There is a strong chance that Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will join fellow young signal caller Jalen Hurts in signing a massive contract extension this offseason.
Entering his fourth year in the NFL, the former first-round pick from Oregon is eligible for an extension for the first time in his career. We’ve heard it directly from the Chargers that the two sides have been engaged in talks over the past several weeks.
In talking to reporters from the Chargers’ charity golf tournament on Monday, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said that talks are “ongoing” between the two sides. While Staley didn’t expand on that, Herbert himself seemed pretty confident about negotiations.
“They’ve done such a great job of taking care of us and my message really hasn’t changed,” Justin Herbert said, via ESPN.com. “It’s been an honor to be a part of this team. It’s great to come to events like this and whatever happens, happens and it’s out of my control at this point.”
Herbert’s comments come as he continues to recover from off-season shoulder surgery. The quarterback was also asked whether he was OK playing out the 2023 season without a new contract. His answer was not as straightforward.
“That’s a good question. I think that’s something you have to address and you have to think about,” Herbert said. “My job at this point is just to play quarterback and to be the best leader, quarterback and teammate that I can be. So I’m doing everything I can to rehab, get back and make sure my shoulder is ready for this season.”
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Justin Herbert contract extension remains likely this summer
Neither side has put a deadline on a contract to be signed. However, they’d like to get something done by the start of training camp in late July. Camp started on July 27 of last year. This gives the two sides roughly seven weeks to get something done.
- Justin Herbert stats (2020-22): 66.9% completion, 14,089 yards, 94 TD, 35 INT, 96.2 QB rating
As you can see, Herbert has put up a stellar start to his career through three seasons. He’s also just 25 years old and has not yet hit his prime.
A report earlier in the offseason indicated that Herbert is looking at $295 million over six seasons with $135 million guaranteed. Though, that came before Hurts inked his five-year, $255 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Said deal called for $179.9 million in total guarantees.
Either way, timing could certainly be an issue for the Chargers. Fellow 2020 first-round pick Joe Burrow is also eligible for an extension this summer. Various reports indicate that the Cincinnati Bengals star could receive a deal valued at north of $53 million annually.
In today’s NFL, you want to set the market at the quarterback position. Responding to another team doing just that would lead to Justin Herbert and his camp having a huge amount of leverage in extension talks.