As the Los Angeles Chargers attempt to sort out their offense and mount a bona-fide run at a playoff spot, they have dealt with what has felt like constant injuries both to their offensive line and to their skill positions.
Perhaps the most devastating of these losses have been the untimely absences of their two lead backs, Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton, and, now, the team may be forced to make a trade to compensate for their lack of backfield depth.
Accordingly, Jerome Ford of the Cleveland Browns, who has seen his touches decrease with the ascendance of Quinshon Judkins as the lead back, could be a buy-low candidate to give the backfield another dimension both prior to and following the return of Hampton this season.
Jerome Ford could be the forgotten answer to the Chargers' backcourt issues
Ever since the Hampton injury, from which there is still no definite timeline for his return, speculation has abounded regarding a number of potential trades that Los Angeles could make to fill that absence. While big names such as Breece Hall and Alvin Kamara have been floated, both of those rumors had cold water dumped on them rather quickly.
However, Bill Barnwell of ESPN, in a round-up of potential trades that could fill a number of needs around the league, suggested that the Chargers swap their 2027 sixth-round pick with Cleveland for Ford and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
While the picks in this mock trade are negligible, Ford could be a true difference-maker for Los Angeles: just not in the way you might expect.
With the emergence of rookie running back Judkins, and the secondary role that Dylan Sampson looks poised to take on, Ford has been cut out of the Browns' run game almost entirely. Through six games, Ford only has 20 carries, having rushed for 73 yards and zero touchdowns on the season.
Yet, he has still been very active in their passing game, having caught 18 of his 21 targets for 67 yards.
Certainly, Ford is not the splash acquisition that many fans would like the organization to go out and make. However, the fact of the matter is that Hampton will be back eventually, and he showed a lot of explosiveness over his first few games with the team. Therefore, the cost that Los Angeles might incur to go out and get a lead back might not be worth it for the time being.
At the same time, while Kimani Vidal had an impressive performance last week, he does not necessarily provide the wrinkles that the Chargers would need in an RB2 alongside Hampton. Ford, as a pass-catcher and a player that would be available at a low price, could help make a Hampton-Vidal backfield significantly more versatile.
Therefore, fans of Los Angeles should keep a close eye on the Browns' willingness to sell off some of their pieces this year, as it seems as though the Chargers should be poised to make a trade before the deadline strikes.