The Chargers made their first move in the 2024 NFL free agency period early in the legal tampering period by addressing one of their biggest needs – running back. They will be signing former Baltimore Ravens halfback Gus Edwards on a two-year deal. While it was probably dependent on price, it’s not that surprising that he was a target for the team – given that this will reunite him with his former offensive coordinator Greg Roman, as well as put him under the coaching of another Harbaugh. While it doesn’t solve the Chargers running back problems by itself, signing Edwards is a quite good start.
What Gus Edwards Brings to the Chargers
Edwards had been with the Ravens since 2018. In that time, he’s usually been part of a running back committee. which the Ravens have favored since well before he came along. He has gotten starts here and there, though – nine of them in 2023. Edwards has put up at least 700 rushing yards four out of six years – and the other two were injury-shortened. Most recently in 2023, he put up a career-high 810 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He has a career average of 4.9 yards per carry.
Edwards has more of a power/downhill running style which lends itself to short-yardage or goal-line carries, but he’s quite capable of ripping off longer runs too. That style has also given him his nickname, “Gus the Bus” or “Gus Bus.” His main weakness is that he has very little receiving utility. 30 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns is his career total as a pass-catcher. This is part of why he doesn’t solve the Chargers running back problems by himself. But despite that, he’s talented enough as a runner to have stuck around this long in the league, even if never as a permanent RB1.
The Chargers Running Back Room as of Now
Edwards will not be the only move the Chargers make at halfback in the offseason. Austin Ekeler, as expected, is departing, and will be signing with the Washington Commanders. Joshua Kelley is also a free agent and is unlikely to return as well. That leaves the Chargers with just Isaiah Spiller – who has averaged 2.5 yards per carry through two years – and Elijah Dotson, who impressed in the preseason but spent most of the year on the practice squad, and did not impress in his few regular season appearances. There is also Jaret Patterson with a reserves/future contract, but it’s unclear what the staff has in mind for him in the future.
The Chargers will be certainly adding at least one more halfback at some point. More likely during the Draft – somebody like Jonathan Brooks or Bucky Irving, or Michigan alumni Blake Corum. But the team could also add another cheaper free agent name. Edwards is getting $6.5 million over two years, so it probably wouldn’t be anybody more expensive than that. Someone else who’s normally a change-of-pace back like AJ Dillon.
In Conclusion
This may not be a flashy signing or anything, but this is still a good start and a good signing for a team that is a little strapped for cash. Given his background with Roman and the Harbaugh family, Gus Edwards should fit in just fine. The question is who will be alongside him in the running back committee that is likely to form – and that question may not be answered until the Draft.
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