The Chargers are heading into training camp with a roster that’s going to force some real decisions, and the running back room may be one of the trickiest spots on the board.
Los Angeles has obvious cut candidates and trade possibilities elsewhere, too. Wide receiver is one area where Joe Hortiz and the front office could explore the market before final cuts. Bud Dupree stands out as an easy edge-rusher example, and Junior Colson could be on his last chance at linebacker.
But running back is where things get especially interesting.
It’s not a premium position in today’s NFL, which usually means trade value is thin. Even so, the Chargers’ mix of returning production and offseason additions has created a crowded picture behind Omarion Hampton.
Hampton is expected to be the workhorse back. Keaton Mitchell arrived as the new speed option under coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Kimani Vidal also made his case last season when injuries pushed him into a starting role.
The rest of the group brings special teams value and some utility in the base offense, which only makes the squeeze tighter. And after the team let Raheim Sanders get away last year, this is the kind of situation Chargers fans would rather not see repeated.
That’s part of why Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton named Vidal the Chargers’ top trade candidate.
Moton wrote: “Despite Vidal's contributions in the previous campaign, the Chargers signed Keaton Mitchell under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who favors speed at the skill positions.”
Vidal was solid in spot duty last season after Najee Harris and Hampton went down, but it’s fair to wonder how much interest another team would have in giving up anything for a running back. Even so, the Chargers could decide they’re comfortable moving on if Mitchell stays healthy and forms the clear pairing with Hampton.
The remaining backups could still offer similar value, and Desrosiers is an undrafted free agent with a real chance to make an impact.
So this is less a crisis than a pleasant roster problem. If the Chargers end up making a move at running back, it would come from a place of depth and fit, not desperation. And that’s exactly the kind of problem they’d prefer to have.
In Other News...
One Chargers Rookie Is Suddenly Turning Into A Camp Wild Card
With rookie mini-camp set to open July 23, the Chargers are getting their first real look at a class that could matter sooner rather than later, and fourth-round safety Genesis Smith is already drawing attention in that mix. The Arizona product has flashed the kind of coverage ability that can make a defensive back stand out in shorts and helmets, which is part of why he has started to look like a player worth tracking as the summer unfolds.
The next step for Smith is less about what he can do in space and more about how he handles the dirty work once the pads come on. His tackling still needs refinement, and that is the sort of detail that can decide whether a promising rookie becomes a dependable piece or just another camp storyline, with Steve Clinkscale and Chris O'Leary among the coaches expected to help push that development along. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Have One More Veteran Cornerback Question To Answer
The Chargers are still sorting through what their secondary should look like for 2026, and one possible answer is a veteran cornerback who could bring some stability to a group that may need it. The appeal is straightforward: a proven defensive back with a long track record, enough experience to help in the room and enough name value to matter if the fit is right, even if the move is more about depth than splash.
There are obvious reasons to pause, too. Injuries and uneven play have made this a more complicated evaluation than it would have been a few years ago, and the question for Los Angeles is whether the upside still outweighs the risk. If the Chargers do make the move, it would likely be the kind of low-stakes addition that helps in camp, gives younger corners a veteran reference point and leaves the team with one more option if the depth chart gets tested. [Read more 🡒]