Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is one of the bright young stars that the league has. There are plenty of players around the NFL that would love to catch passes from him as he has already had a few record-setting performances in the first three seasons of his professional career.
One of the players who would like to be teammates with him is DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins was recently released by the Arizona Cardinals, free to now pick which team he wants to play for. Before getting his release, he was asked about which quarterbacks he would love to play with.
Justin Herbert ended up being in the top five that he mentioned. First was Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills with Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs rounding out the list.
That list isn’t too surprising as those five players are all in the mix for a top-five spot in the league. As much as Hopkins would like to play with them, the feeling is probably mutual from the quarterback’s perspective as well.
For Justin Herbert, it certainly is. The Chargers star was happy to hear Hopkins talk about him with such high regard, adding that the two have met each other this offseason. “It’s really cool for him to say that,” Herbert said on Monday. “I think that’s really high praise. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”
While adding a weapon of Hopkins’ caliber to the Chargers is likely something Justin Herbert would love, it is hard to envision the front office pursuing him unless the price is very affordable. Los Angeles already had Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer on the roster coming into the offseason and added Quentin Johnson with its first-round pick.
“I think that decision’s out of my pay grade,” Herbert explained. “That’s for the front office to make. He’s obviously a very talented, special player. He’s had so much success in the league over countless years. I’m excited to watch him wherever he goes.”
Already up against the salary cap, the Chargers are likely going to spend whatever resources they have elsewhere on the roster. That is as talented of a top-four at the wide receiver position as any team in the league possesses, so adding Hopkins isn’t a pressing need.
Alas, Justin Herbert and the Chargers would assuredly prefer to have Hopkins on their side instead of trying to figure out how to scheme against him should he join their AFC West rivals in Mahomes and the Chiefs.
