Dan Orlovsky isn’t easing anyone into the Chargers conversation. He’s planting the flag right at the top of the mountain.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, the NFL analyst said Justin Herbert should be in the MVP mix and went even further on what Los Angeles can become on offense.
“I would be shocked if [Herbert] is not [an MVP candidate.] This offense will be a top five unit.
They’re loaded at tight end … If the offensive line is healthy, it’s got a chance to be top five in the league.” Orlovsky said.
That’s a hefty standard, but it comes after a busy offseason that gave Herbert more help and gave the Chargers a clearer offensive identity. The team added tight end David Njoku in free agency, and one of the biggest developments was Mike McDaniel coming aboard as the new offensive coordinator.
The line is the swing factor. In 2025, Los Angeles had major problems up front, with its top tackles missing most or all of the season and the interior struggling behind them. This year looks different on paper, with the Chargers getting their top offensive tackles back and adding reinforcements inside through the draft.
That’s a big reason the buzz around this team has grown so loud. Under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have reached the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, and Herbert has kept trending upward at quarterback. Now the offense has more pieces than it’s had in a while, and the expectations are following.
The defense only adds to that feeling. Los Angeles is bringing back most of the talent that helped make it one of the NFL’s top units, even after losing its defensive coordinator to a head coaching job.
In a tough division, the margin for error is still thin. But when you stack it all together - Herbert, the line, the new weapons, the coaching change, and a defense that still looks loaded - it’s easy to see why people are talking about a serious run.
Harbaugh has done this before. The Chargers look built for another push.
In Other News...
Chargers Camp Is Putting Several Surprise Roster Spots In Danger
Training camp has put the Chargers in the middle of a familiar late-summer sorting job, with final roster cuts looming and a handful of jobs still open in plain view. The staff is weighing whether to carry multiple quarterbacks, while also sorting through offensive-line combinations and testing out different defensive pieces under a new coordinator. For a team trying to tighten the depth chart in a hurry, the most interesting battles are often the ones happening farther down the lineup, where rookies and free agents are trying to turn practice reps into real security.
One of the clearest pressure points is on the offensive line, where several players have been getting a look at left guard instead of allowing the spot to settle early. The Chargers are also watching the edge closely as they trim the roster, because a veteran name that once felt like a safe bet is no longer in the same position he was when camp opened. With younger pass rushers pushing hard and versatility carrying extra weight across the roster, a few of these decisions could change the look of the team before the first game even arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Rookies Are Already Putting Early Pressure On The Depth Chart
The Chargers are wrapping up their second full week of training camp, and the rookie class is already making some noise in a way that matters for a roster still taking shape. Akheem Mesidor has drawn attention for his work ethic and how prepared he looks, while Brenen Thompson and Travis Burke have also helped themselves with encouraging showings and the kind of practice habits coaches notice even before the pads fully tell the story.
Not every newcomer is at the same stage yet. Slaughter and Genesis Smith still have more proving to do, and the next stretch of camp should offer a better read once the contact ramps up and preseason games begin to sort out who is ready for real responsibility. For a Chargers team trying to sharpen its depth chart, the early returns are useful, but the more revealing tests are still ahead. [Read more 🡒]