It’s not a fun time to be a Los Angeles Chargers fan, that’s for sure. As Justin Herbert was getting propped up in debates before the season as an ideal quarterback to have as the face of your franchise, the former sixth overall pick has flattered to deceive this season, as evidenced by the fact that the Chargers are the only winless team in the league heading into Week 8.

When your team is winless nearly halfway into the season, trade rumors are bound to take root, and it’s no different when it comes to Herbert and the Chargers. But while there have been a few proposals and speculation from fans and analysts alike, former Chargers All-Pro Shawne Merriman is pushing back against the discussion with a strong take.

Shawne Merriman Blasts Justin Herbert Trade Rumors

Herbert has completed 107 of 180 passing attempts for 1,141 yards, five touchdowns and eight interceptions so far this season. His 60.7 PFN QB Impact grade ranks at the bottom of the league, while his 68.8 passer rating highlights his disappointing start to the season.

Herbert’s struggles have also raised questions about the Chargers’ overall direction, as the team remains winless. However, Merriman believes the team’s problems stem from several factors, including the difficulties of adjusting to new coaching schemes.

On the “BENCH’D” podcast, Merriman said that Los Angeles needs to simplify its approach to help players perform more effectively. He also made it clear that he continues to have faith in Herbert as the franchise’s long-term quarterback, while criticizing the trade speculation around him.

“There have been rattles about Khalil (Mack) being traded,” Merriman said. “It’s just been out there. I mean, the stupidest trade I’ve heard so far is trading Justin Herbert. That’s just ridiculous. Just go get another quarterback.

“I mean, come on. Teams would probably give up three first-rounders. So, again, if teams are willing to give up two or three first-rounders for a guy, that should tell you what the NFL thinks about him. So, the idea of Justin Herbert being on the trade block is just ridiculous.”

The possibility of trading Herbert became part of that conversation after Adam Schefter reported in early October that a high-ranking NFL executive had suggested the Chargers could potentially trade Herbert in exchange for three first-round picks.

Schefter later contacted the Chargers to determine whether the organization would genuinely entertain such a possibility. However, the response he received left little room for interpretation.

“The person basically cut me off mid-sentence,” Schefter said. “Stopped me in my tracks and said, ‘Let me be very clear about this. We have never even discussed that idea. The sentence — should we trade Justin Herbert — has never once been uttered in our organization, nor will it be.'”

So, it is safe to say that the Chargers still believe that Herbert is their long-term franchise quarterback.

The reason for trust in Herbert is quite understandable, as he has tallied 25,961 passing yards and 168 touchdown passes in his NFL career so far. He has also recorded 66 interceptions while completing 66.1% of his career attempts.

Herbert’s contract situation also reinforces the Chargers’ commitment, as he signed a five-year, $262.5 million extension in 2023, keeping him under contract with Los Angeles through the 2029 season. The agreement also includes a no-trade clause and $133.7 million in fully guaranteed money.

An early October report from The Athletic pointed out that since Herbert entered the NFL in 2020, no other quarterback has taken more hits (644), sacks (237), and pressures (1,412) than he has. In fact, Herbert is the only QB to take more than 600 hits since he was drafted.

The franchise’s failure to adequately protect its main investment, then, goes back over half a decade.