Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has actually become one of the more polarizing players in the NFL.
Some feel that Herbert is an elite quarterback with incredible talent. Others feel that he is overrated and largely unaccomplished over the first four years of his career.
Count Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon in the latter category.
In a piece where Gagnon went over how much quarterbacks in the NFL are getting paid, he labeled Herbert as one of the most overpaid signal-callers in the league.
“At age 26, the league’s fourth-highest-paid quarterback has still never been a first-team or second-team All-Pro and has been named to just one Pro Bowl,” Gagnon wrote. “He’s also experienced practically no playoff success. It’s just not enough, despite a ton of talent and some solid seasons on his resume.”
Herbert is making $52.5 million annually, but Gagnon thinks he should be earning around $40 million.
The University of Oregon product was selected by the Chargers with the sixth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
He enjoyed a spectacular rookie campaign, making 15 starts and throwing for 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 66.6 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 98.3.
The following year, Herbert made the Pro Bowl after totaling 5,014 yards, 38 touchdowns and 15 picks while completing 65.9 percent of his throws and registering a 97.7 passer rating.
Herbert then took a step backward in 2022, finishing with 4,739 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He completed 68.2 percent of his passes and recorded a passer rating of 93.2.
Then, this past season, Herbert was limited to 13 games due to a finger injury that sidelined him for the final four games of the campaign. He tallied 3,134 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven picks, completing 65.1 percent of his throws with a 93.2 passer rating.
Herbert has only made the playoffs once, and in that one appearance in January 2023, the Chargers blew a big lead in a devastating Wild Card Round loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Obviously, the lack of postseason success is hardly all Herbert’s fault. He simply hasn’t had very good teams around him. But at some point, people are going to have to stop making excuses.
Justin Herbert has a lot to prove heading into 2024.
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