The Los Angeles Chargers will have a new starting running back when the 2025 season kicks off. Their starter from last season, J.K. Dobbins, is still a free agent, but the Chargers have since moved on to what they hope offers a brighter horizon with Najee Harris, plus Omarion Hampton.
However, if the Chargers’ offseason had gone according to plan, it’s possible Dobbins would be returning as their starter.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Chargers actually presented Dobbins with a “pretty decent offer” in free agency. However, for reasons that have not been made public, Dobbins rejected the offer.
Thus, the Chargers had no choice but to make other plans. The Chargers quickly pivoted to signing one-time Pro Bowl running back Najee Harris, a former first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Harris was only inked to a one-year, $6.5 million contract, but they later doubled down by selecting Omarion Hampton with the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, it appears Hampton is the Chargers’ RB of the future.
Oddly enough, Dobbins still hasn’t signed with another team, so we’d be very curious to learn why he didn’t want to return to a run-based offense led by Jim Harbaugh for another season. Dobbins may very well be living with regrets, but it’s certainly not too late for him to latch on with another team before the 2025 season kicks off.
After the type of season Dobbins had, where he recorded a career high 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, there’s no reason for him to not be one of the top-two rushers on an NFL team this season. Still just 26 years old Dobbins should have plenty of tread left on his tires.
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