Justin Herbert 40 time: How fast did the Chargers' QB run the 40-yard dash?
By Jason Reed
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LA Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is not known for his blistering speed but he certainly has more athleticism than most realize. Herbert has utilized this athleticism to extend plays out of the pocket, and when the defense is caught falling asleep, he has used his legs to move the chains.
Any time Herbert gets the chance to burn defenses with his legs there is a common question among the fanbase: just how fast is the former Oregon Duck? He may not be Lamar Jackson or Justin Fields, but he certainly has some get-up to his game.
Justin Herbert ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. While that may seem slow compared to the fastest skill position players in the league, it is pretty quick for a quarterback who is six-foot-six.
Where Justin Herbert's 40 time ranked among quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft
The 2020 NFL Draft will forever go down as one of the best quarterback draft classes in league history. In addition to Herbert, the 2020 NFL Draft also saw Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love get drafted in the first round.
Regardless of how fans may feel about Tua, there were four legitimate starting quarterbacks drafted in the first round. Three of those four are in the elite tier of quarterbacks. Not to mention that Jalen Hurts was also drafted in 2020 in the second round.
Here is how Herbert's 40 time compared to his peers in that draft class:
Player | 40 time | Drafted by |
---|---|---|
Cole McDonald | 4.58s | Tennessee Titans |
Jalen Hurts | 4.59s | Philadelphia Eagles |
Steve Montez | 4.68s | Undrafted |
Justin Herbert | 4.68s | LA Chargers |
Kelly Bryant | 4.69s | Undrafted |
Shea Patterson | 4.71s | Undrafted |
Jordan Love | 4.74s | Green Bay Packers |
Hurts, Herbert and Love are the only notable quarterbacks who cracked the top-seven-fastest 40 times during the 2020 Combine. Burrow and Tagovailoa did not run the 40-yard dash that year.
Where Justin Herbert's 40 time ranks among notable NFL quarterbacks
Hurts is the only notable quarterback from the 2020 class who ran a faster 40 time than Herbert and when compared to the rest of his NFL peers, Herbert's 40 time looks even more impressive. Here is how he stands compared to the best to do it in the NFL:
Quarterback | 40 time |
---|---|
Lamar Jackson | 4.34s |
Anthony Richardson | 4.43s |
Justin Fields | 4.44s |
Kyler Murray | 4.44s |
Russell Wilson | 4.55s |
Jalen Hurts | 4.59s |
Deshaun Watson | 4.66s |
Justin Herbert | 4.68s |
CJ Stroud | 4.74s |
Jordan Love | 4.74s |
Josh Allen | 4.76s |
Trevor Lawrence | 4.78s |
Patrick Mahomes | 4.80s |
There are only seven starting-caliber quarterbacks in the NFL who ran a quicker 40 than Herbert (and two of them are on the same team). Herbert has a leg up over the other elite quarterbacks in the league as he had a noticeably faster time than both Allen and Mahomes.
This is important to note considering Allen is regarded as a dual-threat weapon who is among the most athletic quarterbacks in the league. While he does not have the rushing stats that Allen has, Herbert has proven he is faster than the Bills QB.
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