Chargers Week 1 starter odds: Will the Herbert era begin right away?

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The Los Angeles Chargers' quarterback room looks a bit different than it did last year.

Gone is Philip Rivers, who signed a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. To replace him as their next franchise quarterback, the Chargers plucked Oregon's Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Still on the roster is veteran Tyrod Taylor, along with second-year signal-caller Easton Stick out of North Dakota State.

So ... now what?

The coaching staff and front office have a tough decision to make: Use Taylor as a bridge to Herbert or start the rookie right out of the gate.

Let's dive into the odds on who will start the year under center for Los Angeles.

Odds to be Chargers' Week 1 starter

Player	Odds
Tyrod Taylor	-370
Justin Herbert	+260
Easton Stick	+3200

The case for Taylor

Those counting the Chargers out should be wary. Taylor has been a formidable quarterback in the NFL and isn't a drop-off from Rivers by any means.

The 30-year-old hasn't started a game since 2018 with the Cleveland Browns, but he has enough experience under his belt to lead an NFL offense. Taylor's made 46 starts in the league and was one of its better quarterbacks in his heyday with the Buffalo Bills; he posted 51 touchdowns against 16 interceptions over three years as a primary starter from 2015-17.

Taylor doesn't have a particularly high ceiling, but his floor his high. That could be a blessing in disguise after a reckless Rivers threw a whopping 20 picks last season.

The case for Herbert

There's going to be at least some pressure on the Chargers' brass to give the keys to Herbert. After all, he's the new face of a franchise that doesn't expect to contend with the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens in the AFC in 2020. Why not take a mulligan and use this as a learning year?

Herbert has his flaws as a quarterback, but this is a pretty ideal situation for him to start his NFL career. He has plenty of targets in the passing game and the AFC West should be pretty points-y next season.

Using a first-round pick on a quarterback doesn't always translate to starting that quarterback right away, but Los Angeles certainly has its guy.

The case for Stick

I wish I could say I had one. Unless something goes horribly wrong, Stick would merely provide depth behind Herbert and Taylor in 2020, but he'll need to fight just to make the final roster.

Best betHerbert (+260)

I would have loved Taylor at a shorter price, but I can't recommend betting on him at this number.

Herbert's a solid prospect with a potentially high ceiling, but he isn't entirely polished. The Chargers would be better off letting him learn under Taylor for a year or two before evaluating his place in the pecking order. That said, Taylor's price is just too far out of reach to lay the chalk on the seasoned veteran.

It's Herbert or nothing at this point.

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.

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