Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been recognized as one of the league’s best signal-callers ahead of the 2026 season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler conducted a survey of NFL executives, coaches and scouts to rank the top quarterbacks heading into the upcoming season.
The NFL’s top personnel ranked Herbert No. 7, the same ranking they had Herbert in to enter the 2025 season.
“Herbert’s career has reached an inflection point. He’s an immense talent who recorded historic numbers in his early years.”
One executive had high praise for Herbert, saying he’s one quarterback you’re taking high when building a team. “If you’re picking quarterbacks to build around, you’re still taking him pretty high,” an NFL personnel exec said.
One NFL coordinator said that the 28-year-old has a long way to go in terms of playing at a mature level.
“He plays young,” an NFL coordinator said. “He’s incredibly talented and has made progress, but he doesn’t have the maturity level of the other guys as far as how he runs the overall operation and mastery of the position.”
As we enter the 2026 season, expectations are once again sky-high for the Chargers’ QB1. The former Oregon product is expected to operate more efficiently under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, which in turn will take his game to the next level.
The addition of McDaniel has appeared to pay off already, as he’s already tweaked Herbert’s mechanics, including quicker shotgun footwork to get the ball out on time and in rhythm.
Herbert’s talent is undeniable, and his numbers speak for themselves, recording 24,820 passing yards, completing 66.5 percent of his passes and 163 touchdowns.
However, the wins, losses and success in the playoffs will be the ultimate deciding factor in determining whether he goes from being a really good quarterback to a great one.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Where does Chargers’ Justin Herbert rank among NFL QBs? ESPN weighs in
Reporting by Ricardo Sandoval , Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ricardo Sandoval , Chargers Wire | USA TODAY Network
