Chargers News: RB Damien Harris Could Be On LA’s Radar

We are just about at the end of week one of the 2023 NFL free agency and days removed from the Los Angeles Chargers giving RB Austin Ekeler the blessing to find a team willing to trade for him but nothing has come about just yet. The 27-year-old probably has plenty of suitors considering his upside but LA has to like what they're getting in return.

However, LA''s front office has had to prepare themselves and look around the current market to see what RB's could fill the void that Ekeler would be leaving. He had just posted his best year in 2022 and ran for 915 yards with 13 touchdowns.

This is where insider Tommy Garrett at Pro Football Network believes that Damien Harris could come into play. He just finished off his rookie contract with the New England Patriots but a number of injuries left a sour taste in the front office's mouths and they have not re-signed him for the time being.

This 64-yard TD run by Damian Harris is the Patriots' longest rushing play since 1998.

(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/aU2SaupWXm
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 7, 2021

Garrett believes that LA could still develop their current RB's and Harris will get majority of the touches.

"That’s where someone like Harris fits in as the two-down RB for the Chargers, while Spiller can be more of the change of pace and receiving option," said Garrett. "It’s also worth considering Joshua Kelley, who had 69 rushes and 25 targets last year, as an additional chess piece for Los Angeles. Still, Harris would make the most sense as the lead back unless Spiller takes a significant step from Year 1 to Year 2."

Even though Harris has shown flashes during his four-year career, he has definitely struggled to string all of elements of his skillset. Last season, he was only active for eleven games posted just 462 yards with three touchdowns. New England was hoping he would build off of a career-year in 2021 but instead he did regress.

However, this could be a blessing in disguise seeing that Harris wouldn't be in a position to ask for a big contract and the Chargers don't have much money left to spend.