The Chargers are 0-2. Their next four games are at Buffalo, at Seattle, vs. Denver, and at Kansas City. There's still hope they can turn it around. But there's also a reality where they wake up at somewhere between 0-6 and 2-4 at their BYE week.
The Chargers have players they could probably sell at the trade deadline if the season does continue to go south. For example, EDGE Khalil Mack stands out. That's a player who could be in his final season sitting around on a team that's out of the hunt. But one NFL insider wonders if the Chargers get calls on their biggest star if they keep losing.
The Chargers will probably receive trade calls on Justin Herbert (but nothing will happen).
Tom Pelissero was on "The Rich Eisen Show" and brought up the idea of teams calling on Justin Herbert if the Chargers keep losing. In a discussion about quarterbacks potentially getting moved at the deadline, Pelissero had an interesting read on how QB needy teams due to injury circumstances could approach the Chargers.
"The LA Chargers are 0-2. You look at their upcoming schedule. If they're 1-5, 0-6-I don't think they trade Justin Herbert. But you can bet they're gonna get calls about Justin Herbert," Pelissero explained.
Now let's be clear: Justin Herbert is not being traded midseason. Even if the Chargers haven't won a game before the trade deadline, it's not happening. At earliest, it's next offseason for possible Herbert trade discourse.
But it does bring up a question—what if this season does go really south for the Chargers? There's at least a realistic possibility that HC Jim Harbaugh and/or GM Joe Hortiz are out at the end of the season if LA continues to slide. 2027 is the last season of Herbert's contract with guaranteed salary. Even though the deal runs through the 2029 season, the Chargers may need to discuss extension or future plans with Herbert next offseason.
A note: Justin Herbert has a full no-trade clause. The Chargers cannot trade him without him signing off on the deal. That's a relevant point in this conversation.
What if Herbert himself wants out? It's at least a legitimate question prior to any possible extension talks. A trade post-June 1st of 2027 saves a net of about $14 million for the Chargers from cap savings minus dead cap.
Now to be clear, trading Herbert would be a terrible idea for the franchise. He was a Pro Bowler last year. Despite the rough start, he's still a clear top 10 quarterback in the NFL. He hasn't even turned 30. If Harbaugh and Hortiz don't work out, find another GM/HC combo that will put productive talent around Herbert. That seems pretty simple to me.
While Pelissero's comments won't result in a trade anytime soon, it's the eventual reality of what could happen if LA bottoms out that Chargers fans should fear. More than ever, there's an impetus on Hortiz and Harbaugh to right this ship. And fast. Do not make Herbert force his hand next offseason.
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