Nobody wants to say it out loud, but the Chargers’ quarterback future is already part of the conversation.
After a disastrous 2026 season that opened 0-7, Los Angeles is staring at a projected first-overall pick and a messy offseason. Justin Herbert is still too talented to simply bench, but if things don’t turn around, a new coaching staff could decide the cleanest path is to trade him and reset around a new face in the 2027 NFL Draft.
That kind of move would be a gut punch for fans, but it’s also why the quarterback board matters now. If the Chargers do move on, there are three names worth keeping close.
Drew Mestemaker has worked his way to the top of the conversation after leading the nation in passing yards last year at North Texas and continuing to impress at Oklahoma State. He’s thrown for 2,649 yards, with 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and even after a few quieter games, he’s still viewed as quarterback one.
The six-foot-four, 210-pound redshirt sophomore brings the kind of arm talent that jumps off the screen. He plays with a gunslinger edge, shows excellent touch on deep balls, especially throws over 20 yards, and has more mobility than people give him credit for. When the play breaks down, he can still create.
LaNorris Sellers offers the biggest ceiling in the class. At six-foot-three and 240 pounds, he’s put together a strong season with 1,849 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while also adding 603 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.
Sellers has the strongest arm in college football and the kind of movement skills that make him a nightmare for defenses. He’s the sort of quarterback who can rip off plays that feel impossible and take over a game by himself. His processing is still a work in progress, but the upside is obvious, and he looks like a first-round pick if he declares.
Austin Simmons has also forced his way into the national spotlight. The Missouri quarterback has thrown for 1,952 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just two interceptions, building on a path that changed after he was benched following an injury last year and entered the transfer portal. So far, that move has worked out extremely well.
Simmons has the arm strength to drive the ball anywhere on the field, but what really stands out is how naturally he sees it. He processes quickly, layers throws over defenders with ease, and reads coverages like a veteran. If he finishes 2026 strong, he could push himself into first-round territory too.
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Chargers Make One Offensive Change They Desperately Need To Work
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The move was made in agreement with head coach Jim Harbaugh, which adds another layer to an offense still looking for the right rhythm under its new direction. For a unit trying to sharpen communication and improve in-game response, this is the sort of change that can matter in the margins, even if the real test will come once the game speed starts forcing quick decisions. [Read more 🡒]