trait to the table.