3 quarterbacks who could sign contract extensions before Lamar Jackson
By Josh Wilson
QBs that could get contract extensions before Lamar Jackson: Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert is bound for some big money. He’s all but guaranteed that he’ll be one of the next huge contracts among passers in the NFL.
Herbert is a free agent in 2024, but has dazzled since coming into the league in 2020 and if the Los Angeles Chargers are smart, they’ll secure him before the quarterback market takes one or two more leaps and pushes the price up even further.
Herbert has thrown for over 30 touchdowns in each of his first two years, 38 last season.
Outwardly Herbert isn’t worried about striking a deal, but it sounds like the Chargers are home to him:
"“I love that I was drafted here and that I have been able to play here. I think we’re doing all the right things. I believe in the staff, all the teammates, the front office. So all I can do is hope for the best. It’s out of my control, but I’ll keep playing football.”"
Herbert might need to push a bit to get a deal like Watson did with the Browns, though. Here’s what Peter King recently said in regards to the Chargers and Herbert:
"“Just a gut feeling after being around the Chargers for two days: The Deshaun Watson fully guaranteed $230-million contract won’t be the way this team goes when it comes time to negotiate a new deal for Herbert next offseason. I think they’ll make that clear at the start of the process, and the chips will fall where they fall.”"
$35 million-plus is a bargain, Herbert probably commands upwards of $40 or $45 million per year. Will the Chargers go the direction of a Mahomes or Josh Allen deal, locking in for over 5 years? Or will they keep their options open?
Like Hurts, a lot will depend on how this year plays out. In the last 12 years, the Chargers have made the playoffs just twice and haven’t been past the divisional round. It’s been a three-year drought on the postseason, so if Herbert can get them there and take them to the conference championship or deeper, he’ll have quite the compelling case to present to management in addition to his gaudy regular season numbers.