Chargers GM Joe Hortiz bullish on Ravens import of Gus Edwards, sees RB as key piece in bolstering physicality

Hortiz is hopeful for the new era of the Los Angeles Chargers under the guidance of Jim Harbaugh.

Chargers GM Joe Hortiz bullish on Ravens import of Gus Edwards, sees RB as key piece in bolstering physicality

Joe Hortiz and Gus Edwards (Via Imago)

After years of disappointment, the Los Angeles Chargers are all set to start a new beginning under the guidance of head coach Jim Harbaugh. Like previous years, they are still building their hopes around the quarterback Justin Herbert. In addition, the team has witnessed some major restructuring in the NFL offseason.

Among those changes, what caught the football world’s attention was the inclusion of the running back Gus Edwards. The franchise managed to poach him from the Baltimore Ravens team. Edwards signed a two-year deal worth $6.5 million with $3.375 million as guaranteed.

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General Manager Joe Hortiz thought highly of the running back. Despite never completing 1,000 rushing yards ever in a season, the manager called him a ‘Bell Cow’ for his efforts on the gridiron. The running back had 13 touchdowns last season.

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I think specifically with Gus, I've seen him deal with the adversity of the [ACL] injury two years ago and come back from it--Grind, be physical, continue to play the same brand of football he's always played. Really excited to have him. He's the bell cow, the goal line [guy], the finisher--The right mentality for what we're looking to do here.
Hortiz while speaking to reporters on Thursday

With Gus Edwards as a running back and Justin Herbert as the signal-caller, the team may expect well in the coming time under the guidance of the head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Joe Hortiz had a tough time with the Chargers salary cap

When Joe Hortiz walked into the dressing room of the Los Angeles Chargers, the team was way over their cap structure. Keenan Allen, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Mike Williams, all veteran players, were drawing a significant amount of money. Hortiz knew that the team could not keep all the players intact.

Joe Hortiz
Joe Hortiz (Via Imago)

And he was right. The team managed to keep only two out of its four. Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack stayed with the team. Williams joined the New York Jets and Allen went to the Chicago Bears. Though the GM stated that Allen was offered. But he did not stay. 

We had to address that and we approached it in the sense of we respect all four players, value all four players and know that all four players can help us win. But the reality of it is, given the cap and the situation that we're in the likelihood of all four players coming back and us being able to build depth and a complete team, that wasn't a realistic end result.
the Chargers GM revealed

The offseason is not over yet. It is to be seen whether the team goes for more in the coming time.

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