A pair of the Chargers best players were recently voted among the best players at their respective positions.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler is going through his annual exercise of putting together the top 10 players at each position, with quarterback and offensive tackle being the latest installments.
Justin Herbert made the quarterbacks list on Monday by landing at No. 7.
Fowler wrote:
His 21,093 career passing yards are the most in NFL history through five seasons. Last season, he was asked to sacrifice yardage as part of offensive coordinator Greg Roman's run-heavy attack, with his attempts per game dipping from 35 to 29.6 year over year. Sticking to the ball-control plan, Herbert's three interceptions on 504 attempts marked the lowest interception rate (0.6 percent) by any qualified quarterback since Tom Brady in 2016.
Many evaluators agree: If starting the league from scratch and drafting quarterbacks, Herbert is still getting picked very high.
"He's always been a top-5-8 QB -- accurate to all levels, athletic, sound decision-maker," an AFC executive said. "It's almost like he's underrated now, in my opinion. He's taken for granted."
Herbert threw for 3,870 yards with 23 touchdowns, three interceptions and a career-best passer rating of 101.7. He also added 306 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Rashawn Slater also made Fowler's list at No. 6 among offensive tackles.
Fowler wrote:
Multiple voters pointed out that Slater is an ideal fit for offensive coordinator Greg Roman's system because of his athleticism downfield. Slater's 68 run-block losses are the fewest among players who received at least one vote for this piece, and played at least 12 regular season games.
"He was better against pressure and excelled in this scheme," an NFC executive said. "If you put the emphasis on movement rather than pure physicality, you value him more."
Slater committed just two total penalties in 904 snaps last season and earned Pro Bowl honors.
Joe Alt, by the way, earned honorable mention chatter after just one season in the NFL.
An AFC executive said of Alt:
"Tough, smart, young, still growing into his body and very technically sound. He'll only get better."
Herbert and Slater make three Chargers players to make Fowler's lists as Derwin James, Jr. was the No. 6 safety.
