After sitting on the open market for a little over a month, former Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins will become their 14th free agent to sign elsewhere and the third to join the same team. According to a report by NFL Network’s Tom Peliserro, the former second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2020 intends to sign a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Former #Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins is planning to sign with the #Chargers on a one-year deal, per his agency @LAASportsEnt.
Electric when healthy, Dobbins — who averages 5.8 yards per carry in his career — reunites with OC Greg Roman and can hit the market again in March. pic.twitter.com/HZB24ryhi0
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 17, 2024
Once Dobbins officially signs on the dotted line, he will be the latest former member of the team to be reunited with former offensive coordinator Greg Roman, joining six-year veterans Gus Edwards, Hayden Hurst and Bradley Bozeman, as well as 2021 fifth-round fullback Ben Mason. He will also go from having John Harbaugh as a head coach to his young brother, Jim, who was hired this offseason along with former Ravens Director of Player Personnel Joe Hortiz, who was part of the front office that drafted him and is now the Chargers’ new general manager.
As a rookie in 2020, Dobbins had the best season of his career in which he led all running backs with six yards per carry, recorded 805 rushing yards and set the franchise rookie record for touchdowns with nine. Injuries completely wiped out two of his next three seasons after his incredibly hot start and severely hampered the other.
In Los Angeles, he will have a chance to get a fresh start in a new yet still familiar situation playing in a scheme and under a coach he thrived in and averaged 5.7 or more yards. The Chargers moved on from dynamic stalwart veteran Austin Ekeler this offseason so now Dobbins and Gus Edwards will be leading the charge in their backfield this fall and will get a chance to face the Ravens in So-Fi Stadium at some point in the 2024 season.
Replacing Dobbins and Edwards as the lead back in Baltimore is four-time Pro Bowler and two-time league rushing champion Derrick Henry who the Ravens signed in the initial wave of free agency to a two-year deal worth up to $20 million. The eight-year veteran has been one of the most durable and by far the most productive player at his position since becoming a full-time starter in 2018.
