Chargers’ Justin Herbert Has The Same ‘Kryptonite’ As He Did In 2024, According To PFF

Is Jim Harbaugh The Real Life Ted Lasso?

One recurring theme is Herbert’s performance on short throws. As John Kosko of Pro Football Focus noted, “Herbert earned a 55.6 PFF passing grade on such plays, ranking 23rd out of 33 quarterbacks,” a steep drop from his 74.9 mark the year prior. While Herbert cut down on conservative play overall, the efficiency when he did throw short of the sticks worsened, creating unnecessary third downs for the offense.

League insiders also see room for improvement in his processing and focus. “He is just a little bit robotic,” a defensive coordinator told Sando. “You can tell, the way he processes everything, it is a click slower than some of the elites, but he is a stud.” An offensive coach added, “He’s very smart and very competitive, but he lets little things distract him. He needs to forget about the little things.”

Herbert’s supporting cast hasn’t helped. Warren Sharp highlighted that Chargers receivers were responsible for the NFL’s third-highest rate of incompletions (20%) last year, including a staggering 48% of Herbert’s fourth-quarter incompletions in losses. Former first-rounder Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer struggled, leaving rookie Ladd McConkey as his only reliable weapon. That lack of consistency raised questions about whether Herbert’s production ceiling has been unfairly capped.

Strengths

Even with those issues, Herbert’s raw talent remains undeniable. At 6’6”, 236 pounds, with elite arm strength, mobility, and accuracy, he has drawn comparisons to Joe Burrow—“Burrow lite,” as one voter put it. In 2024, he threw for 3,870 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just three interceptions, completing 65.9% of his passes despite one of the least reliable receiving groups in the AFC.

His decision-making when taking shots downfield showed improvement from past seasons, and his ability to protect the football has been exceptional. Few quarterbacks combine physical traits and poise in the pocket like Herbert, which is why so many evaluators believe he’s “almost there” as a Tier 1 QB.

The Big Picture

Herbert’s trajectory has been uneven—after peaking with 36 Tier 1 votes in 2022, that number has declined each year, down to just 13 in 2025. Part of that reflects skepticism about Jim Harbaugh’s run-heavy system, and part of it reflects Herbert’s own inconsistency in critical moments.

But the ceiling remains massive. If Johnston or another young wideout can take a leap, and if first-round back Omarion Hampton balances the offense, Herbert could finally break through the perception gap and silence critics who question his postseason chops.

For now, the book on Herbert is clear: a top-tier physical talent still working to refine situational awareness, consistency, and chemistry with his supporting cast. As one coach summed it up, “He is very smart and very competitive…This will be a big year for him.”