The media speculation over Justin Herbert’s future continue, but one NFL insider thinks the Vikings may be better off avoiding the quarterback.
The Los Angeles Chargers 0-5 start to the season has sparked a narrative that Jim Harbaugh may look to move on from Herbert and start anew in the offseason, with L.A. likely to land a haul of draft picks for the talented quarterback.
The Minnesota Vikings has naturally become a talked-about destination, with Kyler Murray only here on a one-year deal and the Vikings’ most recent attempt to draft a rookie in J.J. McCarthy proving an unmitigated failure.
But speaking with Bill Simmons on The Ringer, NFL insider Tom Pelissero said that the way the Vikings would not necessarily be interested given the way they are currently set up.
The pair suggested that the Chargers would be shopping Herbert for three first-round draft picks, a steep price considering he is also on a five-year, $262 million contract that would mean any team that traded for him would be making sacrifices in the rest of the roster.
Pelissero believes that the situation the Vikings find themselves in – one where they shift around to different quarterbacks on more team-friendly deals – a la Sam Darnold and Kyler Murray – may be more palatable for Kevin O’Connell and new Vikings GM Nolan Teasley than a hefty draft and contract price for Herbert.
“If I’m Minnesota like big picture eventually you want to solidify the quarterback position, that’s why they took a swing on J.J. McCarthy a couple of years ago,” Pelissero said.
“But their most successful seasons have in part been driven by factors that had nothing to do with, ‘Oh we’ve got a young quarterback, and so we can spend on the other positions.
“With Kyler, he’s on a minimum deal. When Sam Darnold came, he was on a very cheap deal. That alone gave them the flexibility to go out and do it. “
Under the current system with limited spend at the QB position, the Vikings have been able to compile the premier defense in the league under Brian Flores, while the offense has been performing at a sufficient enough level to keep the team winning games.
Simmons said he wouldn’t give up three firsts for Herbert if he was Teasley, but did say two firsts would be a “longer staff meeting.”
Pelissero believes that O’Connell at some point wants to have the quarterback position solidified – which could end up being a longer-term deal for Murray if his performances continue to improve this season – but in the meantime the Vikings have put together a series of winning seasons with a variety of options under center.
“They’ve got the best defensive coordinator in Brian Flores, we can win in different ways,” Pelissero said.
“It would be the exact opposite of how everyone in the league has been, where you to draft one, you win for the three years on the rookie contract, and now oh s***, we have to pay him $60 million a year. Well, guess the rest of the team around him isn’t going to be as good.
“I’m not saying that Kevin O’Connell doesn’t want to get off this carousel, and just stop having to do it and start from scratch and go through the growing pains all the time, but it’s not a bad formula for the way they are structured because it gives them those other opportunities.”
Would the Vikings trade three first round picks for Justin Herbert? 🤔@BillSimmons and @TomPelissero discuss if there’s any way Minnesota could solidify the QB position pic.twitter.com/uepgDpb3l0
— The Ringer (@ringer) October 16, 2026