3 Chargers Who Should Be Cut Before Free Agency Opens

3. Jaret Patterson, RB

Running back Jaret Patterson, like Fehoko, also received a futures contract from the team before Harbaugh's arrival. And like Fehoko, there's no real reason to keep him around.

After two years as a depth RB for the Washington Commanders, Patterson landed in LA as a practice squad player for most of the season. He didn't receive any elevations, though, and was cut from the PS in December, which allowed him to then return to Washington.

The Chargers opted to bring him back on a futures deal once the offseason began, but Harbaugh and handpicked GM Joe Hortiz now calling the shots significantly change things.

While Los Angeles' running back room could see the departure of Austin Ekeler in free agency, it's not like Patterson is really going to vie for the starting role. He couldn't even crack the rotation in 2023 when LA was open to trying different things aside from Ekeler, and he was a third (or worse) option in Washington before that.

Harbaugh will have no shortage of ways to upgrade this RB room for 2024, with good backs going for cheap in free agency and several mid-round options in this year's draft class.

It's more than worth it to cut Patterson in favor of the $985K in cap savings and spend that toward a vet or rookie with more upside.

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