Justin Herbert was ranked No. 2 on Bleacher Report’s list of potential first-time NFL MVP candidates for 2026. Analyst Moe Moton pointed to Herbert’s work during an injury-hit 2025 season, when he helped lead the Chargers to 11 wins and a playoff appearance.
Justin Herbert’s 2025 Statistical Production
Herbert completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2025. He also rushed for a career-high 498 yards and two touchdowns.
- Passing: 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 66.4 percent completion rate
- Rushing: A career-high 498 yards and two touchdowns
- Team result: 11 wins and a playoff appearance
Moton’s case centered on the circumstances around Herbert’s season. According to the analyst, Herbert played without both starting offensive tackles and the team’s first-round running back for an extended period, while still producing Pro Bowl numbers and helping the Chargers win games with his passing and rushing ability. Moton ranked him one spot ahead of Chicago’s Caleb Williams, citing his supporting cast of Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre’ Harris, and tight end Oronde Gadsden as part of the case.
Bleacher Report’s ranking also projected that a healthier supporting group could allow Herbert to improve in 2026.
Sam Monson’s Lone Justin Herbert MVP Vote
Herbert also received one vote in the 2025 Associated Press NFL MVP race. Analyst Sam Monson cast the lone vote for the Chargers quarterback, while Matthew Stafford won the award with 24 first-place votes, one more than Drake Maye’s 23.
That vote turned a razor-thin race into one of the biggest storylines of NFL Honors week. Herbert’s raw numbers were nowhere close to the other two contenders, Stafford threw for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions, and Maye’s statistical season was also superior to Herbert’s across the board. Monson’s vote wasn’t about who put up the best season on paper. It was a value argument, and it drew immediate, heavy backlash once the results were revealed.
Speaking with Chargers.com, Monson said he viewed Herbert as the league’s most valuable player because of what he was working with. He called it “the worst offensive line in the NFL all season” and said Herbert was “working miracles in almost every single game” despite it, adding that Herbert “embodied value.” Herbert also ranked No. 6 in PFSN’s QB Impact metric with a B grade, additional evidence cited in his favor among analysts who weighed context over raw statistics.
Herbert was sacked 54 times in 2025, the second-highest total in the NFL, and faced a league-high 263 pressures. Monson also said Herbert’s development as a quarterback and leader was evident across the season.
What Could Shape Justin Herbert’s 2026 MVP Case
The Chargers are expected to have Pro Bowl tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back in the lineup, a development Monson identified as an important part of improving the offensive line. The team also returns weapons including wide receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, running back Omarion Hampton and tight end Oronde Gadsden.
Monson also expressed optimism about the fit between Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. He said improved health along the offensive line, along with additions to the interior through free agency and the draft, could help the Chargers provide more support around their quarterback.
Justin Herbert’s Early 2026 MVP Outlook
Moton’s No. 2 ranking is an early analyst assessment of Herbert’s chances to win his first MVP award. It reflects the combination of his 2025 production, the Chargers’ 11-win season and the possibility of a healthier roster around him in 2026.
Whether that support translates into an MVP-caliber season will depend on how the Chargers perform and how Herbert’s season unfolds. For now, the Bleacher Report ranking and Monson’s 2025 vote place Herbert firmly in the early conversation.
