It's not impossible right now to imagine the winless Los Angeles Chargers trading quarterback Justin Herbert in the offseason.
While an in-season trade would be the kind of jaw-dropping NFL history we all dream of seeing, an offseason move wouldn't be that big of a surprise if the Chargers land one of the top 2026 NFL Draft selections and like a quarterback in the 2027 class.
What would a Herbert trade even look like? What teams would make it? What would the Chargers want in return?
We'd have to look back to the Deshaun Watson trade in 2022 to see a quarterback deal of this magnitude, so you can imagine multiple first rounders would be involved.
We've decided to mock a few Herbert trades to imagine what this would even look like between the Chargers
and a hypothetical NFL suitor. These trades would be all-time blockbusters... and might make sense for both sides.
Trade 1: The Vikings finally find their franchise quarterback?
The Minnesota Vikings have the best defense in the NFL right now, but the offense can only go as far as the quarterback. Kyler Murray has been okay, but it's hard to imagine he's back in Minnesota in the offseason if the team can make an upgrade. Could it be Herbert? Kevin O'Connell has been widely regarded as one of the most quarterback-friendly coaches in the NFL. Could he be the one to get Herbert back on track amid his 2026 struggles? Herbert going to Minnesota to throw to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in an O'Connell offense could give the Vikings what the Matthew Stafford trade was to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. The results could be absolutely electric, Super Bowl-worthy, even. Of course, there are no guarantees, but Herbert could be exactly who Minny is looking for in a QB. We bet the Vikings would make the deal the Chargers couldn't refuse to get this done.
TRADE: Minnesota's first-round picks in 2027, 2028 and 2029 to Los Angeles for Herbert and a 2027 fifth-round pick
Trade 2: The Steelers get aggressive to replace Aaron Rodgers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a Rodgers problem after the season ends. If the future Hall of Famer follows through with his likely retirement, Pittsburgh will need an heir apparent with a top-10 NFL Draft pick unlikely. Could the Steelers move Heaven and Earth to get Herbert? Would the Chargers be willing to trade him within the AFC? It's not very Steelers-y to make this kind of trade, but the franchise looms over returning to quarterback purgatory once Rodgers retires. Adding Herbert would solve that. The Steelers could dangle a defensive starter to get this done, too, so that the Chargers can address one of its defensive line spots with a young, promising player.
TRADE: Pittsburgh's first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, a 2029 second-rounder and defensive lineman Derrick Harmon to Los Angeles for Herbert
Trade 3: The Titans get a franchise quarterback to open a new stadium
The Tennessee Titans are moving into a new stadium next year. If the team doesn't want to keep things going with quarterback Cam Ward in 2027 or don't like the 2027 draft class, trading for Herbert could be on the table. In Herbert, the Titans would get the kind of star power the franchise hasn't had since... well, it's been a long, long time. Ryan Tannehill played well for the Titans for a number of seasons, but the team has struggled to find even his successor. Herbert pairing up with Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll could benefit him the same way it did Josh Allen when the latter was with Daboll in Buffalo. The Titans may just take their future quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft if Ward isn't the guy, but adding a star in Herbert could prove irresistible with PSLs to sell in Nashville.
TRADE: Tennessee's first-round picks in 2027, 2028 and 2029 to Los Angeles for Herbert and a 2027 fifth-round pick
Trade 4: The Falcons make a bold move to replace Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons could stick with Michael Penix Jr. in 2027 if he keeps playing well (and improves in short yardage situations... and with pressure in his face... and stays healthy). Penix is obviously talented and has played reasonably well in 2026, but he's going to have come big caveats when the team decides what to do with his fifth-year option. If the team isn't confident in Penix's ability to man the job in 2027 and beyond, it could always pull off a blockbuster trade for Herbert. Herbert playing in a play action-heavy system with a pretty good offensive line and an elite ground game led by Bijan Robinson could be what he needs to get his career back on track. The Falcons have been searching for Matt Ryan's heir apparent for some time now; could it be Herbert if it's not Penix? The Falcons almost made the Watson trade in 2022, so owner Arthur Blank is clearly open to making a big swing to win games now.
TRADE: Atlanta's first-round picks in 2027, 2028 and 2029 to Los Angeles for Herbert and a 2027 fifth-round pick
TRADE 5: The Browns do it all over again for Herbert
Would the Cleveland Browns actually make a move like this again? Would they? With Cleveland surprisingly competitive in 2026 and not a likely contender for a top 2027 quarterback right now, the team could decide to throw caution to the wind again to find its quarterback of the future. Watson's early 2026 success always felt shaky once more teams got tape on this offense. It's probably better for Cleveland to part ways with him in the offseason. Todd Monken has proven himself to be a pretty capable head coach so far; the Browns have a lot of young talent on both sides of the ball. If the team felt it could give Herbert the right environment to thrive, who says they wouldn't make yet another show-stopping blockbuster to finally give Browns fans the franchise quarterback they dream of? Let's say the Browns add in a rising star defensive player to reunite with Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles to get this done.
TRADE: Cleveland's first-round picks in 2027 (original) and 2028, a 2029 second-rounder and defensive lineman Mason Graham to Los Angeles for Herbert
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 blockbuster Justin Herbert trade ideas as Chargers struggle
