Man, talk about a season going sideways. The Los Angeles Chargers are sitting at a brutal 0-5 to start their 2026 campaign, and that record has turned them into unexpected sellers ahead of the NFL’s November 10 trade deadline. Nobody saw this coming for a team that’s been in the postseason three of the last four years, coming off back-to-back playoff appearances.
Hold Up, Herbert’s Not Going Anywhere. Seriously.
You gotta hand it to the league for trying, though. Rival teams are definitely circling the Chargers, drawing “the most intrigue” among the three 0-5 clubs, especially since the Dolphins and Titans were basically mid-rebuild from the jump. And yeah, there’s a “deep affinity” for quarterback Justin Herbert around the league. So, naturally, the trade rumors started flying about the signal-caller. But ESPN’s Adam Schefter tried to ask someone with the Chargers about trading Herbert, and the response was absolute fire. The person reportedly “cut me off mid-sentence, stopped me in my tracks,” and dropped this bomb: “let me be very clear about this. We have never even discussed that idea. The sentence should we trade Justin Herbert has never once been uttered in our organization, nor will it be.” So, yeah, Herbert is firmly off the table. Period.
But Mack, James, and Tuipulotu? That’s a Different Story.
Okay, so the cornerstone QB is staying put, but don’t think for a second the Chargers are just riding this 0-5 out with no changes. With Herbert officially staying put, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler highlighted Khalil Mack, Derwin James Jr., and Tuli Tuipulotu as the real possible trade candidates. It’s tough for them, I get it. The team was supposed to be in the thick of the playoff mix this season with Herbert, head coach Jim Harbaugh, and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. But it has been anything but that case. An executive from another team told Fowler it’s “going to be really difficult for them to admit when and if they need to trade guys,” which tells you everything about the unexpected position they’re in. This is a massive adjustment for their front office, and it looks like they’re finally having to face those selling conversations they probably weren’t expecting a few months ago.
This situation is still unfolding fast. The trade deadline is November 10, and rival clubs are absolutely going to keep watching the Chargers. Teams in need of pass-rush help are eyeing Mack and Tuipulotu. What they do next is going to set the tone for the rest of their season, and it’s wild to think where they’ve ended up after all that offseason hype.
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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