Chargers News: Intriguing Strategy Laid Out For Draft, Free Agency
Los Angeles Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz will have his work cut out for him this spring, as he looks to reconfigure the Bolts roster in a way to better service head coach Jim Harbaugh and Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert.
First off, the Chargers have a draft to worry about, and will have plenty of intriguing options to select using the fifth pick in April's NFL draft.
Daniel Popper of The Athletic unpacked what he believes the team's draft strategy should be.
"I do not think the Chargers should draft a running back in the first round. Just using this framework as a potential strategy," Popper writes. "Draft a running back. Find a value veteran in free agency. Overhaul your running backs room in one offseason. And that is what the Chargers are likely going to have to do with Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley headed for free agency."
When it comes to free agency, Popper is convinced Hortiz (and Harbaugh, whom Popper believes will play a big role in decision-making) will have to be cost-effective out of financial necessity.
"As I have detailed previously, the Chargers are effectively $55.4 million over the cap entering the offseason, according to Over the Cap," Popper writes. "They have a lot of work to do to become cap-compliant by the new league year in March. They have even more work to do to create enough space to pursue players in free agency. To know what needs they can feasibly address in free agency, we first must see how Harbaugh and Hortiz navigate the cap situation."
"Unless they make sweeping cap-related moves — such as moving on from Mike Williams, Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa — they will likely be bargain shopping."
"Considering these cap constraints, they will have to be focused on value. One position they could target is running back. The running backs market has swung so considerably that teams can find a lot of value in free agency. I look at what the Detroit Lions did last offseason in overhauling their running backs unit. They signed David Montgomery to a three-year deal worth $6 million in average annual value. He had a $2.85 million cap hit in 2023, according to Over the Cap. Then they drafted Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round. Including the postseason, Montgomery and Gibbs finished in the top 12 in EPA per rush in 2023 among players with at least 100 carries, according to TruMedia."
