Brandon Staley, Chargers remain 'confident, optimistic' in Justin Herbert contract extension

Maybe folks with the Chargers are getting antsy as they ponder whether quarterback Justin Herbert will receive his contract extension in plenty of time to prep for the season.

Sometimes contract impasses can impact a player’s pysche. And as the Chargers finish mandatory minicamp, Herbert and the team have yet to reach an agreement on any sort of extension.

However, Chargers coach Brandon Staley says there’s no reason to worry. He appeared on the Rich Eisen Show earlier this week, with Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network asking him the questions. Pelissero acknowledged the queries Staley must be getting about the contract status of his young QB. So was Staley optimistic about a deal getting done? Are sides any closer? Will there be an agreement before training camp starts in five weeks?

“I’d say yes to all three,” Staley said of Justin Herbert. “The talks are ongoing. We are confident and optimistic.” It’s the perfect quote that soothes fans without saying anything of substance that could muck up a deal.

Chargers selected Justin Herbert with 6th pick of 2020 Draft

The Chargers picked Justin Herbert, the former Oregon star, with the sixth pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. He’s part of a terrific quarterback draft class that also saw Joe Burrow go No. 1 to the Bengals and Tua Tagovailoa (fifth) to the Dolphins. Later in the first round, the Packers picked Jordan Love, who will be the starter this season. And in the second round, the Eagles selected Jalen Hurts. Earlier this offseason, Philadelphia made Hurts the second highest-paid player in the league.

The Bengals and Burrow are in talks for a new contract. The Dolphins picked up Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option. And the Packers and Love agreed to a new, one-year deal.

The Chargers already picked up Herbert’s fifth year of his deal, agreeing to pay him $29.5 million for 2024. But this is all about a new extension.

Staley said he’s aware that sometimes teams can sellout their future by giving too much to the quarterback. Pelissero said the quarterback’s salary represents 20 percent of the cap budget. Staley said the key is to not “sacrifice your draft capital. I think that’s where people go wrong. They’re in an unhealthy cap situation.”

Meanwhile, Justin Herbert got back to work after finishing off his rehabilitation for an off-season shoulder surgery. He needed it to repair the labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder.

He told reporters this week he has no plans to hold out during training camp. And that also includes a hold in. It’s a new strategy. Players show up for and attend meetings. But they don’t practice on the field. An injury usually is the excuse. Teams can’t fine them because the players are there.

“When it comes time for camp,” Justin Herbert said. “The role of the quarterback is to be out there for his team and to do everything he can to put that team in position to win. I understand that responsibility.”

Justin Herbert on a possible training camp hold-in if an extension is not done: "When it comes time for camp, the role of the quarterback is to be out there for his team and to do everything he can to put that team in position to win. I understand that responsibility."

— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) June 14, 2023