Justin Herbert keeps finding himself in the same spot every offseason: near the top of quarterback rankings, and right back in the middle of a debate.
This time, the spark came after ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released his annual quarterback rankings, compiled from votes by NFL executives, coaches and scouts. Herbert checked in inside the top 10 for the second straight year, and plenty of fans immediately pushed back. The question that followed was familiar: is Herbert really that good, or is the Chargers quarterback getting too much credit for traits that look better on paper than they do on the field?
The answer, at least from the reporting here, is no - Herbert is not overrated.
The loudest case against him is the one that always comes first. He has not taken the Chargers on a deep playoff run, and quarterbacks get measured by what they do in January.
On that front, Herbert’s résumé does not match the postseason track records of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow. That criticism is fair.
But stopping there misses the bigger picture.
Since arriving in the NFL in 2020, Herbert has had to deal with constant turnover around him. He has played under multiple head coaches, offensive coordinators and offensive systems.
He has also battled injuries while key offensive linemen and skill players missed major time. Even with all of that churn, he has kept producing at a high level and remained one of the league’s most gifted passers.
That held true even as the Chargers shifted into Jim Harbaugh’s more balanced offensive approach. Herbert still ranked among the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks, taking better care of the ball, getting through his reads faster and still delivering throws only a small group of quarterbacks can make.
There’s another reason the ranking matters: the people voting are not fans trying to hype up their favorite team. They’re NFL executives, coaches and scouts. When that group keeps putting Herbert in the league’s top tier, it reflects how highly he is regarded inside the game.
None of that erases the biggest question hanging over him. The playoff losses are still a major mark against his career, and until Herbert puts together signature postseason performances, the conversation about whether he belongs with the NFL’s elite will keep coming back. That’s the reality at quarterback.
Still, the Chargers may be setting him up for his best chance yet in 2026.
The offensive line looks like the strongest unit he has had in front of him, with Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt and Tyler Biadasz leading the way. At receiver, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris give Herbert a promising group to work with. David Njoku and Oronde Gadsden add athleticism at tight end, and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel brings a creative system designed to play to Herbert’s strengths.
So no, Herbert isn’t overrated. He’s being judged like a quarterback with elite talent should be judged: by whether he can turn that talent into postseason results.
The arm strength has never been in question. The next step is the one that still matters most.
In Other News...
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Vanderbilts defense has taken a real step forward under that group, climbing from 126th to 50th in scoring defense while finishing 18th against the run. Within the building, the work has drawn strong praise, and the way those coaches have meshed together is exactly the kind of thing the Chargers will keep watching as they shape the next version of Minters defense. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals May Have A Cheap Answer To A Familiar Backfield Fear
The Chargers backfield has a little more traffic in it now, and that has turned one of last seasons more useful depth pieces into a possible trade chip. After putting together a solid year as a runner and receiver, Kimani Vidal has become the kind of player another team could view as an affordable way to stabilize its rotation without paying a premium.
For Cincinnati, the appeal is obvious: a back who can handle volume, contribute in the passing game and fit behind an established starter if the room needs insurance. Los Angeles, meanwhile, has added more bodies to the position and may not be able to keep everyone in the mix, which is why this idea has started to surface as a practical fit for both sides, even if the final decision still hangs in the balance. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Herbert Gets Dragged Into Another Viral Madison Beer Storm
Justin Herbert keeps finding his name attached to Madison Beer headlines, and this latest round had nothing to do with football. A viral clip making the rounds online was falsely linked to Beer, even though the person in the video was content creator Sophia Frutos, while Beer has been busy with her music and an international tour. For Chargers fans, it is another reminder that Herberts off-field life has a way of spilling into the spotlight whenever Beers profile spikes.
The quarterback has already shown he is willing to make room for that part of his life, missing part of the Chargers offseason program to support Beer on her European tour. Jim Harbaugh was publicly fine with it, which only added to the sense that this is not becoming a distraction inside the building. Herbert even showed up for the opening-night performance of 15 MINUTES, where he was there for the choreographed dance routine, so the only real suspense now is how often his name will keep getting pulled into the next viral wave. [Read more 🡒]