The Los Angeles Chargers are the NFL’s lone remaining winless team, sitting at a brutal 0-7 seven games into the regular season, yet they’re playing dead silent as the trade deadline barrels down on Tuesday. Seriously, it’s wild. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport dropped the news that the Chargers have slapped “hard nos” on opposing general managers trying to sniff around Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey. Oh, and Khalil Mack? They’re prioritizing keeping him because his leadership and talent are apparently non-negotiable.
The Chargers Are Locked Down, And Nobody Gets It
Jonathan Jones from The Athletic backed this up, saying the Chargers have “signaled to everyone” they aren’t moving anyone. Rival teams are absolutely “confounded” by this stance, especially with the deadline looming. Think about it: an 0-7 team with valuable assets, and they’re not even entertaining offers? What gives? Several executives Jones spoke with all point to one guy: head coach Jim Harbaugh. This dude is legendary for a quote, remember him saying he remembers the weather on his birthday? Well, he thinks Justin Herbert is “one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time,” someone he’d “follow to hell and back.” That’s the kind of loyalty that apparently trumps a winless season. Mack, who is 35 and on a one-year deal, honestly looks like a perfect trade candidate on paper. It makes zero sense to hold onto him if you’re truly tearing it down, but the Chargers need a “dramatic change of heart” to move him before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.
What’s the Deal with Herbert and the Squad?
This Chargers squad is the biggest disappointment in the NFL this season. Preseason hype was through the roof, especially after Harbaugh led them to playoff appearances in his first two years, plus the addition of Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator was hailed as one of the best offseason moves anywhere. Now? They’re last in points per game. Herbert’s interception rate is a shocking 4.7 percent, which is more than double his career average of 1.9 percent. Yikes. But here’s the kicker: even with all these major flaws, it’s not crazy to imagine them bouncing back in 2027 with some coaching and roster tweaks. Herbert has never been this bad, so theoretically, there’s nowhere for him to go but up. McConkey is out here averaging a career-high 16.8 yards per reception, so he’s still doing his thing.
The Chargers are currently sitting pretty for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL draft, which is stacked with franchise quarterbacks. They could absolutely reel in a massive haul in a trade for that pick, bringing in multiple impact players to build around Herbert and McConkey. So, yeah, maybe they don’t *need* to move Herbert or McConkey. Still, Mack’s place in the 2027 picture is hazy, given his age and contract. It just feels like such a wild gamble, rolling into the deadline with an 0-7 record and refusing to make any moves, but that’s the Harbaugh way, I guess.
The trade deadline hits Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Will the Chargers actually stick to their “hard no” on every single player? Or will something, anything, break as the clock ticks down? We’ll find out soon enough if Harbaugh’s iron will holds, or if the league manages to crack their seemingly impenetrable stance.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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