After tearing his Achilles in the 2023 season opener, J.K. Dobbins responded with arguably the best season of his career and the impending free agent could earn a raise. Playing in 13 games while making a career-high 11 starts, the former second-round pick finished his season with 905 yards and nine carries on 195 attempts (4.6 yards per carry) despite playing behind a poor interior offensive line. Dobbins signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Chargers in 2024, and now it’s time for the 27-year-old to cash in on the open market.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Kansas City Chiefs could be one team that targets Dobbins. In a recent article, the NFL analyst noted that the the reigning AFC champions will look for a running back, and Dobbins could be the ideal free agent for Patrick Mahomes and company.
Chiefs Could Target Chargers J.K. Dobbins As A Free Agent
Running back is quietly a major need for the Kansas City Chiefs. After former seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco suffered an early-season injury, the team had no choice but to turn to aging veteran and old friend Kareem Hunt to fill the void. While Hunt performed admirably in emergency relief, he’s on the older side and could garner some interest as a free agent. With pass-catching back Samaje Perine also set to reach free agency, Kansas City’s only notable running backs are Pacheco and undrafted free agent Carson Steele.
Pacheco is not a superstar by any stretch of the imagination, but his hard-nosed, downhill running style makes him an adequate early-down back. This team needs a shiftier back with good speed and a solid set of hands, which makes Dobbins the perfect free agent counterpart. Dobbins could be the ideal thunder to Pacheco’s lightning, and the two could be a poor-mans version of the Alvin Kamara-Mark Ingram backfield of the late 2010 New Orleans Saints.
The Chiefs could target Dobbins, but that doesn’t mean the free agent will sign with Kansas City. The former Baltimore Raven played well during his lone season with Los Angeles, and the Chargers could try and re-sign him.
Will the Chargers Let Him Leave
Nobody believes in the power of the run game more than Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. An old-school football mind, he needs someone capable of handling a high workload for his offense to properly function. Dobbins did an adequate job in this role last year, and the Chargers have the salary cap space to easily outbid the Chiefs for the free agent. However, that doesn’t mean they’ll do it.
Currently with $66.3 million in salary cap space, the Chargers have the money to acquire more of a sure thing at the running back position. Pittsburgh Steelers free agent Najee Harris, for instance, may not have lived up to his first-round draft capital but proved capable of handling a large workload while staying on the field. The Alabama product has recorded at least 255 carries and 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his professional seasons and could be the short-term answer for the Chargers backfield. Los Angeles could also invest in a historically loaded running back draft class, making Dobbins irrelevant.
Main Photo: Thomas Shea – Imagn Images
The post REPORT: Chiefs Could Target Chargers Free Agent appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.