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Former Chargers GM revealed team had Justin Herbert ranked over Kyler Murray in 2019

Originally posted on Los Angeles Chargers on SI
By Andrew Parsaud | Last updated Jun 7, 2025 10:00 PM ET

The Los Angeles Chargers were able to land one of the top quarterbacks in arguably the best draft class back in 2020. That draft class included the likes of Herbert, Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts. Every one of those quarterbacks still remain with their respective teams, playing under massive extensions.

Former Chargers general manager Tom Telesco hopped on the 33rd Team's 'Check the Mic' podcast and revealed that if Herbert decided to declare for the draft one year earlier, he still would've been the top quarterback on their board.

Telesco on The 33rd Team's Check the Mic Podcast:
-Chargers were concerned with Tua's hip injury out of Alabama, had Herbert ranked ahead of him
-Anthony Lynn was "a big proponent" of Herbert in the draft process
-They had Herbert as QB1 over Kyler in 2019 if he had come out pic.twitter.com/x4BZaUeg8w
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) June 5, 2025

"The year before, we had thought Justin [Herbert] as a junior would declare for the draft. So, we had done everything on him, with anticipation that he was going to declare. Even when I took the job in San Diego before we moved to LA, we had Philip Rivers. I wanted to make sure we had a plan at quarterback that was seamless. So the thought was, we'd like to draft a quarterback and let him sit behind Philip."

Telesco went on to say that, "Justin was our number one quarterback the year before," in regards to the 2019 draft. It's interesting to wonder if the Arizona Cardinals had the same thought process, who went on to select Kyler Murray No.1 overall instead. If Herbert had declared in 2019, would he have ended up in Arizona? Or even in New York with the Giants who selected Daniel Jones?

A crazy 'what-if' scenario, but one the Chargers are happy the way that it played out.

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