Chargers News: Star AFC West RB Target Lands With Packers

With the status of Austin Ekeler and the Los Angeles Chargers up in the air, the Chargers could be checking out the running back market.

Heading into the NFL's legal tampering period today, the running back market is wide open with backs like Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, Saquon Barkley, and Derrick Henry available. However, those targets are going quickly.

Jacobs is the latest free agent back to make a move, with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reporting that Jacobs is expected to sign with the Green Bay Packers. This news comes after Pollard has become linked to the Tennessee Titans and the Philadelphia Eagles have shown interest in Barkley.

This will mean that the Chargers are missing the chance to bring in another key target in Jacobs. Jacobs, a former first-round pick from 2019, has become one of the top backs in the league. In 2022, he led the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards and earned his first first-team All-Pro nod. Jacobs has run for over 1,000 yards in three out of five pro seasons. 

Though running backs tend to not be valued, Jacobs is still young at just 26 years old. However, Jacobs is coming off a season in which he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry, the lowest of his career. 

Either way, it's good news for the Chargers that Jacobs is leaving the Las Vegas Raiders, meaning that the Chargers will not have to go up against Jacobs twice a year anymore. Jacobs has scored a touchdown in each of his last two games he played against the Chargers, and has been one of their division rival's top weapons for the last five years.