Justin Herbert Contract: How Much Does the Chargers QB Make and How Much Will His Extension Be?
Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers has already won Offensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl in just three years in the NFL. He still has a sub-.500 record as a starter (21-23), but that is due more to the coaches and players (and player injuries) around him than to him as a quarterback.
The No. 6 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is still on his rookie contract, but a contract extension for Justin Herbert is on the way. Here’s what Herbert is currently earning, when an extension might occur, and how much money it could be for.
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The rookie contract of Justin Herbert
Justin Herbert did not have to travel far to attend college football. The Eugene, Oregon native grew up in the shadow of Autzen Stadium, and he played college football for the Oregon Ducks there.
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Herbert appeared in 43 games for the Ducks over three seasons, accumulating 10,541 passing yards, 95 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions. He also rushed for 560 yards and 13 touchdowns. Despite these stats, Herbert’s height (6-foot-6) and laid-back personality drew the attention of NFL scouts during the pre-draft process.
Justin Herbert’s Stats and NFL Draft
As a result, the Los Angeles Chargers selected Herbert sixth overall, trailing LSU quarterback Joe Burrow (No. 1) and Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (No. 5).
Herbert signed a four-year, $26,578,755 rookie contract with the Chargers after being drafted.
In 2022, Justin Herbert’s contract includes a base salary of $3,026,250 and a signing bonus of $4,222,501 for a total cap hit of $7,248,751.
Herbert’s cap hit in the final year of his contract, next season, will be $8,456,877 due to his $4,234,376 base salary and $4,222,501 prorated signing bonus.
Herbert’s rookie contract expires in 2023. However, the Chargers have several options to keep him in LA in 2024 and beyond. One of these moves is to extend Herbert’s contract indefinitely.
Extending Justin Herbert’s contract past 2023
Justin Herbert, one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, will undoubtedly help the Los Angeles Chargers.
Select his fifth-year option. A fifth-year option is an automatic extra year that a team can add to a first-round pick’s rookie contract that allows the team to keep the player for a set amount of money. The value of a player’s fifth-year option is determined by his or her playing time and accolades.
Herbert was selected sixth overall and has appeared in one Pro Bowl. According to Over the Cap, his fifth-year option is worth around $28 million.
The Chargers’ top priority over the next two offseasons will most likely be extending Herbert’s contract beyond 2024. However, if they cannot reach an agreement within the next two seasons, LA can retain Herbert for 2025 at a relatively low cost. Herbert would earn more than $31.4 million with the franchise tag (the estimated franchise tag number for 2023). The team could franchise him again in 2026, but the fee would be 120% of the previous franchise fee.
Even if the Chargers must franchise Herbert, they will almost certainly work out a long-term deal with him at some point.
How much will a Justin Herbert contract cost?
Four first-round quarterbacks have signed significant post-rookie contract extensions in recent offseasons, hinting at what the new Justin Herbert contract might look like. These are the deals:
- Kyler Murray (five years, $230.5 million, $189.5 million guaranteed, $46.1 million average annual value)
- Josh Allen (six years, $258 million, $150 million guaranteed, $43 million AAV)
- Patrick Mahomes (10 years, $450 million, $141.4 million guaranteed, AAV of $45 million)
- Dak Prescott (four years, $160 million, $126 million guaranteed, AAV of $40 million)
Given all of this, the inevitable Justin Herbert contract extension should occur in one of the next two offseasons. The contract will most likely be worth $40-$50 million per year for four to six seasons. Of course, if fellow Class of 2020 quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa sign long-term contracts before Herbert, it will provide insight into what the Chargers will offer their QB.
Before negotiating his life-changing extension, Herbert should assemble a group of talented, healthy teammates around him so he can truly demonstrate his abilities.
