The Los Angeles Chargers have been pretty quiet during the 2023 NFL Draft, with the AFC heavyweights staying out of the limelight for the time being, even though there are some areas of need.
Along with taking wide receiver Quentin Johnston out of TCU in the first round, the Chargers made another move ahead of the second round of the draft on Friday night.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Chargers have made the no-brainer move to exercise the fifth-year option on star quarterback Justin Herbert.
Source: The #Chargers just picked up the fifth-year option for QB Justin Herbert. A no-brainer.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 28, 2023
Here are some fan reactions to the Chargers picking up the fifth-year option on Herbert’s contract.
Blake Bortles better
— Nick (@NotoriousFNTSY) April 28, 2023
Here comes the Brinks truck 💰
— a girl with no face ⚡️ (@Stop_Hammerzeit) April 28, 2023
“No brainer” pic.twitter.com/cfDuKXyZte
— Dalton Prather (@idaltonp) April 28, 2023
Let’s go ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
— ⚡️Tony Rodela ⚡️ (@TonyRodela) April 28, 2023
Despite failing to live up to expectations the last two years, the Chargers have a legitimate superstar in the making with Herbert, who may soon be mentioned in the same breath as Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow as one of the league’s elite young quarterbacks.
Fortunately for Herbert, the franchise addressed the need at the wide receiver position in the first round of the draft with Johnston, which shows how much faith the team has in Herbert’s talent.
It’ll be interesting to see what other moves the Chargers make in the next few rounds of the draft and if the team continues to address the offensive side of the football to give Herbert all the pieces he needs to succeed in Los Angeles.
With Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson recently getting paid, Burrow and Herbert will be the next in line to ink an enormous contract extension, which will almost certainly pass Hurts and Jackson’s numbers.
NEXT: Justin Herbert Names The Most Underrated Player In The NFL
