Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh tees off on Broncos for backing out of trade post deadline: 'Bad precedent'

The Chargers had agreed to trade Henley to the Broncos for a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. However, the Broncos requested to change the terms of the 2028 pick compensation after consulting with the NFL, based on a pass-fail medical grade evaluation of Henley that didn't match the Chargers' assessment.

Medical Dispute

Harbaugh accused the Broncos of essentially offering to pass Henley on his medical evaluation in exchange for less compensation. The 26-year-old linebacker had been on the injury report in Week 9 with a shoulder injury but played 61 of the team's 70 defensive snaps that game.

Really, it shouldn't be (a loophole), but apparently it is. That's why it's a loophole and teams should not have the ability to do that. I mean, it's a medical grade. It's a pass-fail for a medical grade. They told us they weren't going to pass him if it was a fourth and a fifth, which was agreed upon, and they would not pass him for that. They would pass him for a fourth and a … fill in the blank. I don't know what to call that.

Player Impact

Harbaugh expressed concern about the emotional toll the situation took on Henley, who was back in team meetings Thursday. 'He was welcomed back with open arms, and happy about that,' Harbaugh said. 'What that put Daiyan through, you know, kind of the ringer for the last couple days. Yeah, it's emotional. It's painful. And all that's considered and should be considered by the league when they look into this loophole.'

Henley is in his fourth season with the Chargers after being selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Washington State. In 56 career games, he has 317 combined tackles, five sacks, four interceptions and one forced fumble.