The LA Chargers made a flurry of undrafted free-agent signings following the 2025 NFL Draft with several exciting names jumping off the page. One name that has jumped off the page for Chargers fans, but not the rest of the NFL, is South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders.
Those outside of the Chargers bubble might be sleeping on Sanders, but they shouldn't be.
Sanders is an exciting rookie prospect who may have simply been the victim of a stacked running backs class. Sanders definitely had the talent and scouting report to get drafted but had to accept being a UDFA. In fact, NFL.com thought Sanders could go as high as the fifth round.
Sanders ultimately fell out of the draft and it will be for the Chargers' benefit. This is a legitiamtely exciting prospect who has the talent to earn a spot on the 53-man roster in training camp and the preseason.
Raheim Sanders has a real chance to make the Chargers roster
It is going to be an uphill battle for Sanders to make the Chargers roster and he definitely is not projected to receive any playing time with Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris leading the way. However, he has a lot of value as a depth back and could steal a roster spot as a result.
Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins are the other two running backs fighting for a spot on the Chargers depth chart and neither are locked into their spots.
Haskins was brought in to be a special teams back because of his prior experience playing for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan. Vidal was a day-three pick last year who has all the potential in the world, but didn't get many chances in his rookie season.
The Chargers carried four running backs throughout the 2024 season so there is room for both Vidal and Sanders to make the team. This would, of course, require Sanders to beat out Haskins for a roster spot but it certainly is possible.
The six-two, 225-pound running back finished last season with 881 rushing yards on 183 carries (4.8 yards per carry) with 11 touchdowns. Sanders' impact didn't stop there as he caught 27 passes for 316 yards with two touchdowns.
Sanders impacted both the running and passing game in college and put himself in truly elite company by doing so. Every back that has a similar background to Sanders drafted in recent years has went on to have great success in the NFL.
Getting someone who is in a group with names like that after the NFL Draft is a legitimate steal for the Chargers. Even if Sanders can't carve out a roster spot right away, he is a perfect candidate to stash on the practice squad as the next man up.
Great roster building doesn't start with superstar acquisitions, it starts with establishing the foundation through the fringes. And while nothing is guaranteed, the Chargers may have just added another key piece of the foundation with a UDFA. Time will tell.