Justin Herbert says new huge contract allows him to play free and 'fearless'

Justin Herbert is the luckiest quarterback in the NFL right now. His contract extension came after the huge deals negotiated by Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson. And now he’s the highest paid of them all.

Herbert, the starter for the Los Angeles Chargers, went through his first preseason practice, Wednesday, as the highest-paid in the league. He conceded that he felt a different energy.

“I think I just get to play football now,” Herbert said in his post-practice media session. “I think that’s the best part about it, is that I get to play free. (And) I get to play fearless. We go out there and get to play our type of ball. I know when we’re playing at our best, we’re a tough team. These next couple of weeks of getting together, working together. I think they’re going to be huge for us. We’re going to show a lot of improvement.”

Justin Herbert, the former Oregon star and Campbell Trophy winner, agreed to a five-year $262.5 million extension. Of that total, $218.7 million is guaranteed money. Crunch the numbers and Herbert is the highest paid NFL quarterback in terms of overall money and average salary per year. His numbers are slightly more lucrative than those agreed to by Jackson and Hurt. Jackson even threatened a lengthy holdout if the Ravens didn’t loosen the purse strings.

Herbert has started 49 of 50 games, winning 25 of them, since he joined the Chargers. His stats are spectacular for a young quarterback. He’s thrown for 14,089 yards, 94 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. He almost led the Chargers to a playoff win over the Jaguars this past January. But the Chargers blew an early 27-point lead to lose 31-30.

Justin Herbert probably won’t have largest contract once Joe Burrow agrees to deal with Bengals

It’s unclear whether Justin Herbert continues to deposit the biggest paycheck. Joe Burrow, who like Herbert was a first-rounder in the 2020 NFL Draft, is in negotiations with the Bengals. Burrow was the top pick of the draft. But a knee injury spoiled his rookie year. Since then, he’s led Cincy to a Super Bowl and a pair of AFC championship appearances. His contract numbers should be large.

“I’m focused on getting a deal done that’s good for us, good for me, good for the team and good for everybody,” Joe Burrow said Wednesday after the Bengals finished their first training camp practice.

Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa was the fifth pick of the 2020 draft. The Dolphins picked up his fifth-year option. But that’s it, so far.

“I haven’t talked about any contract since what I’ve understood with my fifth-year extension,” Tagovailoa told reporters. “I don’t think that’s a worry of mine. When things come, they’ll come because you either deserved it or it’s supposed to happen that way.”

Jordan Love is the other first rounder from 2020. He’s the new starter for the Packers, who extended his contract after Aaron Rodgers left for the Jets.

Let’s get back to Justin Herbert, who couldn’t help but remember that he grew up a Chargers fan. The team drafted him, then made him the richest quarterback in the NFL.

“I’ve never wanted to be anywhere else,” he said. “This is where I’ve wanted to be for, shoot, as long as I’ve been born and playing football. It’s a dream come true. I’m just really excited to be back out there with the team today.”