The New York Jets may need a new answer at quarterback, but the idea of landing Justin Herbert from the Los Angeles Chargers belongs squarely in the realm of long shots.
That was the premise in a Wednesday story from Spotrac managing editor Mike Ginnitti, who floated a trade that would send Herbert to New York before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. ET. In the scenario, Herbert would step in for Geno Smith, who is 2-5 in seven starts.
“Now we're cooking,” wrote Ginnitti. “The Jets are spiraling after a devastating loss to Miami and are currently poised to make three Top 15 selections in next year's draft. If they don't feel as though their next QB1 exists in this upcoming class, a phone call to the (win-less) Chargers certainly makes some sense, albeit overly aggressive.”
The Jets do have the draft capital to make a blockbuster offer. They currently own picks No.
7, No. 10 and No. 12 in the 2027 NFL Draft, and Ginnitti suggested New York could send one of those selections to the Chargers (0-6) as part of a package for Herbert. Herbert’s contract runs through 2029 and still has $162.5M in cash remaining, with a potential out before the 2029 season.
But the idea runs into the same wall immediately: Herbert has a full no-trade clause, and he would have to agree to move.
And even if New York made the call, the fit is hard to see. Aaron Glenn is 5-19 in his first two seasons as Jets head coach and is on the hot seat.
If the Jets move on from him, there’s no guarantee the next hire improves the situation. The franchise hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2010 and remains, by any reasonable measure, one of the NFL’s most dysfunctional operations.
Herbert, 28, has spent seven seasons in Los Angeles without winning a playoff game. If he were ever to push for a trade, the destination would likely have to offer a real path to a title, not another unstable setup.
That’s why Ginnitti pointed to Minnesota as a much more logical landing spot. The Vikings are 6-0, but starting quarterback Kyler Murray has posted a 45.8 in ESPN’s QBR metric, which ranks 25th in the NFL. With Kevin O’Connell in place, Herbert could be a natural fit for an offense that would suit him well.
Still, the odds of a midseason Herbert deal are slim. Teams almost never move franchise quarterbacks during the year, even when things are going sideways. Herbert has thrown five touchdown passes and eight interceptions this season, but he’s stuck in a bad situation with the Chargers - and the Jets are not the kind of place that makes escaping it look appealing.
In Other News...
Chargers Land In Trade Buzz For A Reason Fans Will Debate
The deadline chatter around the Chargers has not exactly turned into an aggressive selling campaign, but it has at least put a few familiar names into the conversation. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler framed Los Angeles as a team that still appears more inclined to hold than deal, even while pointing to players such as Khalil Mack, Quentin Johnston and Donte Jackson as the sorts of pieces that would draw attention if the front office ever changed course.
For now, that leaves the Chargers in the familiar spot of being discussed as much for what they might do as for what they actually plan to do. Around the league, teams such as Kansas City and the Jets are also being watched for possible deadline movement, and those ripple effects can matter in a hurry if a market starts to form for veterans or young players with upside. Whether Los Angeles ever steps into that market is still the bigger question, and it is the kind of one fans will keep debating until the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Backfield Suddenly Feels More Complicated Around Kimani Vidal
A quiet part of the Chargers' backfield picture got noisier this week when Greg Desrosiers Jr. left the organization and landed with the Giants. Desrosiers had been sitting on Los Angeles' practice squad after a strong preseason showing, the kind of production that can make a depth-running-back stash feel like a small luxury until another club comes calling and opens a spot.
Kimani Vidal is the name adding even more intrigue now, because there have also been reports that teams are checking on his availability. Nothing has been finalized, and the Chargers still have decisions to make about how they want to sort out the depth behind their lead options, but the combination of a departed practice-squad back and outside interest in Vidal makes the room feel more unsettled than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Nightmare Season Just Took Another Brutal Turn on Defense
Derwin James hamstring trouble has become one more frustrating subplot in a season already defined by injury trouble for the Chargers. The veteran safety has appeared in three games and still managed 21 tackles and a pass breakup, but his recovery has reportedly hit a setback, leaving the team to navigate another uncertain week on a defense that has already been stretched thin.
Jim Harbaugh said the situation is serious enough that the Chargers may have to adjust at safety, adding another layer of concern to a roster already juggling injuries at other spots. Ladd McConkey and Brennen Thompson are among the players working through their own issues, while Tre Harris is expected back from a hamstring injury, but the broader picture is hard to ignore: Los Angeles keeps getting hit by another blow just as it tries to stabilize. [Read more 🡒]