J.K. Dobbins is a five-year NFL veteran who battled injuries between 2021 and 2023 but found success in 2024 with the Los Angeles Chargers, surpassing 134 carries for the first time in his short career.
Dobbins went unsigned through the 2025 free-agency period despite being linked loosely to several teams. Then, on April 30, the Chargers slapped the seldom-used unrestricted free agent tender on the 26-year-old running back. That means Dobbins will still apply to the compensatory draft formula if he doesn’t sign with another team by July 22.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles inked 1,000-yard rusher Najee Harris in free agency and drafted North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton in the first round. The Chargers aren’t going to bring Dobbins back, but they could hold his “exclusive negotiating rights” if he doesn’t find a new home by that July 22 deadline.
Either way, Dobbins should be wearing a new uniform in 2025. Here are three potential landing spots for the former second-round pick.
3 Best Landing Spots for Dobbins
1) Denver Broncos
The Broncos made a savvy move by drafting running back R.J. Harvey out of UCF in the second round — a big need for a franchise that was even rumored to target a running back in the first round. The 5-foot-8, 205-pounder rushed for 1,577 yards and 22 touchdowns during his final collegiate season.
Denver’s current running back group also includes Jaleel McLaughlin, and Dobbins would fit as a versatile option to help build a more balanced backfield. Realistically, Dobbins may never again be a true three-down back, but he would align well with Sean Payton’s offensive philosophy.
The Broncos ranked exactly in the middle of the PFSN Offense+ Metric, finishing 16th with a score of 75.3 — largely due to an inconsistent running game that lacked explosiveness. Adding Dobbins would give Payton another reliable weapon to rotate in and maximize the ground attack.
Chargers applied the unrestricted free-agent (UFA) tender to running back JK Dobbins, who remains eligible to sign with any team. Dobbins now will still count against the compensatory formula if he signs with another team before training camps open in July. But the Chargers will… pic.twitter.com/MvyFHgkLqI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2025
2) Cleveland Browns
Cleveland also moved early in the draft, selecting running back Quinshon Judkins out of Ohio State in the second round to become the new successor to Nick Chubb.
Judkins is a physical prospect who should thrive as the primary back on early downs, thanks to his tackle-breaking ability and strong pass-protection skills. However, he still lacks that explosive element, with Jerome Ford profiling more as a depth option.
Dobbins would complement the backfield well — easing the load on Judkins in certain situations and offering the home-run hitting ability that the committee currently lacks, allowing for a better distribution of carries between him and the rookie.
3) Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville presents an interesting opportunity. The team struggled with inconsistency at the running back position last season, as Travis Etienne regressed from being a reliable lead back over the previous two years and eventually became a second- or even third-option during the year.
To address the issue, the Jaguars drafted Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round. However, Tuten is expected to primarily contribute as a kickoff returner early on. He was also the fastest running back at the NFL Combine, clocking a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash, making him more of a situational weapon.
This leaves Jacksonville’s backfield incomplete, with Tank Bigsby profiling more as a complementary back rather than a true lead option.
Enter Dobbins. This could be his best opportunity to earn a more prominent role. He would have support to manage his workload and protect his health while elevating the overall effectiveness of the Jaguars’ rushing attack.
Here’s something else to keep in mind: Liam Coen, the new head coach of the Jaguars, invested significant draft capital to move up to the No. 2 overall pick and select star Travis Hunter, who will initially be integrated into the wide receiver group. The uber-talented Heisman Trophy winner also played cornerback at Colorado.
Therefore, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Coen continued building the Jaguars’ offense by adding another key piece to the running back room, aiming to maximize the unit’s potential in his first year at the helm.
