The Los Angeles Chargers had clear goals to achieve coming into the 2023 offseason. The team made the playoffs for the first time in four seasons but they suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Los Angeles was up 27-0 in their Super Wild Card Weekend matchup but ended up losing 31-30. That is a sour taste to go into the offseason with, so the Chargers set out to try and fix some of the issues that persisted during that game.
If they really want to become a dangerous team in the AFC, figuring things out in the ground game, on both sides of the ball, is imperative. The Chargers were 30th in rushing yards and yards per rush while ranking 28th in rushing yards allowed and last in yards per attempt against.
If those areas aren’t improved it will be tough for them to sustain success. But, things would be even tougher if they didn’t have Justin Herbert under center. No matter the circumstances that he faces, he always puts the team in a position to succeed.
That, in large part, is what ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates has said working out an extension with their franchise quarterback is the one move the Chargers still need to make this offseason. The 2020 first-round pick is one of multiple quarterbacks who are in position for a record-setting deal.
“Reapply much of the aforementioned Burrow/Bengals logic to Herbert and the Chargers. Herbert’s résumé through three seasons is fantastic, and both he and the team have not hid from the fact that an extension is the goal this offseason. Again, the numbers will be the most compelling part of this extension, and you can safely assume the average annual value will begin with a five … as in $50 million-plus.”
Herbert already owns a few records and will likely take down more as his career moves along. It would not be a surprise if he owns every Chargers passing record when it’s all said and done given the level that he has played at thus far in his career.
With Lamar Jackson surpassing the record-setting deal of Jalen Hurts this offseason, the next wave is supposed to push the number even higher. If Los Angeles wants to save a little bit of money, they will beat the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow to the punch.
Given their salary cap situation in the future, it would behoove the Chargers to save some money if possible. Herbert’s extension is going to be massive one way or another but every dollar counts in the long run.
