Chargers would be silly not to pursue hidden gem RB with Jim Harbaugh ties

Under new guidance from Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz, the LA Chargers have an interesting offseason ahead in which the team needs to free up salary cap space while also adding talent so that the team can contend.

The Chargers are not going to be able to spend much in free agency this offseason but that does not mean that the team has to be completely inactive. Los Angeles can free up as much as $62 million in cap space, giving the team enough to afford its upcoming draft class and a few bargain free agents.

Just because the Chargers cannot sign an expensive free agent does not mean the team won't be able to sign a quality free agent. Because even with a smaller budget, there is a no-brainer free-agent that LA should pursue.

Chargers would be silly not to pursue Gus Edwards

Gus Edwards is hitting the market and just like the Chargers did with Hortiz and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the team should make Los Angeles Edwards' next home after Baltimore. This is a perfect intersection of opportunity meeting a team's needs and it can truly benefit all those involved.

The Chargers need to rebuild the running back room and have limited sources to do it. The most practical way for the Chargers to rebuild the room in one offseason is to bring in a cheap veteran to pair with a rookie running back that can form a rotation.

If the Chargers do it right then they will have a competent one-two punch that can carry the load offensively. It does not take a star running back to accomplish this, nor should it.

Edwards is the right veteran for the job. In addition to having experience with Roman, Edwards will come at a cheap price but can still produce. The 28-year-old back is coming off of an 810-yard season (career-high) in which he found the endzone 13 times for the Ravens.

While he put together a strong season, he still finds himself fairly low on the list of free-agent running backs. Big names like Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley and Austin Ekeler are going to dominate an already small market. With all of this in mind, it is fair to assume that Edwards will be available for a very reasonable price.

We have already seen that Harbaugh values relationships both with himself and his brother, Jim. That naturally puts Edwards on the Chargers' radar, and because of what he would bring to the team, it is a no-brainer for the Bolts to go ahead and pursue him.