Chargers, Justin Herbert Talking Extension

Justin Herbert recently became eligible to sign an extension, and the Chargers confirmed that they’ve started negotiations with their franchise quarterback.

“Those talks are ongoing,” coach Brandon Staley said today (via ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry). “We’re at the beginning of all that, but all know how we feel about him.”

Herbert will earn a bit more than $4MM during his fourth season in the NFL, but the former sixth-overall pick will surely be eyeing a significant pay raise on his next contract. With Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts also eligible to sign extensions, Aaron Rodgers may not be the league’s only $50MM player for much longer.

Herbert hasn’t matched Burrow’s or Hurt’s playoff success, but he’s put up some impressive regular season numbers to start his career. The Chargers QB has thrown for 14,089 passing yards, the most by a player through their first three NFL seasons. Herbert has also tossed 94 touchdowns vs. 35 interceptions, including a 2022 campaign where he threw 25 touchdowns while guiding the Chargers to the postseason. The 25-year-old had offseason shoulder surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of the 2023 season.

Naturally, the Chargers aren’t committing to any particular deadline to sign Herbert to an extension, but as Thiry notes, the organization has already “expressed optimism about the situation.”

“Navigating this process, we have a very good relationship with his team,” Staley said. “I’m confident that Justin Herbert is going to be our quarterback for a long time and that we’ll make sure that we get a deal done.

“[We’ve got to] just be patient,” Staley added. “But the major takeaway is that Justin Herbert is going to be our quarterback, and we’re so excited that he is leading our franchise.”

As Thiry notes, the Chargers will still have to make a decision on Herbert’s fifth-year option this offseason. The team will obviously pick up that option, with GM Tom Telesco referring to the inevitable move as a “formality” because of the QB’s impending extension.

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