Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf says that Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is "worth every penny" of his record $262.5 million deal.
The five-year contract extension sees Herbert become the highest-paid player in NFL history, although Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is next in line to break the record before long.
Herbert, the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has completed 1,316 passes for 14,089 yards - the most of any quarterback through their first three seasons in the league.
The big contract brings with it big expectations for a franchise that has only ever once made the Super Bowl, and that ended in a thumping defeat to the San Francisco 49ers back in January 1995.
Leaf, a former Chargers signal caller himself, believes that Herbert can take Los Angeles back to the Super Bowl, but said added offensive coordinator Kellen Moore this offseason will prove the "difference-maker".
Speaking on Good Morning Football, Leaf said: "He is worth every penny, I don't know if there is a better individual on and off the field than Justin Herbert.
"I've got to spend a lot of time with him, I covered him in college. He is one of the best teammates, he works his tail off so I'm really pleased and happy for him
"Ever since my time there they have hit it out the park. Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert, Chargers fans might want to thank me for giving them good karma."
On the Chargers' hopes of success in 2023, Leaf added: "What the difference-maker is going to be is Kellen Moore, when he became the martyr in Dallas and the Chargers swooped him up I was like, 'This is the difference-maker, this is the variable that changes the dynamic for the Chargers'.
"Austin Ekeler is back, they add Quentin Johnston in the first round who has already been a real spark early in camp with Justin Herbert, it is all really special.
"Ultimately it is going to come down to Brandon Staley, he made some rookie mistakes that have cost them, so hopefully he has learned from it [mistakes] and he can rely on Kellen Moore."
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