Chargers Praised for Bargain Free Agency Signing

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paul White | Last updated Mar 21, 2025 6:58 PM ET

The reporting on the Los Angeles Chargers’ opposition to pursuing top-of-the-market players in this year’s free agent class has been beaten into the ground at this point. Everyone knows they are attempting to keep the team on the upswing while also saving every possible dollar where they can.

It is a strategy that has endlessly annoyed the fanbase with the team passing on valued targets like wide receivers DK Metcalf and Davante Adams. But with the Chargers mining away at under-the-radar free agents for the last couple of weeks, they were bound to strike gold at some point.

Carmen Vitali of FOX Sports ranked the top bargain signings in free agency and Los Angeles was fortunate enough to make the list. Vitali praised the signing of running back Najee Harris, believing he can massively outperform his relatively small $5.25 million deal.

Initial reporting on the signing suggested that the contract was much closer to $10 million, but with the reset of the running back market this offseason, the former Steeler may end up being one of the cheapest starting running backs in the league.

He’s eclipsed 1,000 yards in every season he’s been in the NFL, and behind an improved interior offensive line in Los Angeles, Harris could ascend to being one of the better backs in the league.

After J.K. Dobbins had a breakout season with the Chargers, it was believed that the team would bring him back, but nearly two weeks into free agency, he remains unsigned and there has been little to no news about his market. He and Harris have eerily similar styles, so at the price Los Angeles paid for him, he could prove to be more valuable than Dobbins.

Almost all of the high-end talent is off the shelves at this point in free agency. So, with a little less than $50 million remaining, this should be the period where the Chargers are the most active.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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