Bill Simmons spent part of his latest podcast pushing a quarterback idea that would have sounded outrageous a month ago and now lands with real bite: Justin Herbert to the Vikings.
That is the kind of swing that only makes sense when one team is spiraling and another is winning despite a lingering hole under center. The Chargers are 0-5, a start that has put Jim Harbaugh’s team in a bizarre place, closer to the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft than a playoff push. Herbert, meanwhile, has not looked like the answer to their problems through five games, with seven interceptions against five touchdowns.
The setup in Los Angeles was supposed to be better than this. The Chargers were expected to be a force on offense in 2026 with Mike McDaniel joining as offensive coordinator. Instead, the unit has fallen flat, and Herbert’s numbers have gone in the wrong direction fast.
Simmons raised the idea with NFL insider Tom Pelissero on “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” and Pelissero’s framing made the conversation even more interesting. The quarterback in question has a no-trade clause, which would have to be waived before any deal could happen.
For Minnesota, the appeal is obvious. The Vikings are 5-0 heading into their Week 6 bye, and yet quarterback still feels like a position they could upgrade. Kyler Murray has not been lighting things up as the QB1, but Kevin O’Connell’s team keeps finding ways to win.
That tension is what makes Simmons’ pitch feel less like talk-radio noise and more like a legitimate front-office thought exercise. Minnesota has been through this carousel before, with Sam Darnold, Kirk Cousins and Daniel Jones all spending time there and then moving on to success elsewhere.
And while the offense has its questions, Brian Flores’ defense is the best in the NFL. If O’Connell believes a quarterback move can put the Vikings on a true Super Bowl path, the moment to get aggressive is now.
The discussion around a Herbert-for-Minnesota idea is still hypothetical, but that is exactly what makes it so compelling. The Chargers are stuck, the Vikings are winning without certainty at quarterback, and one big decision could change both pictures quickly.
In Other News...
Chargers May Be Near A Deadline Decision Fans Dread
The Chargers 0-5 start has already pushed the season into uncomfortable territory, and the next layer of uncertainty is beginning to settle around the roster. One of the names drawing attention is veteran defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, whose situation fits the kind of deadline conversation that starts early when a teams record slips out of reach and the front office has to think beyond the current season.
Tomlinsons value, though, is tied closely to his health and whether contending teams see enough in him to make a move later on. Los Angeles could have other defensive pieces in that same mix as the season unfolds, but the bigger picture is clear enough: the Chargers may be staring at difficult choices long before the trade deadline arrives, even if the most important part of the roster remains off-limits. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Face A Brutal Reality Before Chiefs Rivalry Gets Worse
The Chargers head into their matchup with the Chiefs still searching for their first win, and the margin for error is already paper-thin. At 0-5, every problem has been magnified, and the task in front of them is less about style points than finding a way to steady the operation against a division rival that rarely offers much breathing room.
For Los Angeles to have any kind of shot, the details have to clean themselves up fast. The offense cannot give possessions away, Justin Herbert needs cleaner protection than he has gotten, and the defense has to make life difficult enough to slow down Kenneth Walker III and force Kansas City into a longer game than it wants. If the Chargers are going to change the tone of this season, it starts with those basics holding up under pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Trade Buzz Around Khalil Mack Just Got Very Real
With the Nov. 10 trade deadline drawing closer, the Chargers have found themselves tied to one of the more notable names that could be available: Khalil Mack. The veteran edge rusher is on a one-year deal, and Los Angeles 0-5 start has only made it easier for rival teams to wonder whether the Chargers might listen if interest keeps building.
John Lynch confirmed the 49ers are actively working the phones, looking at ways to strengthen their edge rush group. He did not get into any specifics, but the conversation has already reached a point where names are being tossed around in public, which is usually where trade speculation starts to feel a lot less theoretical. [Read more 🡒]