The Los Angeles Chargers are strengthening their roster during free agency.
They have already made multiple signings, particularly on offense. The Chargers have a new offensive coordinator in Mike McDaniel, who will attempt to add more creativeness and explosiveness to the unit. Los Angeles wasn’t a bad team offensively in 2025, ranking 12th overall, but left a bit to be desired.
The core group is already in place with quarterback Justin Herbert, running back Omarion Hampton, and wide receivers Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. Now the Chargers must surround those players with the right complementary pieces. They got off to a good start by signing new offensive linemen Tyler Biadasz and Cole Strange, and have made some other key additions as well.
Los Angeles Chargers RB Keaton Mitchell Named Among Biggest Under-the-Radar Signings in Free Agency
GettyRB Keaton Mitchell
The folks over at Pro Football Focus recently identified five free agent signings that they believe flew under the radar as bargain deals, and the Chargers’ acquisition of Mitchell made the list.
“Mitchell has carried the ball just 121 times since he joined the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2023, as injuries and playing behind future Hall of Famer Derrick Henry were two of the biggest reasons why. With that said, there are plenty of reasons for optimism moving forward. Mitchell has proven to be a big-play threat in his limited opportunities, as 22 of his 121 career carries went for 10-plus yards (explosive plays), which resulted in a stellar 6.3 yards per carry average.
Additionally, Mitchell has shown the ability to make defenders miss, finishing with 27 forced missed tackles over that span. It’s hard to imagine a better landing spot for Mitchell with offensive guru Mike McDaniel now with the Chargers. McDaniel helped build an offense around another speedster in De’Von Achane, who has established himself as one of the game’s elite running backs. Mitchell will work alongside 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton to form what could be one of the better running back duos in the NFL in 2026.”
Examining the Current State of the Chargers’ RB Room
GettyRB Omarion Hampton
Mitchell has the makings of an ideal third-down back, possessing good speed, receiving skills, and pass blocking ability. In 26 career games he has recorded 767 rushing yards, 184 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns. If Mitchell can stay healthy, he could breakout for the best season of his career with Los Angeles in 2026.
Of course, the lead man in the backfield is Omarion Hampton, who the Chargers hope develops into their franchise running back. His rookie year is tough to evaluate considering he ran behind arguably the worst offensive line in the NFL, and he spent nearly of the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
Hampton has the all-around skills to turn into an elite running back, especially with an offensive mastermind like McDaniel pulling the strings. Kimani Vidal should be in the mix at least a little bit in 2026 after playing well in Hampton’s absence last season. Other running backs on the Chargers’ roster include Jaret Patterson and Amar Johnson.
Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports’ Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch’s career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch
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