After the Chargers bounced from the NFL playoffs, they have been in search of the players to fill in the holes. What they are lacking is weapons. Outside of wide receiver Ladd McConkey, the team doesn’t have great playmakers and so, Jim Harbaugh’s team will address this in free agency and the draft. So in January, while assessing the draft strategy, ESPN’s Dan Graziano was of the opinion that Harbaugh and Co. should bring in Michigan’s tight end Colston Loveland. After all, Harbaugh had coached him to a national championship.

Additionally, the team needs to invest in tight ends. Remember how TE Will Dissly let go of two passes in the Chargers’ Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans? So perhaps an elite player in this position could help and that’s where Loveland could it in. He comes across as one of the best tight end in his draft class. He is coming off a successful 2024 campaign where he recorded 56 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns.

In fact, when he joined the Wolverines back in 2022, his presence showed an immediate impact as he hauled 6 catches for 235 yards and a couple of scores. No wonder college football insider Joel Klatt threw gasoline on the fire when he hopped on his podcast ‘The Joel Klatt Show’, breaking down why 6’5, 245lbs Michigan tight end Colston Loveland would be a dream fit for the Chargers offense. Klatt stated:

“22 (Pick) the LA Chargers—if Kenneth Grant or Colston Loveland get to number 22, the Chargers are going to take him. And so, Colston Loveland, tight end from Michigan—Loveland is so good. He’s more a typical tight end than a Tyler Warren, who flashes creativity. If Warren would remind you a bit of Kelce, then, you know, I think that Loveland would be a little bit more Kittle; he’s more of a typical tight end, although he flexes out really well. It’s not about their ability to be in-line or flex out—it’s the creativity with which you use them, the ability to run clean, as-scripted routes.

“Loveland’s a terrific route runner. He is big, he has got great hands, he is good with the ball after the catch. They drafted well last year, grabbing Ladd McConkey in the second round. Now they can give Herbert another big-time weapon. You know how much Jim Harbaugh loves Justin Herbert—why not give him another weapon? Colston Loveland is excellent. That would be a no-brainer right there.”

Loveland’s resume at Michigan reads like a certified problem for defenses. The player thrived under Harbaugh’s pro-style system, which, by the way, is pretty much what the Chargers are trying to run in the NFL. Strong hands? Check. Elite route running? Double-check. And the ability to wreck defensive schemes in the middle of the field? Triple check.

He is the type of TE who can step in as Herbert’s security blanket from day one. With Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (Mike, back on the Chargers) out the door, the receiving corps was thin for the 2024 season. Sure, they’ve got Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston, but Herbert needs a big-body target who can eat up the middle of the field and turn 3rd-down desperation into first-down celebrations. Pairing Loveland with WR1 Ladd McConkey, Najee Harris, and Mike Williams surely sounds good. BUT!

Will the Chargers get the chance to pick him? CBS Sports’ Josh Edwards opined earlier this week that Loveland may not be available by the time the team is on the clock. He feels the tight end might be off the board by No. 22 overall. In fact, USA Today’s Nate Davis associated Loveland with the Broncos. “And though he won’t be riding Broncos, Loveland might be playing for them – relatively close to home – next season after meeting with Denver officials this week. Sean Payton is admittedly seeking a ‘Joker’ type player for his offense,” Davis mentioned.

But wait, here comes the absolute wildest part of this whole thing. This entire Loveland-to-Chargers idea actually got its legs because of a jaw-dropping trade proposal involving Justin Herbert and J.J. McCarthy. You read that right!

NFL analyst drops diabolical Justin Herbert-for-J.J. McCarthy trade take!

NFL analyst Nick Wright got his hot-take pants on and decided to drop a spicy little nugget on FS1’s First Things First, pitching a Chargers-Vikings swap where J.J. McCarthy would head to LA and Herbert would get shipped off to Minnesota. “If the Vikings are this squeamish about J.J. McCarthy… then they should quietly call the Chargers, be like hey…we’ll give you him and our first-round pick and we’ll take Justin Herbert.” Now, let’s be real. J.J. McCarthy is a solid guy, but he was the best rookie benchwarmer in the 2024 season. Wright’s co-host didn’t help matters, either.

In this hilarious exchange, his co-host added that he wouldn’t even suggest Minnesota offers a first-round pick in the deal. Blasphemy.

So, why did this fever dream of a trade suggestion even come up? You can blame Aaron Rodgers. The Vikings are reportedly sniffing around the possibility of landing the aging star, and Wright’s galaxy-brained logic seems to be that if Minnesota is desperate enough to even consider Rodgers, why not throw a Hail Mary for Herbert instead?

But here’s the thing. Herbert is the top 5 QB in the league on good days. The man’s got generational talent, and trading him away makes as much sense as leaving your wallet on the roof of your car and driving off. Also, Jim Harbaugh loves Justin Herbert as his QB. So it doesn’t look like the HC will think about parting ways with his star player anytime soon. Instead, he is on a mission to make sure Herbert gets the weapons he needs. And if Colston Loveland ends up in LA, the rest of the league might have a major problem on their hands.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.