The running back position is fickle. Once an expensive staple of a team, franchises are experiencing more turnover at the RB spot than at any other position. The San Diego Chargers may join that brigade this offseason.
Lead back Ryan Mathews is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. While Mathews has talent, he has largely been unable to stay healthy on a consistent basis since the Chargers drafted him in the first round of the 2010 draft. The team can also relieve themselves of Donald Brown's contract (if they choose to) to free up some salary cap space as his deal has no guaranteed money left on it. Undrafted free agent Branden Oliver is set to return on his affordable deal.
So could San Diego look to make a splash with potential free agent running backs?
"You have to explore options," LaDanian Tomlinson said, via the San Diego Union Tribune. "You have to see what Ryan wants - if he wants to be back in San Diego - and what he is asking for. Because if you have a guy like Adrian Peterson that might be on the market then you have to explore that option."
Peterson remains under contract with the Minnesota Vikings. While he is eligible for league reinstatement come April, his future with Minnesota is very much in doubt.
"Running back Adrian Peterson could be back on the field at the start of the 2015 season, depending on how his disciplinary issue with the NFL is resolved, though where he will be playing may be in question," ESPN's Field Yates wrote. "With base salaries that balloon to $12.75 million, $14.75 million and $16.75 million over the next three seasons, respectively, none of which is guaranteed, it's far from a sure thing that he'll be back in Minnesota. He'll turn 30 in March, and the Vikings drafted Jerick McKinnon in the third round last May. The team wouldn't likely be able to trade Peterson, but nonetheless, Minnesota has a decision to make about whether to keep its talented running back."
