The Los Angeles Chargers’ 2026 season has been nothing short of a disaster. Many expected the team to compete for a playoff spot under Jim Harbaugh, with Justin Herbert leading an offense capable of challenging the AFC’s best. Personally, I was never particularly high on the Chargers entering the season. I questioned whether they had enough talent around Herbert to compete with the league’s elite teams. Still, even I did not expect them to begin 0–5.
With Los Angeles winless through five games, speculation about the franchise’s future is only going to intensify. Should the Chargers rebuild? Should they move on from their coaching staff? And most importantly, should they consider trading Justin Herbert?
My answer depends entirely on who the franchise believes in more: Justin Herbert or Jim Harbaugh.
Is Herbert the Right Quarterback for Harbaugh?
When Jim Harbaugh arrived in Los Angeles, he inherited Justin Herbert, a quarterback who had already established himself as one of the NFL’s most physically gifted passers. Herbert possesses exceptional arm strength, mobility, and the ability to make throws very few quarterbacks can execute. However, Herbert was not a quarterback Harbaugh personally selected, and I think that distinction matters.
Throughout his coaching career, Harbaugh has preferred physical football built around a strong offensive line, a dependable running game, and controlling possession. That philosophy has brought him considerable success, but is Herbert really the ideal quarterback for that system? I’m not convinced.
Herbert is at his best when an offense takes advantage of his passing ability. He can attack defenses at every level and make difficult throws look routine. In my opinion, a team with Herbert should be willing to place the football in his hands and allow him to dictate games. That doesn’t mean abandoning the running game, but there is a difference between establishing offensive balance and building a system that doesn’t fully utilize your quarterback’s greatest strengths.
I am not suggesting Herbert cannot succeed under Harbaugh. My concern is whether this partnership allows either individual to maximize what he does best.
The Chargers Must Choose Their Direction
I see two realistic paths forward for Los Angeles.
Option One: Commit to Jim Harbaugh. If the Chargers believe Harbaugh is the coach who can eventually lead them to a Super Bowl, they should allow him to build the roster and offense around his preferred style of football. That could mean trading Herbert for valuable draft capital and selecting a quarterback who better fits Harbaugh’s vision. It would be an enormous decision, but there is little point in retaining an expensive franchise quarterback if the organization believes its long-term offensive identity should look completely different.
Option Two: Commit to Justin Herbert. If the Chargers believe Herbert is their franchise cornerstone, then the coaching staff and offensive philosophy must be designed to maximize his abilities. If that eventually requires moving on from Harbaugh, then so be it. Herbert has already demonstrated that he possesses franchise-quarterback talent, and Los Angeles cannot afford to waste his prime years trying to force him into an approach that may not suit him.
What I would not do is continue with a partnership simply because both individuals have impressive reputations. The Chargers need a clear offensive identity, and right now, I do not believe they have one.
The 2027 NFL Draft Could Change Everything
Another reason Los Angeles could consider trading Herbert is the potential quarterback talent available in the 2027 NFL Draft. Prospects such as Arch Manning, Dante Moore, and CJ Carr have attracted attention as possible future NFL quarterbacks, although their decisions to enter the draft are not guaranteed.
If the Chargers continue losing games, they could find themselves holding one of the earliest selections in the draft. That would give Harbaugh the opportunity to select a quarterback whom he believes is ideally suited to his system. A rookie quarterback would also provide greater financial flexibility, allowing Los Angeles to allocate resources toward improving its offensive line, receiving corps, and defense.
Of course, there is significant risk involved. Herbert is already a proven NFL quarterback, while even the most highly regarded college prospects can struggle at the professional level. Trading an established franchise quarterback to draft an unproven replacement is a massive gamble. But if the organization genuinely believes Harbaugh can build a championship team with a quarterback of his choosing, it is a conversation worth having.
What Would I Trade for Justin Herbert?
If I were running another NFL franchise, I would absolutely be interested in acquiring Justin Herbert. Despite the Chargers’ struggles, I still consider him an extremely talented quarterback who could thrive in the right offensive system. With better protection, reliable receiving weapons, and a coaching staff willing to maximize his passing ability, I believe Herbert could return to playing at an elite level.
My starting offer would be a first-round pick and two second-round picks. That is substantial compensation, but acquiring a quarterback with Herbert’s physical tools is not an opportunity teams get every offseason. Whether Los Angeles would accept such an offer is another matter. The Chargers could understandably demand significantly more, particularly given Herbert’s age and long-term contract. Any potential deal would also require both organizations to consider the financial implications.
Nevertheless, I would certainly make the call.
Two Teams That Should Consider Herbert
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons would be one of the most intriguing potential destinations. Just look at the offensive talent already available in Atlanta: Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts. London provides a legitimate top receiving target, Robinson is one of football’s most dynamic running backs, and Pitts offers a dangerous option at tight end.
Now imagine placing Herbert into that offense. His arm talent would allow Atlanta to stretch the field, while Robinson would provide the rushing threat necessary to prevent defenses from focusing entirely on the passing game. With the right coaching and protection, I believe Herbert could make Atlanta an extremely dangerous offensive team. The Falcons would have to determine whether the financial and draft-capital costs made sense, but I would certainly explore the possibility.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are another team I would expect to at least consider making a call, and the biggest attraction is obvious: Justin Jefferson.
In my opinion, Jefferson is the best wide receiver in football. Pairing a receiver of his caliber with Herbert’s arm talent would create one of the most exciting quarterback–receiver combinations in the NFL. Herbert would have a superstar receiving option capable of consistently creating separation, making contested catches, and changing the outcome of games.
Minnesota would still need to evaluate its existing quarterback situation and the cost of acquiring Herbert, but the potential upside is undeniable. Herbert throwing to Jefferson would be a combination I would love to watch.
Could the Chargers Really Start 0–9?
What makes this discussion particularly relevant is Los Angeles’ upcoming schedule. The Chargers are already 0–5, and their next four games are hardly an easy opportunity to turn things around.
- Week 6 — October 18: At Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 7: Bye
- Week 8 — November 1: At Los Angeles Rams
- Week 9 — November 8: vs. Houston Texans
- Week 10 — November 16: At Baltimore Ravens
That is an extremely difficult stretch for a team that has yet to win a game. They must travel to Arrowhead to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, return from their bye to face a talented Rams roster, host Houston, and then travel to Baltimore for a Monday Night Football matchup against the Ravens.
I would not confidently pick the Chargers to win any of those four games based on what we have seen through five weeks. Kansas City and Baltimore are particularly difficult road opponents, while the Rams have enough talent to punish a struggling Chargers team. Houston is another matchup Los Angeles cannot afford to take lightly.
An 0–9 start is a very real possibility.
If that happens, the Chargers will have to seriously reconsider the direction of the franchise. Their playoff hopes would be virtually nonexistent, and attention would naturally shift toward the 2027 NFL Draft. I am not suggesting Los Angeles should deliberately lose games, but at 0–9, it would be reasonable to acknowledge that the season has become more about the future than the present.
And that reassessment should begin with the relationship between the head coach and franchise quarterback.
Final Verdict: Herbert or Harbaugh?
I do not place 100% of the blame on Justin Herbert for the Chargers’ 0–5 start, but a significant portion of the responsibility absolutely falls on his shoulders. Through five games, Herbert has thrown for just 937 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, completing 59.4% of his passes with a disappointing 70.2 passer rating. Even more concerning is his 38.2 fourth-quarter passer rating, highlighting his struggles when Los Angeles needs him most. He has also been sacked 17 times. Those are simply not acceptable numbers for a quarterback of Herbert’s talent and salary. While the offensive line, receiving corps, and coaching staff deserve criticism, Herbert cannot escape accountability for his own poor performances. At the same time, I am not suggesting Jim Harbaugh is a bad coach. His track record demonstrates otherwise. Both deserve criticism, and both must improve if the Chargers are going to turn this season around.
My concern is whether Herbert and Harbaugh are the right combination for the Chargers’ future.
If Los Angeles believes Harbaugh is the man to lead its next championship team, then it should seriously explore trading Herbert and allowing Harbaugh to build an offense around a quarterback of his choosing. If the organization believes Herbert is its long-term answer, then it must be willing to reconsider whether Harbaugh’s offensive philosophy is the right fit.
What I would not do is allow the uncertainty to continue indefinitely. The Chargers have a decision to make, and if this season continues in its current direction, I believe that decision needs to be made before the 2027 season.
The Chargers have a choice: Herbert or Harbaugh. And I am not convinced both should remain together beyond this season.
EST Bottom Line: Trading Justin Herbert would be a massive gamble, but the Chargers must decide whether their future belongs to their franchise quarterback or their head coach. Both are talented, but if their philosophies cannot coexist, Los Angeles needs to choose a direction before another season is wasted.
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