Justin Herbert’s playoff record may still be the first thing critics point to, but around the NFL, the Chargers quarterback clearly hasn’t lost the league’s respect.
An ESPN survey of executives, coaches and scouts had Herbert near the top of the quarterback conversation, with his name showing up on nearly 80 percent of the ballots. That kind of support says plenty about how he’s viewed entering the 2026 NFL season: the production and the talent still jump off the page, even if the postseason results haven’t followed.
One NFC scout put it bluntly, saying the Chargers’ offensive coordinator job was “the best one available because of the quarterback.”
That same scout also said Mike McDaniel’s offensive system should lead to more “layup” completions and easy first downs, the kind of structure that could help Herbert work with more efficiency. It’s the sort of setup that has people around the league thinking Los Angeles might finally turn all that regular-season firepower into something more in January.
Herbert already showed last season that he can create when the pocket breaks down. He led the NFL with 10 touchdown passes thrown from outside the pocket, a reminder that the Chargers don’t need everything to be clean for him to make a play. The next challenge is less about talent and more about how the offense functions snap to snap.
Since the Chargers drafted him in 2020, Herbert has been one of the league’s most impressive passers. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year after throwing 31 touchdown passes in his first season, then went on to set league records for passing yards and completions through a player’s first four seasons. The franchise backed that up with a $262.5 million extension, cementing him as the cornerstone in Los Angeles.
Now heading into his seventh season, Herbert’s arm strength, toughness and ability to create plays are still unquestioned. What remains missing is the playoff breakthrough that has so far stayed out of reach.
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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
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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 🡒]