The Los Angeles Chargers are at the top of the list of teams most likely to look for a running back trade ahead of the deadline.
Rookie Omarion Hampton is on injured reserve through at least Week 10 thanks to a knee injury and Najee Harris is out for the season with a torn Achilles. Making matters worse, Hassan Haskins is now dealing with an injury, also, and has been ruled out for Week 8.
That leaves Los Angeles with a running backs room that includes Kimani Vidal and four practice squad players in Nyheim Hines, Jaret Patterson, Amar Johnson and recently-signed Trayveon Williams.
Safe to say, that’s not going to cut it, both in the short term and long term.
When it comes to their interest in adding a running back, the urgency level appears to be high, according to FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano, who reports that Los Angeles is “desperate” to add a running back.
One source described the Chargers as “desperate” to upgrade that position after losing Najee Harris for the season and rookie Omarion Hampton until at least Week 10.
Vacchiano adds that New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and New York Jets running back Breece Hall have become “the two biggest names that have come up in league circles” when it comes to trade candidates at the position.
However, we already know Kamara wants nothing to do with a trade and would prefer to stay in New Orleans. In fact, he even hinted he could retire if traded.
“I just got to keep my head down,” he said, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. “And I don’t know, if I was a GM, I guess I would go to the player and be like, ‘Hey, we’re trading you. Just so you know.’ So, if (Saints general manager) Mickey (Loomis) come downstairs and says that, then I’m going to go drink a piña colada somewhere.”
As for Hall, he’s much more likely to be dealt. Hall is in the final year of his contract and the Jets aren’t in a position to be shelling out any semblance of a significant extension for a running back.
One potential snag is that the Jets are very short-handed at running back thanks to an injury to Braelon Allen, so that could deter them, even though it shouldn’t. The Jets are already cooked and keeping Hall isn’t going to change that.
Hall, who has tallied 612 yards from scrimmage this season despite the Jets’ offense being a mess, would be a fantastic addition for Los Angeles.
He’s a big play waiting to happen, both as a rusher and receiver, and would add a much-needed explosive element to Los Angeles’ offense. He would immediately step in as the starter while Hampton is out and would form an elite duo with the rookie back upon his return from injured reserve.
Hall would be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Chargers and general manager Joe Hortiz should strongly consider making a move if Hall becomes available at the deadline.
Another name to keep an eye on is Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford, who would amount to a lesser but still adequate addition.
The dreadful Browns are undergoing a youth movement at the running back spot with Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson and trading Ford away would clear a path for more snaps for the latter.
Ford is a versatile back who can impact the game as a rusher and receiver and he would offer a strong complement to Hampton while not threatening to take away snaps from the rookie like Hall would.
