Jaret Patterson

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	YPC
Career		26	503	3	4.0
2025		6	159	1	3.9
2024		1	—	—	—
2023		3

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Chargers locked up a legitimate steal with Jaret Patterson's one-year, $1.1M deal, earning an A- CVI that reflects exceptional value for a proven rotational back. Patterson brings solid production at the league minimum, giving Los Angeles a reliable depth piece who can handle spot duty and special teams responsibilities without breaking the bank. At this salary tier, the risk is virtually nonexistent — even if Patterson only contributes on special teams, the Chargers are getting fair value, and any meaningful offensive snaps become pure upside. The one-year structure keeps things flexible while allowing Patterson to showcase his abilities in a potentially expanded role behind the team's primary backs. This is exactly the type of low-cost, high-floor signing that smart front offices use to build depth and create competition, giving the Chargers a rotational player who could easily outperform his modest contract.

Performance Analysis

Jaret Patterson is a second-year back with the Los Angeles Chargers, carving out a rotational role after limited opportunities across 26 career games. At just 26, he remains a developmental option whose upside hasn't fully materialized at the NFL level. His current D grade reflects real production concerns, though his age and limited sample size leave room for optimism. Patterson's 3.88 yards per carry trails the NFL average of 4.10 and sits well below the elite threshold of 5.40, signaling he isn't consistently winning at the point of attack. His 26.5 rush yards per game is particularly alarming — barely half the league average of 55.0 — suggesting he's either not receiving enough carries or struggling to create when given the opportunity. His touchdown rate of 0.17 per game also lags behind the 0.35 league average, pointing to a back who rarely converts near the goal line. The trajectory is equally concerning: Patterson has declined from a C- in 2024 to an outright F in 2025, with his 2023 D- suggesting this isn't a one-year anomaly. For Patterson to remain on an NFL roster long-term, he'll need to demonstrate value as a pass-catching back or special teams contributor to offset his pedestrian rushing numbers. The Chargers will likely evaluate their backfield depth this offseason, and Patterson's 2026 may prove a make-or-break moment in determining whether he has a sustainable NFL role.

Current Sentiment

Jaret Patterson's public perception reflects the reality of a running back caught in NFL roster purgatory, with his C- sentiment grade capturing the lukewarm optimism surrounding a player whose career has been defined more by transactions than production. Media coverage has framed Patterson as the quintessential depth piece whose cycle of signings, releases, and re-signings with the Los Angeles Chargers tells the story of a franchise viewing him as situational insurance rather than a core contributor. His touchdown against the Raiders that helped push the Chargers to 30 points provided a fleeting moment of relevance, but the subsequent waiver designation reinforced his bubble-roster status in both media narratives and fan discussions. Beat writers consistently describe Patterson in terms of "potential" and "special-teams utility," language that signals respect for his work ethic while acknowledging the harsh reality that two years of limited statistical impact have yet to translate into a defined offensive role. The consensus view positions him as a player whose 2026 trajectory hinges entirely on training camp performance and the injury fortune of those ahead of him on the depth chart.