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May 20, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running backs Najee Harris (22), Omarion Hampton (8) and Kimani Vidal (30) look on during offseason workouts at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Chargers, Cowboys Linked In Blockbuster Trade

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By David Latham | Last updated May 26, 2025 2:15 PM ET

The Los Angeles Chargers signed Najee Harris in the offseason, but one writer believes the team could trade him before the start of the 2025 season. A first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Alabama product never quite lived up to his first-round draft capital but has been a solid starter since entering the league. Weighing in at 6′-1″ and 242 pounds, Harris is the type of physical, downhill runner that can move the pile, break tackles, and pick up those hard-to-earn yards.

Najee Harris and his downhill style of running would be a good fit, but the presence of first-round pick Omarion Hampton could lead to a trade. At least, that’s what Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox believes, as the writer believes the Dallas Cowboys could target the veteran and have him upgrade their poor running back room.

“The Dallas Cowboys could be interested in Harris,” Knox writes. “They added former starters Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams in free agency before drafting Jaydon Blue in Round 5, but none of them are surefire starters. Adding Harris to the mix would be sensible.”

Chargers, Cowboys Linked In Najee Harris Trade Rumor

The Dallas Cowboys have done a 180 on the running back position in recent years. After using the fourth-overall pick on Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 and using the franchise tag on Tony Pollard in 2023, Jerry Jones and company have effectively decided to stream the running back position over the past two years. In 2024, the team allowed Pollard to join the Tennessee Titans and got a 1,000-yard season out of veteran Rico Dowdle. This year, they allowed Dowdle to walk and brought in veteran castoffs in Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders, along with two Day 3 running backs in Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah.

Running back is the most replaceable position in football, but the Cowboys should have more talent than this on their roster. Williams and Sanders are both well past their primes, and nobody should place too much faith in Day 3 rookies. Najee Harris is no superstar, but the trade candidate would easily be the best running back on this roster and could thrive behind a strong offensive line. The only question is whether or not the Chargers would send him away.

Would The Chargers Do This?

The Chargers drafted Omarion Hampton to be their running back of the future, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’d trade Najee Harris for nothing. Head coach Jim Harbaugh is obsessed with establishing the run and believes games are won and lost in the trenches. While Hampton has the raw talent to handle starting duties, Harbaugh would probably prefer to enter the year with a reliable veteran like Harris.

After making the playoffs in what should have been a rebuilding year, the Chargers can hoist the Lombardi Trophy in 2025. Harris’ downhill style of running is a perfect fit for Harbaugh’s offense, and he should succeed behind this offensive line. Ideally, Harris will start for the first half of the year before ceding carries to Hampton down the stretch. However, if injury strikes, Harris can start the entire season and should be able to carry this rushing attack.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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