Chargers' Updated Depth Chart, Salary Cap After Najee Harris' Reported Contract

The Los Angeles Chargers added a potential difference-maker to its offense with the signing of Najee Harris.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back signed a one-year contract worth up to $9.25 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Chargers entered free agency with almost $94 million in cap space, second most in the NFL behind only the New England Patriots, per Spotrac. It gives the team plenty of flexibility to continue adding beyond this move.

However, the signing does give the team some stability in the backfield while improving the overall offense.

Depth Chart

QB: Justin Herbert

RB: Najee Harris, Kimani Vidal, Hassan Haskins

FB: Scott Matlock

WR: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, Brenden Rice

TE: Will Dissley, Stone Smartt

---

Harris' long-term future with the Steelers was very much in doubt when the team declined his fifth-year option in May 2024. That meant the 2024 season was the final one on his previous deal before he became an unrestricted free agent.

For his part, Harris told reporters at the start of training camp in July 2024 he was "disappointed" with Pittsburgh's decision to decline his fifth-year option.

"I was disappointed for a minute, but I mean it's nothing really where me sitting around and being disappointed for too long would do anything to help me out," he said. "It is what it is, and you just got to keep pushing and knowing that coming out here and doing what's best for the team and having a good year is what's most important right now."

Harris also said at the time he "most definitely" wanted to remain with Pittsburgh, but he ultimately ended up going elsewhere.

He had been with the AFC North team his entire career since it selected him with a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft after a dominant collegiate career at Alabama that included him winning the 2020 Doak Walker Award as the best running back in the country.

The Crimson Tide product wasted no time making an impact as a rookie with 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground to go with 74 catches for 467 yards and three scores as a receiver. While there were concerns about his efficiency at 3.9 yards per carry, his ability to make plays in the passing game helped make up for that.

Harris also cracked the 1,000 rushing yards mark in each of his next three seasons, although he is yet to reach his career-high mark that he set as a rookie.

The 27-year-old finished the 2024 campaign with 1,043 rushing yards, 283 receiving yards and six touchdowns. His 4.0 yards per carry was the second-best total of his career, but he was no longer the same weapon in the aerial attack that he was in his first season.

It was fair to question his long-term fit with Pittsburgh, especially when Jaylen Warren was more efficient and started to take away carries. Warren averaged 4.8 yards per carry in his first three seasons and looked to be more explosive for extended stretches.

Given that and the reality running back is often seen as more replaceable than other positions, and Harris' days with the Steelers seemed numbered at best when they didn't pick up his option.

Alas, that proved to be the case, and he will now chase a Super Bowl with the Chargers.

The running back position was something of a question mark heading into the offseason for Los Angeles, as J.K. Dobbins was scheduled for free agency after leading the team with 905 rushing yards last season.

Harris provides an answer to the running back concerns and will surely compete for a significant role in the offense.

He raises the unit's overall ceiling and figures to benefit from facing lighter defensive fronts when opponents are more concerned with Justin Herbert and the aerial attack.