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What happened to every player drafted ahead of Justin Herbert in 2020 NFL Draft?

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | By Derick Quinanola | Last updated 5/8/24

It’s been four years since the Los Angeles Chargers took Justin Herbert as the sixth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. While this draft was largely overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the draft has seen several players emerge as stars since their entry into the league.

While Herbert has yet to lead the Chargers to a postseason victory, you can’t ignore that he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now. Looking back at the draft, let’s take a closer look at the careers of the five players who were selected before him, and examine whether they made the right choice passing on Los Angeles’ franchise quarterback.

Joe Burrow (1st Overall, Cincinnati Bengals)

The Cincinnati Bengals were in desperate need of a quarterback heading into this draft, and it led to them selecting Joe Burrow with the first overall pick. While Herbert has been great, it’s hard to imagine the Bengals would pick anyone else in a redraft of this class. Since getting drafted, Burrow has not disappointed for the Bengals. Despite picking up some significant injuries early in his career, such as a torn ACL and MCL that ended his rookie campaign early, a healthy Burrow makes Cincinnati a threat to win every time they take the field.

Chase Young (2nd Overall, Washington Commanders)

Like Justin Herbert, Chase Young made an immediate impact in the NFL. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and was named to the Pro Bowl in his first year with the Washington Commanders. Since then, though, Young has either struggled to stay healthy, or been unable to produce at the same level as he did as a rookie. After getting traded to the San Francisco 49ers last season, Young is hoping to fully bounce back in 2024, but his play has left a lot to be desired over the past three years.

Jeff Okudah (3rd Overall, Detroit Lions)

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jeff Okudah (1) warms up before the Detroit Lions game at Ford Field in Detroit Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK

Jeff Okudah’s career has gotten off to quite a rocky start after he was picked third by the Detroit Lions. Initially dubbed as the top cornerback of this draft class, Okudah has struggled due to injuries through his first four seasons. That led to the Lions trading him to the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 for a fifth-round pick, but he wasn’t much better for them either, despite the fact he managed to play in 13 games. After signing with the Houston Texans this offseason, Okudak will look to get on track after a disappointing start to his career.

Andrew Thomas (4th Overall, New York Giants)

As a left tackle, Andrew Thomas has become one of the premier players at his position. Over his last two seasons, Thomas has committed only two penalties and allowed just six sacks on 1,217 pass-blocking snaps. As expected, the Giants locked up Thomas long term, signing him to a five-year, $117.5 million contract, including $67 million guaranteed, in July of 2023.

Tua Tagovailoa (5th Overall, Miami Dolphins)

As the last player picked before Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa has shown considerable upside early on in his career. When healthy, Tagovailoa has displayed the potential to be a franchise quarterback. His accuracy and decision-making are standout traits that could lead the Miami Dolphins for years to come, provided he can avoid getting injured and continue to stay on the field.