It sounds like a favorite has developed for the Los Angeles Chargers’ open position.
The team is hopeful that one of its offseason signings can step up and fill the vacuum left by Austin Ekeler’s departure in free agency.
Daniel Popper of The Athletic offered his thoughts on the current state of the Chargers’ running back depth chart in his most recent weekly mailbag. Popper thinks that Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins, the two former Baltimore Ravens running backs that Los Angeles signed, are at the top of the class. Edwards is seen by the reporter as “the clear lead back” going into boot camp.
At the beginning of free agency in March, Edwards inked a two-year contract with the Chargers. across the previous five seasons, the 29-year-old has been a dependable running back for the Ravens, averaging an outstanding 4.9 yards per rush across his career. In Baltimore, Edwards was mostly a committee member, but while Dobbins was ill, he was called upon more frequently.
This offseason, Ekeler, who led the Chargers’ offense for the previous few seasons, inked a contract with the Washington Commanders. Later on, he expressed his opinion that, in the eyes of the club, he did not meet the standards set by new head coach Jim Harbaugh for a running back. Early indications point to Edwards getting the first shot at the lead position right now.