With a new front office and coaching staff, everything was on the table this offseason for the Los Angeles Chargers. That was evidenced by cutting Mike Williams and trading Keenan Allen, two long-time fan favorites and star wide receivers.
But a new report by ESPN’s Kevin Seifert shows that Justin Herbert is very much a part of Jim Harbaugh‘s plan for the team’s future. In a comprehensive article about the Minnesota Vikings’ move from Kirk Cousins to J.J. McCarthy, Seifert recounts the story of Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah approaching Harbaugh at the 2024 NFL Combine with the intent to open discussions to trade for Herbert.
Vikings In On Justin Herbert at NFL Combine
The Vikings were already considering their next steps. At the combine, they checked with the Chargers on Herbert’s availability. It was the kind of call many NFL teams make to a team that has changed leadership. Adofo-Mensah had worked with new Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh when they were both with the 49ers from 2013 to ’14, and was well aware of Harbaugh’s preference for a run-based offensive scheme. The Chargers did not want to move Herbert, but the Vikings’ interest was a sign for league observers about Cousins’ looming availability.
Kevin Seifert – ESPN
At that point, the Chargers had not moved on from Allen and Williams and were significantly over the cap, but even then the discussions didn’t seem to go far beyond Adofo-Mensah’s initial feelers.
The Vikings weren’t the only team to inquire about the Chargers quarterback. The New England Patriots offered the 3rd overall pick in the draft for the fifth-year signal caller.
Apparently, Harbaugh recognizes the potential positives of having an elite quarterback despite his reliance on the running game. In his coaching career, Harbaugh has never had a passer throw for more than 4000 yards. Even when he coached Andrew Luck at Stanford, his most productive season was 3338 yards.
Regardless of how he will be used, this is proof that Harbaugh is bought in on Herbert.
