New NFL Trade Rumors on Chargers, Potential Deadline Candidates Amid Justin Herbert Buzz

The Los Angeles Chargers didn't enter the 2026 season as obvious selling candidates ahead of the NFL's Nov. 10 trade deadline, but they could be facing a new reality following an 0-5 start.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that Los Angeles "is drawing the most intrigue from rival teams" amid the three 0-5 clubs since the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans "are clearly mid-rebuild" and were more known commodities coming into the season.

While Fowler pointed out many around the league have "a deep affinity for" quarterback Justin Herbert, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that he spoke with someone with the Chargers about the idea of trading the signal-caller and was met with immediate resistance.

"The person basically cut me off mid-sentence, 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.'"

With Herbert seemingly off the board, Fowler highlighted Khalil Mack, Derwin James Jr. and Tuli Tuipulotu as possible trade candidates even though there aren't "a ton of obvious" ones on the roster.

This is likely something of an adjustment period for the Chargers' front office, as the team is coming off back-to-back playoff appearances and has been in the postseason in three of the last four years.

It likely expected to be competitive and in the playoff mix this season with Herbert, head coach Jim Harbaugh and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, but that has been anything but the case.

That means the front office may need to adjust on the fly and embrace some of the selling conversations it surely wasn't expecting to have not that long ago.

"I think it's going to be really difficult for them to admit when and if they need to trade guys," an executive with another team told Fowler.

That could be good news for teams in need of pass-rush additions with Mack and Tuipulotu, and rival clubs will surely continue watching the Chargers to see how the situation unfolds before the deadline.