Los Angeles Chargers general manger Tim Telesco admitted the imminent record-breaking contract for Justin Herbert is a ‘good problem’ for the franchise despite the ‘big numbers’ to be involved.
The Chargers hope to surround Herbert with weapons so the quarterback can lead the team to Super Bowl glory. The 25-year-old has become one of the best signal-callers in the NFL and he is now eligible to receive a long-term - and very lucrative - contract this offseason.
Herbert was selected sixth overall by the Chargers in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he was the third quarterback off the board after Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa went to the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins respectively. The former Oregon star was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and he has enjoyed a steady improvement in his game, leading the Chargers to the Play-Offs for the first time since taking the starting role.
However, the Chargers faltered and threw away a 27-point lead to lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wild Card Weekend. Regardless, Herbert is set to secure a blockbuster new deal - and Los Angeles GM Telesco confessed there will be ‘big numbers’ involved.
“I don’t have an update on it,” Telesco told SiriusXM NFL Radio. “There’s a lot that will go into it, obviously, with these type of contracts and the numbers that it’s gonna be. But it’s just a good problem to have.
“You know you have a franchise quarterback that’s now moving into a veteran franchise quarterback. There’s a lot of good things that come with that. The flip side is, we’ll build the team a little bit differently. We’ll transition through that the next couple years.
“But I’m not losing a lot of sleep over it. Yeah, I know the numbers are gonna be big. He’s earned it. We think we can win a Super Bowl with him. So, that’s a good problem to have. We’ll get it done at some point, and then we’ll go from there.”
The money within the NFL continues to rise on an annual basis, while the market - particularly for quarterbacks - means the next star up for renewal often sets the new record. Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes set the bar high with his 10-year extension worth over $500million in 2020, before four-time Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson followed suit with higher salaries on an annual basis.
There’s no doubt that Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks that the NFL has to offer, with his arm strength, incredible accuracy and playmaking showcased as he led the Chargers back to the post-season. His contract will see him move to the top of the NFL, among elite company like division rival and two-time MVP Mahomes.
