Bill Barnwell didn’t exactly leave much room for debate when he sized up Justin Herbert’s trade value.
The ESPN analyst put the Chargers quarterback in a stratosphere few players ever reach, saying Herbert would be worth “Four first round picks and more.” That’s the kind of price tag that tells you everything about how the league views elite quarterbacks: even when they haven’t hit the MVP season people keep waiting for, they still sit near the top of the trade market.
Barnwell’s case for Herbert was straightforward. He pointed to the quarterback’s arm strength and throwing talent, noted that “just about every coach in football would be desperate to have” him, and added that Herbert is 28, which gives him a slight age edge over Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Injuries remain a concern, even if Herbert plays through them, but Barnwell still had him just ahead of Joe Burrow in trade value because of that age gap.
Herbert wasn’t the only Charger Barnwell put in rare company. He also pegged tackle Joe Alt at the level of “Two first-round picks,” explaining that the ceiling for right tackle trade value is probably around one first-rounder and one second-rounder. Alt clears that bar because of his ability to play left tackle, both at Notre Dame and when he filled in for the injured Rashawn Slater last season.
Barnwell also noted that Alt missed most of 2025 because of ankle injuries, but said he was “immediately elite as a rookie” and still has three years of cost control left on his rookie deal.
For the Chargers, the bigger takeaway is obvious: these are the kinds of players that are almost never moved. Herbert’s value is massive, but starting over at quarterback would be a franchise-altering decision no matter how many picks came back. Alt’s absence, meanwhile, was felt sharply enough to make his return look like a major key to getting the line - and the team - back on track.
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Chargers May Have One Back Too Many Before Camp Even Starts
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Kimani Vidal is the name drawing the most outside attention in that discussion, with the depth chart and the staffs preference for speed at the skill spots making the running back room look crowded. If Mitchell stays healthy, the Chargers could be looking at a clean top duo and a difficult decision on Vidal, even though the whole situation is still more speculation than certainty right now. [Read more 🡒]