Chargers, Justin Herbert agree to terms on blockbuster contract

The Los Angeles Chargers and star quarterback Justin Herbert have agreed to terms on a blockbuster extension making the 25-year-old the highest-paid player in NFL history.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, it’s a 5-year extension worth $262.5 million — topping the five-year, 260 million deal Lamar Jackson signed with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this offseason. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the extension includes $133.7 million fully guaranteed, $193.7 million with the injury guarantee and springing potentially to $218.7 million guaranteed. The extension comes one day before the Chargers open up training camp.

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco previously said this offseason that the Jackson contract among others wouldn’t necessarily serve as a blueprint for Herbert’s deal. As it turned out, Telesco topped any deal ever given out to a single player in the history of the NFL.

Herbert has guided the Chargers to a 25-24 record and a playoff appearance in three years as starter. He’s thrown for 14,089 yards with 94 touchdowns and 35 interceptions on 66.9% passing. With 4,739 passing yards in 2022, Herbert passed former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck for the most passing yards through a player’s first three NFL seasons.

Justin Herbert goes from 1st-round pick with promise to highest-paid player in NFL history

Chargers head coach Brandon Staley believes Herbert is only scratching the surface of what he can accomplish in the NFL.

“It really brought out the best in him as a player, in terms of the challenges, from an injury standpoint, both upfront and at his skill positions,” Staley said this offseason. “I thought you were really able to discover a lot of the intangibles that make him so special. For his first two years, I think people talk about the tangible — what they can see, the output or production or the style of some of these throws that he can make — but what he really showed were the intangibles that, I think, make him one of the top players in the NFL.

“Him being able to lead our offense, to kind of will us down the stretch to a playoff appearance, I think show you all the growth that he has. He’s just continuing to grow as a player and as a leader on this football team.”