James H. Williams, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports Wed, November 11, 2026 at 2:51 AM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NFL trade deadline came and went.
The Los Angeles Chargers had an opportunity to be true sellers after a 0-8 start to the season , only to land somewhere closer to the middle.
Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers haven't found much success during the 2026 NFL season, but there remains this sense of belief in each other.
That was on display again Tuesday with the decision to keep potential trade assets – such as quarterback Justin Herbert and outside linebacker Khalil Mack – on the roster.
The Chargers finished both the 2024 and 2025 seasons at 11-6, raising expectations that the team would be back in the playoff mix. Both of those players were around during that successful run and remain with the franchise to help make something out of the current season.
While expectations of a playoff appearance have nearly evaporated, here's why the Chargers likely decided to stay with their stars.
More: Winless Chargers make first move of NFL trade deadline with AFC West partner
QB Kirk Cousins traded to Vikings Vikings receive: Cousins Raiders receive: 2027 third-round pick (Brad Penner, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) WR Josh Downs traded to Chiefs Chiefs get: Downs, 2027 seventh-round pick Colts get: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick (Grace Hollars/IndyStar) LB Daiyan Henley traded to Broncos Broncos receive: Henley Chargers receive: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick (Jayne Kamin-Oncea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) S Amani Hooker traded to Bills Bills receive: Hooker, fifth-round pick Titans receive: Second-round pick (Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) WR Keenan Allen traded to 49ers 49ers receive: Allen Colts receive: Sixth-round pick (Grace Hollars/IndyStar) DT Jordan Davis traded to Jaguars Jaguars receive: Davis Eagles receive: 2027 first-round pick, 2029 second-round pick (Eric Hartline, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) S Andre Cisco traded to Lions Lions receive: Cisco Jets receive: 2026 sixth-round pick (Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) DT Davon Godchaux traded to Jaguars Jaguars receive: Godchaux Saints receive: 2028 sixth-round pick (Wesley Hitt, Getty Images) S Jesse Bates III traded to Jaguars Jaguars receive: Bates Falcons receive: 2027 second-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images) QB Jacoby Brissett traded to Ravens Ravens receive: Brissett, 2027 fifth-round pick Cardinals receive: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2028 seventh-round pick (Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) DT Jeffery Simmons traded to Bears Bears receive: Simmons, 2028 fifth-round pick Titans receive: 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick, 2027 fourth-round pick (Talia Sprague, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) DT DeForest Buckner traded to 49ers 49ers receive: Buckner Colts receive: 2027 fourth-round pick (Luke Hales, Getty Images) OG Quenton Nelson traded to Seahawks Seahawks receive: Nelson Colts receive: 2027 third-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) WR Marvin Harrison Jr. traded to Texans Texans receive: Harrison, 2027 seventh-round pick Cardinals receive: 2027 second-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pick (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) OG Cam Jurgens traded to Ravens Ravens receive: Jurgens, 2027 seventh-round pick Eagles receive: 2027 fifth-round pick, 2028 second-round pick (James Lang, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) CB Joey Porter Jr. traded to Cowboys Cowboys receive: Porter Steelers receive: 2027 sixth-round pick, 2028 second-round pick (Michael Reaves, Getty Images) QB J.J. McCarthy traded to Giants Giants receive: McCarthy Vikings receive: 2027 fifth-round pick (Eric Hartline, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 1 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 QB Kirk Cousins traded to Vikings Vikings receive: Cousins Raiders receive: 2027 third-round pick (Brad Penner, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 1 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 QB Kirk Cousins traded to Vikings Vikings receive: Cousins Raiders receive: 2027 third-round pick (Brad Penner, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 2 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 WR Josh Downs traded to Chiefs Chiefs get: Downs, 2027 seventh-round pick Colts get: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick (Grace Hollars/IndyStar) 3 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 LB Daiyan Henley traded to Broncos Broncos receive: Henley Chargers receive: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick (Jayne Kamin-Oncea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 4 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 S Amani Hooker traded to Bills Bills receive: Hooker, fifth-round pick Titans receive: Second-round pick (Joseph Maiorana, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 5 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 WR Keenan Allen traded to 49ers 49ers receive: Allen Colts receive: Sixth-round pick (Grace Hollars/IndyStar) 6 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 DT Jordan Davis traded to Jaguars Jaguars receive: Davis Eagles receive: 2027 first-round pick, 2029 second-round pick (Eric Hartline, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 7 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 S Andre Cisco traded to Lions Lions receive: Cisco Jets receive: 2026 sixth-round pick (Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 8 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 DT Davon Godchaux traded to Jaguars Jaguars receive: Godchaux Saints receive: 2028 sixth-round pick (Wesley Hitt, Getty Images) 9 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 S Jesse Bates III traded to Jaguars Jaguars receive: Bates Falcons receive: 2027 second-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick (Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images) 10 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 QB Jacoby Brissett traded to Ravens Ravens receive: Brissett, 2027 fifth-round pick Cardinals receive: 2027 fourth-round pick, 2028 seventh-round pick (Kevin Jairaj, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 11 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 DT Jeffery Simmons traded to Bears Bears receive: Simmons, 2028 fifth-round pick Titans receive: 2027 first-round pick, 2028 first-round pick, 2027 fourth-round pick (Talia Sprague, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 12 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 DT DeForest Buckner traded to 49ers 49ers receive: Buckner Colts receive: 2027 fourth-round pick (Luke Hales, Getty Images) 13 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 OG Quenton Nelson traded to Seahawks Seahawks receive: Nelson Colts receive: 2027 third-round pick, 2028 fifth-round pick (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 14 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 WR Marvin Harrison Jr. traded to Texans Texans receive: Harrison, 2027 seventh-round pick Cardinals receive: 2027 second-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pick (Kenneth Richmond, Getty Images) 15 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 OG Cam Jurgens traded to Ravens Ravens receive: Jurgens, 2027 seventh-round pick Eagles receive: 2027 fifth-round pick, 2028 second-round pick (James Lang, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 16 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 CB Joey Porter Jr. traded to Cowboys Cowboys receive: Porter Steelers receive: 2027 sixth-round pick, 2028 second-round pick (Michael Reaves, Getty Images) 17 / 17 NFL trade deadline: These players are on the move in 2026 QB J.J. McCarthy traded to Giants Giants receive: McCarthy Vikings receive: 2027 fifth-round pick (Eric Hartline, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Why was Justin Herbert not traded? Herbert could've been an attractive trade target for a few teams across the league, but a down season has tanked his stock and put him at the center of the Chargers' struggles.
Herbert has completed 144 of 235 (61.5%) of his passes for 1,591 yards, six touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season. He's also been sacked 31 times. Herbert suffering a finger injury in the same game he was sacked eight times this past weekend didn't help his stock much either.
Herbert's current contract would keep him with the Chargers through the 2029 season and includes a no-trade clause, according to Spotrac. If the team were serious about trading the quarterback, Herbert would've had a say in any potential destinations.
Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers enters the field prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium on September 20, 2026, in Inglewood, California. More: Chargers fail to make big moves at trade deadline despite abysmal season
Mack was likely the Chargers' best trade asset, but he remains in Los Angeles.
Both Mack and coach Jim Harbaugh stated publicly that the outside linebacker wanted to remain with the Chargers, despite the lost season. Mack signed a one-year deal during the offseason to remain with LA. It is his third consecutive one-year deal with the Chargers.
While the coach has provided fairly vague answers regarding Herbert and the job security for his offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel, Harbaugh provided a clear stance.
"I want Khalil Mack here," Harbaugh told reporters earlier this month. "Khalil Mack wants to be here. He's one of the pillars of our team."
Mack shared a similar sentiment regarding the trade rumors and his desire to remain a Charger.
"They know how I feel, man," Mack said via The Athletic. "It's just tough with all the outside noise. And so, ultimately, I want to be here and help them win.
"Even though it's tough right now, you always see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Mack has 22 total tackles, three sacks and five tackles for a loss this season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justin Herbert, Khalil Mack remain with Chargers after trade deadline
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