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1 of 5 | Los Angeles Chargers backmost Justin Herbert was nan taxable of off-season waste and acquisition inquiries. FIle Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI | License Photo
April 26 (UPI) -- Several NFL teams asked nan Los Angeles Chargers astir nan readiness of backmost Justin Herbert successful imaginable trades, wide head Joe Hortiz told reporters.
Hortiz besides quickly slammed nan doorway connected nan inquiries, saying it was "never an option."
"At nan harvester I had immoderate group inquire maine would we see it, and they were quickly changeable down," Hortiz said Thursday astatine a news conference.
Hortiz's comments came soon aft ESPN reported that nan Chargers received waste and acquisition inquiries from nan Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots regarding nan 26-year-old.
The Chargers signed Herbert to a five-year, $262.5 cardinal statement hold successful July.
Herbert, nan No. 6 wide prime successful nan 2020 NFL Draft, totaled 4,336 yards, 31 scores and 10 interceptions successful 2020, earning Offensive Rookie of nan Year honors. He logged 5,014 yards, 38 scores and 15 interceptions a twelvemonth later, earning a Pro Bowl nod.
Herbert completed a career-high 68.2% of his throws, but knowledgeable a diminution successful accumulation elsewhere successful 2022, logging 4,739 yards, 25 scores and 10 interceptions complete 17 starts.
He completed a career-low 65.1% of his throws for 3,134 yards, 20 scores and 7 interceptions successful 13 games past season. He missed nan last 4 games of nan run because of a surgery finger.
Herbert was sacked a career-high 38 times successful 2022. The Chargers utilized nan No. 5 wide prime to prime violative tackle Joe Alt successful nan first information of nan 2024 NFL Draft connected Thursday successful Detroit, conscionable 3 years aft they picked violative tackle Rashawn Slater pinch nan No. 13 prime successful nan 2021 NFL Draft.
Slater, a 2021 Pro Bowl selection, was rated arsenic nan No. 5 pass-blocking tackle past season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Hortiz and Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh did not specify circumstantial positions for their violative linemen successful 2024, but Alt, who started his collegiate profession astatine Notre Dame astatine correct tackle, is expected to return to that broadside this season.
Left defender Zion Johnson, nan No. 17 wide prime successful 2022, Corey Linsley, Jamaree Salyer and Trey Pipkins III are among nan different violative linemen connected nan Chargers roster.
Including Johnson's selection, nan Chargers person now utilized first-round picks connected violative linemen successful 3 of nan past 4 NFL Drafts.
Herbert could apt use from an improved moving crippled and balanced wide onslaught successful 2024. The Chargers owned 1 of nan worst rushing units successful nan NFL complete nan past respective seasons.
The departures of violative playmakers Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler could dampen nan aerial assault, but Harbaugh's history of a committedness to nan tally -- paired pinch nan acquisition of violative coordinator Greg Roman, a running-game guru, and an improved violative statement should thief nan Chargers find equilibrium and put little unit connected Herbert.
The Vikings and Patriots, who reportedly expressed liking successful acquiring Herbert, opted to usage first-round picks connected quarterbacks successful Thursday's first round.
The Patriots made erstwhile North Carolina backmost Drake Maye nan No. 3 wide selection. The Vikings later completed a waste and acquisition pinch nan New York Jets, acquiring nan No. 10 wide prime and utilizing it to prime erstwhile Michigan backmost J.J. McCarthy.
Vikings wide head Kwesi Adofo-Mensah told reporters he "didn't cognize where" reports astir nan team's interest successful Herbert came from, but did not contradict that he inquired astir his availability.
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo and head of scouting/de-facto wide head Eliot Wolf were not asked astir nan reported inquiries astatine their post-first-round news conference.
A record-tying full of six quarterbacks were taken successful nan first round.
The Chargers besides ain nan 5th prime of nan 2nd round, aliases No. 37 wide selection. They ain different prime successful nan 3rd round, 2 successful nan fourth, 1 successful nan fifth, 1 successful nan sixth and 2 successful nan seventh.
The 2nd information of nan 2024 NFL Draft will commencement astatine 7 p.m. EDT Friday successful Detroit. Rounds 4 done 7 will beryllium held Saturday. Draft sum will aerial connected ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
