Justin Herbert has always possessed one of the NFL’s strongest arms. With Mike McDaniel designing the offense and an improved group of playmakers, 2026 could finally be the season the Chargers fully unleash Herbert’s downfield passing ability.
For years, Justin Herbert has been regarded as one of the most gifted throwers in the NFL. He can make every throw on the field with ease, whether it’s a deep shot down the sideline or a laser over the middle into a tight window. Yet despite all of that arm talent, Chargers fans have rarely seen an offense that consistently takes advantage of it.
That could finally change in 2026.
The biggest storyline surrounding the Chargers offense this offseason has been the arrival of Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. McDaniel built one of the league’s most explosive passing attacks in Miami, using creative formations, pre-snap motion and route combinations to generate explosive plays. While the Chargers don’t have a receiver quite like Tyreek Hill, they do have the pieces to create a dangerous vertical offense.
Everything starts with Herbert.
Unlike Tua Tagovailoa, Herbert possesses elite arm strength and can attack every area of the field without hesitation. McDaniel no longer has to design around physical limitations. Instead, he can build an offense that fully embraces Herbert’s ability to stretch defenses vertically while still maintaining the efficiency that has become a trademark of McDaniel’s system.
The receiving corps also offers more versatility than it gets credit for. Ladd McConkey remains one of the team’s most reliable route runners and should thrive working from the slot and creating separation underneath. Quentin Johnston is coming off the best season of his career and has developed into a legitimate big-play threat. Tre Harris gives the Chargers another physical target capable of winning downfield and making contested catches.
The additions don’t stop there. Veteran tight end David Njoku gives Herbert another athletic weapon over the middle while Oronde Gadsden II has already generated excitement because of his receiving ability. With those two creating matchup problems against linebackers and safeties, defenses will have a difficult time committing extra help to the outside.
The running game should also help open things up. Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell give the Chargers speed and explosiveness in the backfield while Kimani Vidal provides the physical downhill presence to keep defenses honest. If opponents have to respect the run, it becomes much easier for McDaniel to dial up play-action shots that allow Herbert to attack deep.
Perhaps the biggest difference this season will be philosophy. Under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers understandably leaned into a physical, run-first identity. That approach isn’t going away entirely, but McDaniel’s arrival should create a much healthier balance between the rushing attack and Herbert’s elite passing ability.
No one should expect Herbert to suddenly throw 700 passes, but there is every reason to believe his average depth of target and explosive pass attempts will increase. McDaniel has consistently shown he knows how to manufacture space and create opportunities for big plays. Pairing that creativity with one of the strongest arms in football has the potential to unlock another level of Herbert’s game.
The Chargers may not have a player with Tyreek Hill’s game-breaking speed, but they don’t necessarily need one. With a deeper collection of weapons, a healthy offensive line led by Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt and one of the NFL’s brightest offensive minds calling plays, Herbert could finally have an offense that fully showcases everything his right arm is capable of.
