Should the Chargers Consider Trading Justin Herbert?

At 0-5, it is fair to question just about everything the Los Angeles Chargers are doing. The season has been a disaster and Justin Herbert is playing the worst football of his career. With the offense struggling to find any consistency, questions about the coaching staff, the offensive line and the receivers are only going to get louder.

But one question that would have seemed ridiculous a few months ago is whether the Chargers should consider trading Herbert.

It is hard to even entertain the idea. Franchise quarterbacks are incredibly difficult to find. They were lucky to have one in Philip Rivers before drafting Herbert in 2020. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league, even if the results have not always matched his individual ability.

That is what makes this situation so complicated. Herbert’s recent struggles are concerning. The interceptions, missed opportunities and overall lack of rhythm have made it difficult to recognize the quarterback who once looked like one of the NFL’s brightest young stars. Whether the problem is Mike McDaniel’s offense, the supporting cast, the offensive line or Herbert himself, something clearly needs to change.

However, trading Herbert would be an extreme reaction to a problem that might not even be primarily his fault.

The Chargers have not exactly surrounded him with an elite supporting cast throughout his career. Injuries have repeatedly affected the offensive line and the receiving corps has not consistently given him the weapons needed to compete with the best offenses in football. Now he is trying to operate in another new offensive system while the team struggles to put everything together.

If the Chargers trade Herbert, they are essentially admitting that they cannot fix the situation around him. That would be a massive gamble for a franchise that should still be trying to build a championship contender around its quarterback.

Of course, there is an argument for at least considering it. Herbert is an incredibly valuable asset and a desperate team could potentially offer multiple first-round picks and additional players. If the Chargers believe they need a complete rebuild, that kind of return could accelerate the process and give them the flexibility to address several roster weaknesses.

But then what?

There is no guarantee that a draft pick, even a highly touted quarterback prospect, will turn into a legitimate franchise quarterback. For every young quarterback who becomes a star, there are plenty who never live up to expectations. The Chargers could spend years trying to find another Herbert and end up right back where they started.

The bigger concern is that trading Herbert would not automatically solve the team’s other problems. The offensive line would still need work, the receiving corps would still need help and the coaching staff would still have to prove it can build a functional offense. A new quarterback would inherit many of those same challenges.

The Chargers should absolutely be evaluating every part of this organization after such a disappointing start. Nobody should be untouchable, and Herbert should not be immune from criticism simply because of his contract or reputation.

Still, there is a difference between acknowledging that a quarterback is struggling and deciding that he is no longer the answer.

Before the Chargers even consider moving on from Herbert, they need to determine whether the problem is the player or everything happening around him. If he continues to struggle after the coaching staff and roster improve, then the conversation might become more serious.

For now, trading Herbert would be a mistake. The Chargers have too many other problems to fix and giving up on a quarterback with his talent would create another massive problem that could take years to solve.

Finding a legitimate franchise quarterback is one of the hardest things to do in the NFL. The Chargers already have one who has shown what he is capable of. Their job should be figuring out how to get that version of Herbert back, not starting another search for a replacement.