Mathews, Chargers agree on five-year deal
The San Diego Chargers have signed running back Ryan Mathews, their first-round pick, to a five-year deal worth $25.65 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The guaranteed portion of the contract is $15.08 million.
"We are excited to have Ryan here and ready to go," Chargers president Dean Spanos said, per the USA Today. "Aside from his outstanding talents on the field, he's a class young man and the kind of player we're proud to add to our team."
That said, it's unknown whether Mathews will participate in this afternoon's practice, which will be the team's first in full pads, since Mathews still has to take a physical, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Earlier this off-season, head coach Norv Turner had said that he expects Mathews to get around 250 carries. In a league that has transitioned away from workhorse running backs, 250 carries would have ranked tenth in the NFL in 2009.
In our fantasy football rankings, Mathews is the 12th-ranked running back on our list.
