Philip Rivers was never viewed as a generational QB, but he was viewed as really good, with potential.
He was never viewed as an equal to Manning at any point in his career.
Herbert is viewed as a greater raw talent than Rivers but we don't view him the way Manning was though of. Manning was always a better QB in the regular season, either you were there or you weren't. No stats are going to do the comp justice because The League was so different, 22-28 years ago.
Herbert thru this point in his career is well short of what we thought of Manning. He's a closer comp to Rivers.
One thing people have to remember, every era has it's best guy, its other elite guys, and its mid guys. Somebody has to be the Philip Rivers of his era. It just might be Herbert, because he definitely ain't the Brady, Manning, or Rodgers of his era. He's not Favre or Montana or Young or Elway.
Somebody has to be the Rivers and Eli of this era. It might be Herbert.