Chargers News: Long-Time ESPN Analyst Worries About LA Squandering Justin Herbert's Talent

He's probably right.

After your Chargers' Week 6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, an already-existent notion of QB Justin Herbert's talents being wasted in Los Angeles has had its case strengthened. 

As per longtime ESPN analyst Mike Greenberg: 

Video: The #Chargers are wasting Justin Herbert's career, who is a "Hall of Fame" talent level QB, according to @Espngreeny

"They are wasting the career of a hall of fame quarterback. Just like they did with Philip Rivers. If he was in Miami with Mike McDaniel right now..."… https://t.co/14gjU9FOg6 pic.twitter.com/56Z2iefEfT

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 18, 2023

Greenberg's take certainly has backing, as the argument that the Chargers have failed to put a proper supporting cast/coaching staff around the young phenom QB is accurate. 

Despite the Bolts having the league's top defensive payroll this season, the unit has struggled tremendously, being considered by some as the "worst defense in the NFL."

Investing the amount they have in the defense and having no success on that side of the ball has taken away from potential offensive investments through free agency and trades. A number of solid offensive pieces have become available in the past few off-seasons, but the Chargers have lacked the necessary cap space to make impact moves. 

To make matters worse, Herbert has had poor defenses in every season he's played in the league thus far. 

He has a record of 18-4 in games where his defense has allowed fewer than 27 points, but he's started in 55 games. This means that in 33 of his starts (60% of them), the Bolts have ceded over 27 points. 

Herbert is a generational talent, but one way or another, it's impossible to consistently put up over 27 points offensively when your team is often banged up and has gone through 3 different coordinators in your four seasons. 

The Chargers have also seemingly completely whiffed on their 2023 first-round selection in Quentin Johnston. The 21st pick in this past year's draft has been woeful, recording just six catches for 44 yards in his first six games, despite a season-ending injury in Week 3 to starting WR Mike Williams. 

The idea was for Johnston to be the long-term replacement for Williams as they have similar play styles, but we're clearly far from that, assuming a best-case scenario. 

The lack of investment made in wide receivers in the draft (prior to Johnston, though that should count as a loss on investment), along with failure to find impact players on the offense in the offseason has led to Herbert simply having insufficient help compared to other top quarterbacks in the league, hence Greeberg's comparison of Herbert being in Miami, and suggesting what he would be capable of there with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to throw to (along with an offensive-minded head coach). 

To see what QB Justin Herbert had to say about the loss: 

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