Comparing Justin Herbert’s rookie year to the best quarterbacks in the NFL

Justin Herbert compared to Patrick Mahomes’ 2018

Patrick Mahomes had a few advantages that Justin Herbert does not have. First, he got to sit a season behind Alex Smith and watch a winning football team go about their business and was not rushed into a role like Herbert was. That is important.

Mahomes also has a huge advantage in coaching, although the coaching staff, as bad as they have been this season, has put Herbert in good positions to succeed. Mahomes also had (and still has) the benefit of the best weapons in the league.

However, when healthy, the Chargers have some of the best weapons in the league. One of the five best wide receivers in Keenan Allen, a great deep-ball threat in Mike Williams, a top-10 pass-catching tight end in Hunter Henry and a top-three receiving running back in Austin Ekeler is not too shabby.

Mahomes won the MVP award in his first season as a starter and Justin Herbert would absolutely be in the conversation this season if the Chargers had a better record and Herbert started in Week 1.

Mahomes’ 2018 was historic. He finished with 5,097 yards, 50 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 66% completion percentage.

Those are fantastic numbers and Herbert is quite not there yet but he really is not that far behind. Remember, that is over 16 games. Herbert’s 16-game pace thus far is 4,798 yards, 39 passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Patrick Mahomes has a record-setting first season and Herbert has a 16-game pace that is only 299 yards fewer. Mahomes has far more touchdowns but that is part of the advantage of having the best weapons in the league.

The fact that Herbert is having 90% of the season that Mahomes just had three seasons ago, when we thought we would never see it again out of someone in their first year as a starter, is remarkable.

Just imagine what Justin Herbert can do moving forward.