I thought that it would be interesting to look at how Chargers players who Hortiz and Harbaugh chose not to re-sign are performing versus the players that replaced them.

We're 11 games into the season and it would appear that almost every single move that this staff and front office made has been the right one.

A few notes:
PS = Practice Squad, these players are not on active rosters in 2024

Austin Ekeler is currently RB2, so his overall is based on 1/3 of Dobbins snaps.

I didn't do OLine because it got a bit messy with position switches, but all of those moves have been positive as well.

(Same with defense, I might do that next)

26 comments

  1. It helps that we have a healthy, moderately well-protected Herbert so far this year. And we emphasized the run game which was always an afterthought under Staley with Ekeler. Although Herb no longer has Ek to dump it off to when coverage is tight, Davis has filled in nicely in that role. It’s nice to have Davis for dump offs and Dobbins for actual run plays. We are incredibly balanced.

  3. Would have loved to keep Ekeler in a wide receiver hybrid role but I’m sure he commanded too much

  8. Is there one for defense as well? Interested to see the difference between Murray/Kendricks vs. Perryman/Henley, Davis vs. Hart/Still, and Jospeh-Day vs. Ford/Tartt.

  9. Keenan and Mike would obviously have better grades on this team. Not to downplay how good Ladd has been. But you gotta think they would at minimum be grading out around where QJ is or better.

  10. Now weight the comparison by their compensation and see how much better of a business decision each one of those was

  11. I don’t think Tre Mckitty is actually on a practice squad which shows how bad he was if he can’t stick on a roster at 25.

  13. I watched Ecklers last game. He looks quick again but then he dropped a pass and fumbled. Just like last year, so this what he is now

  14. That shows how talented Ekeler was. As amazing as Dobbins is doing, Ekeler was still slightly better.

  16. I mean what exactly does this show? Solid QB play makes or breaks a reciever and Ekeler is still a beast.

  17. Great post OP! To some other commenters, sure guys like KA13, Mike Will, and Ek would be great/better with a healthy Herbo or our coaching staff etc etc, but we can’t forget that we’re getting THIS production from these guys on like 1/4 of the cost 🤯 and many of the guys we have now are young and in their prime or developing into it

    EDIT: changed “many” commenters to “some”.. read a couple and misread the room 🤭

  21. Ekeler as RB2 would of been golden due to his pass catching (frankly a better Oline would also help his rushing). They could of gotten back Williams cheaper also (he steams on twitch and has mention that he expected to be cut but wanted to stay and was willing to take less but they never contacted him and the jets offered him a bag so he wasn’t waiting around at that point).

  25. Never want to hear the name Tre McKitty again. Absolutely awful and a waste of a higher pick. A classic TT reach. 

  26. Can’t stand PFF metrics, they’re trash-tells tbh, but I most def agree that the production is better from this year’s replacements.

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