Justin Herbert

Career StatsB+

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	INT	RTG
Career		95	24,820	163	58	96.3
2025		16	3,727	26	13	94.1
2024		17	3,870	23	3	101.7

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The C Contract Value Index on Justin Herbert's deal stems from how the cap hit lines up against on-field output. At $52.5M AAV over five years, Herbert is commanding elite-tier quarterback money—a reflection of his Offensive Rookie of the Year pedigree and career passer rating that places him in the upper echelon of the position. Yet his steady B+ performance grade reveals a disconnect: he's a franchise-caliber talent operating in a system that has struggled to consistently elevate around him, a gap the recent roster moves—safety Derrin James, offensive line signings, and depth pickups—suggest the organization is actively working to close. At 28 years old in his sixth season, Herbert is locked into his prime earning window, but the five-year commitment leaves limited financial flexibility if the Chargers' supporting cast doesn't materialize as intended. The media narrative remains bullish—early OTA reports praised his command, and head coach Jim Harbaugh's visible support has insulated him from scrutiny—but the A sentiment grade masks an underlying reality: the organization is reinforcing around him precisely because the current structure hasn't yet delivered playoff success to justify his salary tier. The CVI reflects this tension: Herbert's talent is unquestionable, but whether the Chargers can build a consistently competitive roster while managing his cap commitment remains the open question as the regular season approaches in September.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Justin's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Justin Herbert enters his sixth NFL season as one of the league's most physically gifted quarterbacks, a former sixth-overall pick with undeniable upside and a career passer rating of 96.3. His overall grade sits at B+, reflecting a player whose body of work outpaces his recent performance arc. Herbert remains a borderline top-ten starter, though the gap between his ceiling and his consistency continues to define his narrative. His 232.9 passing yards per game ranks above the NFL average of 189.3, and his 66.4 completion rate edges past the league's 63.6 benchmark. His 7.28 yards per attempt also clears the NFL average of 6.73, signaling above-average efficiency in the passing game. The concern is a current-season passer rating of 94.1 — functional, but meaningfully below his 96.3 career mark and far from elite territory near 117.5. His rushing contribution, averaging 31.1 yards per game against a league norm of 12.3, adds a dimension many pocket passers lack. The worrying trend, however, is a consistent grade regression — from a C in 2023 to a C+ in 2024 and holding at C+ in 2025 — suggesting Herbert hasn't yet recaptured his early-career form. Comparisons to a less explosive Kirk Cousins feel increasingly apt: durable, efficient, but not a true difference-maker in high-stakes moments. The Chargers need Herbert to push toward elite passer rating thresholds, or his B+ career grade risks becoming his ceiling rather than his floor.

How Justin Compares at the Position

Justin Herbert ranks 12th of 106 graded quarterbacks by performance. That slots Justin between Sam Darnold (A-) just ahead and Joe Burrow (B+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Justin Herbert draws an A sentiment grade as the Los Angeles Chargers narrative reflects his on-field role and the organization's support structure around him. Media coverage has painted a picture of a franchise quarterback operating in a healthy, trusting environment—early OTA reports highlighted sharp, confident play, and when Herbert took a voluntary absence to support his partner's concert tour, head coach Jim Harbaugh's openly supportive reaction effectively neutralized any narrative around commitment or professionalism, framing the episode as evidence of organizational culture rather than a red flag. That positive framing stands in notable contrast to his steady B+ performance grade, a gap that reveals the media is grading Herbert on talent and circumstance rather than pure production—a generous posture that reflects how much goodwill he carries as a former Offensive Rookie of the Year with a career passer rating near 96. Recent offseason moves, particularly the signings of offensive lineman Kayode Awosika, Cole Strange, and running back Kimani Vidal alongside safety Derrin James, signal the organization's awareness that Herbert's supporting cast requires reinforcement, though criticism of the overall draft execution and the trade of the 55th pick suggest patience with front-office decision-making is thinning even as faith in Herbert himself remains intact. At 28 with the regular season four months away, Herbert remains one of the most narratively protected quarterbacks in the AFC—the public isn't losing confidence in him, but the disconnect between his elite individual standing and the team's ability to build around him is becoming harder to ignore.