The Chargers have made one thing crystal clear: Justin Herbert isn’t going anywhere.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said he checked on the possibility of a Herbert trade, and the answer came back fast and firm. As Schefter put it on Tuesday via The Adam Schefter Podcast:
“Called out there, spoke to somebody… The person basically cut me off mid-sentence, stopped me in my tracks, and said: ‘Let me be very clear about this: we have never even discussed that idea. The sentence ‘Should we trade Justin Herbert?' has never once been uttered in our organization, nor will it be,'”
Los Angeles may be one of the league’s biggest surprises in the 2026 NFL season, but not in a good way. The Chargers are 0-5, one of only three teams to open that poorly, and that kind of start naturally has people wondering what comes next. Even with the noise around a possible rebuild, Herbert is the one player the organization refuses to consider moving.
That doesn’t mean other teams shouldn’t dream.
Atlanta is one of them. This isn’t a shot at Michael Penix Jr.; it’s just that Herbert is a different level of answer at quarterback.
The Falcons’ decision to draft Penix was supposed to help them finally settle the position after Matt Ryan, and landing Herbert would do that in a much bigger way. The fit is intriguing because Atlanta is one of the few teams that could actually absorb Herbert’s contract.
According to the salary cap calculator at Over The Cap, the Falcons could trade for him now and still have $5.23 million in cap space. Even better for the long view, they’d still have $72.55 million in 2027 and $118.94 million in 2028.
With several productive players on rookie deals and core pieces like Bijan Robinson and Drake London already locked in, Herbert in that setup would be a monster move. He’d be 32 when his current contract expires in 2030, and the idea of Kevin Stefanski building the Falcons into an NFC juggernaut with Herbert at quarterback over the next four years is the kind of thing that sounds great on paper - and probably stays there.
Minnesota also belongs on the list. The Vikings already have one of the league’s most feared defenses, a strong coaching staff, and Justin Jefferson, one of the best receivers in football.
What they don’t have is consistent quarterback play, and that’s the piece keeping them from going even higher. They’re 5-0 despite all the turbulence under center, which only makes the Herbert fit look more tempting.
Kevin O’Connell likes to lean on the run game and wouldn’t need Herbert to carry everything by himself, which makes the idea of Herbert thriving there pretty easy to picture. The money wouldn’t be simple, but a few roster moves could make it work and turn Minnesota into a real problem in the NFC.
Then there’s Pittsburgh, where the talent is there but the quarterback answer still isn’t. Jaylen Warren is in the middle of an electric breakout, and the defense has plenty of juice even without Joey Porter Jr.
A quarterback like Herbert would give the Steelers the kind of centerpiece they could build around for years. The issue is Aaron Rodgers.
He’s the obvious roadblock, because there’s no realistic way Rodgers would welcome another franchise quarterback into the mix while he’s still on the roster, especially not one who would cost a blockbuster haul. That makes any Herbert swing a 2027 offseason idea at best.
Even then, the timing could be awkward, and the cap picture doesn’t make it cleaner. For Pittsburgh, the safer bet may be to take its shot in the 2027 NFL Draft instead.
In Other News...
Michael Penix Jr.'s Status Suddenly Looms Over Falcons-Bears
Michael Penix Jr.s health quickly became the biggest subplot for Atlanta after Sunday nights loss to the Ravens, when the quarterback took a rib injury late in the game and was unable to be out there for the overtime drive. The Falcons had him undergo an MRI on Monday, and the early read from the organization is encouraging enough to keep him in the conversation for Week 6 against the Bears.
Still, the situation leaves Atlanta with a real wait-and-see feeling heading into the new week, because the Falcons need clarity at the most important position before facing Chicago. If Penix is not cleared, the next quarterback up is expected to be Tua Tagovailoa, which gives the injury update even more weight as the team tries to get its offense settled in time for Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Loss Exposed One Uncomfortable Truth About Bijan Robinson
Baltimores defense made Atlanta earn everything on the ground, and Bijan Robinsons latest outing was a good example of how even productive days can feel muted when the opponent takes away the run game early. Robinson still found creases and kept the offense moving at times, but the Falcons had to lean more on the passing game than they usually would against a front that was physical from the start and consistently squeezed the space Atlanta wanted to create.
Even in a quieter game by his recent standards, Robinson remained a central piece of the Falcons offense and showed why his role goes well beyond the box score. The larger concern for Atlanta was how quickly the ground attack lost its edge, leaving Michael Penix Jr. to carry more of the load than the Falcons probably wanted against one of the leagues tougher defenses. [Read more 🡒]
Falcons Now Face A Bears QB Twist That Changes This Matchup
The Falcons trip to Chicago could still hinge on a quarterback decision that is not fully settled yet. Bears coach Ben Johnson said Caleb Williams is continuing to progress as he works back from the hamstring injury that has kept him out the past three games, and Atlanta is waiting to see whether the rookie is ready in time to change the complexion of the matchup.
If Williams is not able to go, the Bears still have one more wrinkle to sort through before kickoff, with Johnson saying the team has not decided which backup would get the start. Chicago is coming off a loss to Green Bay, and Johnson pointed to the recent play of Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum, leaving the Falcons to prepare for a game plan that could look very different depending on who ends up under center. [Read more 🡒]