Justin Herbert’s name is starting to pop up in a very different kind of conversation this offseason.
The Los Angeles Chargers quarterback has long been viewed as one of the NFL’s better passers, the kind of player who can deliver steady, high-end production year after year. But with McDaniel now in the mix, the talk around Herbert has shifted from dependable star to potential breakout candidate.
That’s because McDaniel is bringing a more modern offense than the underwhelming approach Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman had been running for a few years. That change alone gives Herbert and the rest of the offense a higher ceiling, especially with weapons like Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston in the picture.
Herbert is also being pushed to change his own game. Under McDaniel’s direction, he has been working on a new throwing stance, and some days he has not thrown at all while adjusting his mechanics.
That backdrop helps explain why the buzz around Herbert has grown louder, including from national voices. On a recent airing of “Good Morning Football,” former first-round pick Donte Whitner went all the way in on what this pairing could mean.
"This will be the season where Justin Herbert has the easiest throws of his career, based on the ability to run the ball, make the play-action look like the run, the RPO game, the timing routes and inside throws,” Whitner said. “And then when it's time to show that arm talent, the deep crossing routes and over routes.”
"This could be an MVP year for Justin Herbert" @chargers | #BoltUp | @DonteWhitner pic.twitter.com/jknRyY2MR1
McDaniel’s offseason focus has been clear: make life easier for Herbert and cut down on the hits he takes over the course of a season. One example is the way Herbert aligns in shotgun, which is being adjusted to help him get the ball out faster while making it tougher for defenses to diagnose what’s coming.
Those kinds of changes can make people wonder why Herbert wasn’t doing some of this earlier. But that’s not really the point now. McDaniel is in place, the offense is being reshaped, and the result could be a new ceiling for Herbert and the Chargers.
Maybe the MVP talk is a little aggressive. Then again, that kind of chatter usually follows teams that people believe can contend. And right now, Chargers fans have every reason to enjoy it.
In Other News...
This Chargers Rookie Could Finally Change Everything For Justin Herbert
The Chargers spent the 2026 draft trying to patch holes across the roster, but the move that could matter most for Justin Herbert came on the interior of the offensive line. After opening with edge rusher Akheem Mesidor, Los Angeles came back with Florida lineman Jake Slaughter at No. 63 overall, a pick aimed at giving Herbert more stability where the pocket can get messy fastest.
Slaughter does not arrive with the same spotlight as a first-round quarterback or a headline defensive playmaker, but his role could end up being just as important for a team trying to keep its offense on schedule. If the Chargers are going to get more out of Herbert and make the most of the season ahead, they need help in the middle of the line, and Slaughter is the rookie who may have the clearest path to changing that conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Are Asking Quentin Johnston To Become Much More Than A Threat
Quentin Johnstons first three NFL seasons have started to look a lot more promising than his rocky early reputation suggested. The Chargers have seen steady growth from the wideout, capped by back-to-back eight-touchdown seasons, and their decision to exercise his fifth-year option shows they still view him as more than just a vertical threat.
Now the challenge is bigger than simply stretching the field. Johnston is being asked to grow into a more complete offensive piece, and there is a growing sense around the league that he could be set up for a breakout in 2026, even if the exact shape of that jump is still hard to pin down. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers O-Line Hype Comes With One Massive Catch
The Chargers are heading into training camp on July 28 with a rebuilt offensive line that finally gives the front a different look. Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange are in as new starters, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are back in the mix after injuries, and the group has enough talent on paper to make the rest of the roster take notice. Even with all that change, the biggest immediate question is still on the interior, where the left guard spot remains unsettled and the competition is ongoing.
Brandon Thorns read on the unit is part optimism, part caution. He sees real upside in a line that could become one of the leagues better groups, but he also pointed to the uncertainty around Jake Slaughters move from college center to NFL guard and the possibility of some growing pains in pass protection. For a Chargers offense that has spent too much time trying to patch holes up front, the promise is obvious. The catch is that the lines best version may not arrive all at once. [Read more 🡒]