Photo via CBS Sports

Is Justin Herbert "elite"? He is NOT even one of the 10 best quarterbacks in the NFL

Despite early hype and a consensus preseason ranking among the NFL’s top 10 quarterbacks, Justin Herbert has struggled to sustain elite production over his career. Advanced metrics like EPA per dropback—considered the most accurate measure of quarterback impact—paint a clear picture: Herbert peaked in his first two seasons, finishing 7th in 2020 and 4th in 2021, but has since fallen outside the top 10 in each of the last five years, including a 12th-place ranking in 2024 and a steep drop to 21st this season.

His consistency issues mirror those of Geno Smith, making him one of only two qualified quarterbacks in the past 20 years to remain outside the top 10 for five straight seasons after earlier top-10 finishes. Even his coach, Jim Harbaugh, recently acknowledged the need for improvement, though Herbert’s 0-4 start to the 2024 season has only deepened skepticism about his long-term standing among the league’s best.

Up nextNFL· 2d ago

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh gets defensive with media after Justin Herbert ‘insult’