Chargers GM Joe Hortiz: No Trade Offers 'Blew Us Away' at Deadline
Hortiz said the winless Chargers listened to calls but got no serious offers outside the scrapped Henley deal, and named the core players he won't move
The Chargers didn't hang up the phone at the trade deadline. They just didn't hear anything worth acting on. General manager Joe Hortiz told reporters Thursday, as ESPN's Lindsey Thiry reported, that he didn't field any "particularly serious" calls on his players outside of the Daiyan Henley deal with Denver.
The one deal Hortiz did strike fell apart. The Chargers agreed to send Henley to the Broncos for a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth, but Denver said Thursday the trade would not be finalized after his physical, and Jim Harbaugh called on the league to look at the "loophole" that allowed it. Henley is expected to play Monday.
Hortiz also drew a line around his core. "I'm not trading Justin [Herbert], right? No one ever called on Justin, but I'm not trading Justin," he said, adding Ladd McConkey, Joe Alt, Derwin James Jr. and Tarheeb Still to the list.
That stance comes with the Chargers at 0-8, the NFL's only winless team, and riding an 11-game losing streak dating to last season's playoffs. The offense ranks last in scoring at 15.1 points per game under coordinator Mike McDaniel, Herbert has six touchdowns against 11 interceptions, and the defense is allowing 27.4 points per game, 28th in the league.
Hortiz still believes this group can win. "I feel like we can win this year," he said. "I really do. It just hasn't gone our way." The Chargers visit the 4-5 Ravens on Monday Night Football on Nov. 16.