Justin Herbert + Mike McDaniel: Why This Might Be My Favorite 2026 QB-Coach Fit

If I'm waiting at quarterback this year, Justin Herbert is one of the names I keep circling.

ESPN has him at:

93 overall

QB14

That's basically the same part of the board as Patrick Mahomes.

And now Herbert has Mike McDaniel coordinating the offense.

Why McDaniel Is Interesting

McDaniel spent four seasons as Miami's head coach.

Across that stretch, the Dolphins ranked eighth in the NFL in both passing offense and total offense.

The peak was 2023.

Miami finished:

1st in total offense

1st in passing offense

2nd in scoring offense

That's why I care about the hire.

McDaniel has already built an offense capable of creating explosive passing production.

But Herbert Isn't Tua

That's what makes this more interesting to me.

I don't want McDaniel to turn Herbert into Tua Tagovailoa.

Herbert has different physical tools.

His arm gives the offense access to throws that not every quarterback can make.

The exciting question is:

What happens when you combine McDaniel's ability to create space with Herbert's ability to attack all of the field?

That's the bet.

McDaniel Wants to Take Pressure Off Herbert

This is one of the most important comments from the Chargers offseason.

McDaniel has talked about Herbert having to make too many extraordinary plays just to keep the offense functioning.

That's not ideal quarterbacking.

It's also not ideal fantasy football.

Hero-ball highlights look great.

A sustainable offense creates more drives, more scoring opportunities and more touchdown chances.

If McDaniel can create easier completions on early downs, Herbert shouldn't need to rescue the offense constantly.

The Footwork Changes Matter

Herbert spent the offseason working on adjusted shotgun footwork.

That sounds like a small thing.

It isn't.

Timing offenses depend on the quarterback's feet matching the route timing.

A half-second matters.

The Chargers have been deliberate about connecting Herbert's footwork to the new passing structure.

That's much more meaningful to me than generic offseason comments about a quarterback "looking great."

Ladd McConkey Is a Great Fit Too

This is also why I like Ladd.

McConkey already wins with:

• Route detail • Separation • Quick changes of direction • Understanding leverage

Those skills pair naturally with an offense designed to manipulate coverage before the snap.

Herbert doesn't have to wait for every receiver to win individually.

McDaniel can help create the advantage.

McDaniel Also Brings the Run-Game Threat

The Shanahan/McDaniel offensive family matters because the run game and passing game are connected.

Motion.

Wide-zone looks.

Play action.

Defenders being forced to respect horizontal movement.

All of that can create cleaner passing windows.

A better rushing structure can actually help Herbert's fantasy ceiling by improving the entire offense.

The Risk

Jim Harbaugh is still the head coach.

This isn't going to become a 700-attempt offense just because McDaniel arrived.

The Chargers still want physical football.

That's why I'm not projecting Herbert as QB1.

But at QB14, I don't need that.

I need a good offense with enough touchdown volume to beat the quarterbacks being drafted around him.

Where I Would Draft Justin Herbert

ESPN: 93 overall, QB14

My target:

Round 9 or Round 10

This is almost the perfect wait-at-QB price.

If Herbert is there, I can spend the first eight rounds taking:

• RBs • WRs • Falling TE value

and still end up with a quarterback whose physical talent has never been the question.

I'm betting on McDaniel making the offense easier and more efficient.

If that happens, Herbert does not need some massive rushing season to outperform QB14.

He just needs touchdowns.

And this coaching change gives me a reason to believe there can be more of them.