A Wacky Vikings Rumor is on Life Support (But Somehow Still Possible)

Once upon a time, there was a Vikings rumor connecting Minnesota to Justin Herbert. The idea is close to certain to being just that: an idea.

The Los Angeles Chargers are moving through a terrible season as an 0-5 football team. Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel are leading a horrible offense that’s averaging 16.8 points per game, 30th in the NFL. Meanwhile, Kyler Murray has failed to fully lock down the QB1 job. What happens if these trends continue for the remainder of the 2026 season?

A Vikings Rumors Not Dead Yet

Some respected NFL voices have noted the possibility of a Herbert trade, at least in a general sense. Consider ESPN’s Benjamin Solak:

Consider, as well, the quick quip from Sam Monson, who insists that LA possibly moving on from Herbert “becomes really interesting only if/when [the Chargers] finish with a catastrophic record & have a top 5 draft pick in a draft that may be loaded at QB.”

Neither Solak nor Monson are looping the Vikings into the mix. The point here is just to note that respected NFL voices are discussing a possible divorce between the Chargers and Justin Herbert.

On FanSided, Christopher Kline jumps into a possible Vikings and Chargers trade. The offer is for Minnesota to send over Carson Wentz, a 1st, 2nd, and 4th. Los Angeles sends over Herbert and a 5th.

Some of the rationale: “Minnesota currently has the NFL’s top defense and its worst offense. That needs to change if the Vikings want to meaningfully compete when the playoffs roll around.”

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Truth be told, the proposed offer isn’t anywhere close to being able to demand Herbert. He boasts sensational potential due to his age, size, and abilities. Anything less than multiple 1sts isn’t getting the job done.

The Chargers’ QB is sitting atop a 59.4% completion rate alongside 937 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. These stats alone point toward somebody who is playing terrible football.

Keep in mind, though, that Justin Herbert still offers a lot to like.

Chosen at No. 6 in the 2020 NFL Draft, Mr. Herbert stands at 6’6″ and weighs 236 pounds, meaning he boasts an ideal build to play quarterback. In 2025, the passer completed 66.4% of his passes while putting 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions onto the stat sheet.

At their beefiest, Herbert’s stats show more than 5,000 passing yards and 38 touchdowns, both of which arrived in 2021. A normal Justin Herbert season sees him completing 66.2% of his passes for close to 4,379 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions (PFR).

If, somehow, Herbert gets put on the trade market, the Vikings must put together a lucrative trade offer to pick him up. The chance of that occurring, though, is close to zero. The Chargers are much more likely to clean house by firing the coaching staff than shipping out a legit franchise passer who is still in his prime.

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