Oregon QB Justin Herbert made a somewhat surprising decision to return to the Ducks for his senior season. Many thought that Herbert could be the top QB drafted in the 2019 NFL Draft.

However, NFL franchises will have to wait another year for Herbert.

Herbert’s return immediately puts him atop the 2020 NFL Draft projection as the top QB, but Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa could also certainly change that. Tagovailoa exploded onto the scene this season in Tuscaloosa putting up silly numbers while displaying impressive footwork and working through his progressions.

Of course, there’s plenty of time until the 2020 draft, but one NFL scout told Yahoo! that he’d take Herbert over Tagovailoa right now.

“If I was on the clock right now, I’d go with Herbert,” an NFL scout told Yahoo!. “He’s taller and fits the prototype more. I really like his arm strength and ability to stay in the pocket. Tua has three or four first-round picks on offense with him, and Herbert has Dillon Mitchell. That’s pretty much it. Tua has a lot to work with. He’s got first- and second-rounders galore around him that makes his job easier.”

Both QBs are great at what they do and the upside is certainly there. Herbert is listed at 6-foot-6, while Tagovailoa is listed at 6-foot-1.

Tagovailoa does have much better players around him, and that adds to the numbers. However, the players around him don’t have an impact on his accuracy, footwork, progression and decision-making in any way. That all goes through the QB.

One thing that wasn’t mentioned was the injury problems that Tagovailoa has endured in 2018. He’s been banged up for most of the season, and that’s certainly something to keep an eye on as we look ahead to the College Football Playoff and to 2019.