The emergence of the 2020 QB class and how it can make history as Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts take big step

'Thursday Night Football' between the Dolphins and Bengals will showcase half of the blossoming quarterback class of 2020

A month ago, the 2020 quarterback class was a mixed bag. Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert had emerged as stars in 2021, while Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts were entering make-or-break years. Now, the former Alabama teammates have emerged as early MVP candidates for the only unbeaten teams in the NFL -- the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles. And suddenly, the number of franchise quarterbacks from the 2020 NFL Draft may have doubled. Burrow made the Super Bowl last year while becoming the youngest quarterback (25) ever to lead the NFL in both completion percentage and yards per attempt in the same season. Herbert is the only quarterback ever with 30 touchdown passes in each of his first two seasons. Tagovailoa tied Dan Marino and Bob Griese's franchise-record with six passing touchdowns in Week 2. Hurts is the only quarterback to have produced 300 passing yards per game and 50 rushing yards per game through three games of a season. Joe Burrow, CIN (Drafted No. 1 overall) Tua Tagovailoa, MIA (Drafted No. 5 overall) Justin Herbert, LAC (Drafted No. 6 overall) Jalen Hurts, PHI (Drafted No. 53 overall) They are four of the top eight Fantasy quarterbacks this season. They are four of the top eight quarterbacks in MVP odds. They are four of the top 10 quarterbacks in pass yards. Josh Allen 3-1 Patrick Mahomes 7-2 Jalen Hurts 7-1 Lamar Jackson 7-1 Tua Tagoavailoa 14-1 Justin Herbert 16-1 Aaron Rodgers 18-1 Joe Burrow 25-1 2004 - Rivers, Roethlisberger, Manning, Schaub 469 1983 - Marino, Elway, Kelly, O'Brien 461 2005 - Rodgers, Smith, Fitzpatrick, Campbell 383 1971 - Anderson, Theismann, Plunkett, Manning 370 1956 2 Bart Starr, Earl Morrall 1971 2 Jim Plunkett, Joe Theismann 1979 2 Joe Montana, Phil Simms 2004 2 Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger 2012 2 Russell Wilson, Nick Foles 1956 2 Bart Starr, Earl Morrall 1971 2 Ken Anderson, Joe Theismann 1983 2 John Elway, Dan Marino

Of course, their stock can go down as quickly as it has risen, but what if it doesn't? They could actually challenge some immortalized classes for the best season by a draft class ever. No, we're not talking best classes of all time in the totality of their careers, but best seasons by a class is in play right now.

In case you need to be reminded of the 2020 star potential: