Max Kellerman Urges 6-1 Vikings To Pursue Justin Herbert Before NFL Trade Deadline

Max Kellerman Urges Vikings To Pursue Justin Herbert© Instagram

Max Kellerman watched Minnesota lose for the first time all season and came away with a trade idea: Call the Chargers about Justin Herbert. The Vikings fell to 6-1 after a 19-15 loss to Detroit, and Kellerman argued that their record gives them a reason to be aggressive before the November 10 deadline.

Speaking on Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul, Kellerman made the case that Minnesota is close enough to contend for a Super Bowl if it gets better play at quarterback. Herbert was the name he put forward.

Kellerman Sees A Contender That Could Use A Quarterback Upgrade

“The Vikings must make a move before the deadline for a quarterback, because this is a Super Bowl team if they have a quarterback,” Kellerman said.

Kyler Murray entered the week with five touchdown passes, three interceptions and 1,022 passing yards. Minnesota scored just seven points through three quarters against Detroit before adding eight in the fourth. That was enough to keep the game within reach, but the Vikings couldn't finish the comeback.

Herbert's numbers make the proposal less straightforward. Through Week 8, he had thrown 10 interceptions against five touchdowns, and his 69.3 passer rating was below Murray's 86.6. Kellerman's pitch rests on what he thinks Herbert could do in Minnesota, where he believes the roster is strong enough to win with above-average quarterback play.

Chargers' Winless Start Fuels The Debate Over Herbert

The Chargers fell to 0-7 after a 24-9 loss to the Rams on Sunday. Kellerman argued that a team going nowhere this season could get a substantial return for Herbert if another club still valued him as a franchise quarterback.

There's a difference between what another team might pay and what Los Angeles would entertain. ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported that a rival executive floated three first-round picks as a hypothetical return. A Chargers source pushed back when Schefter raised the idea. That reported exchange gives little reason to treat Kellerman's proposal as a deal in the works.

The Vikings have a Monday night game against Buffalo before the deadline. A week after managing 15 points in Detroit, they'll get another look at how their offense responds against a team outside the division.