For the last couple of months, there has been doubt about Austin Ekeler’s future with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The very productive running back has been looking to get a contract extension that would pay him handsomely, but neither side was able to come to an agreement, and he ended up asking to be traded earlier this offseason.
But he will be wearing a Chargers uniform this fall, as the team added $1.75 million in incentives to his current deal in order to keep him around.
NFL analyst Adam Levitan says that while Ekeler is underpaid, it was unlikely another team would’ve traded for him and been willing to pay him at market value on a new contract.
Think both of these things can be true:
* Austin Ekeler is underpaid
* No team was giving up assets for the right to pay a 28-year-old RB a new contract— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) May 23, 2023
Over the last two seasons, Ekeler, who went undrafted out of Division II Western Colorado University, has been one of the league’s more productive backs.
He has gone over 900 rushing yards in both of the last two years while also adding 647 receiving yards in 2021 and 722 receiving yards in 2022.
Ekeler has also led the NFL in total receiving and rushing touchdowns in 2021 and 2022 with 20 and 18, respectively.
But he hasn’t made a Pro Bowl yet, and he just turned 28 years of age, which means he is nearing the point at which running backs traditionally fall off a cliff, and he will still become a free agent next offseason.
The Chargers are looking to improve what was an anemic offense in 2022, especially on the ground, with the hiring of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who worked wonders with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard while with the Dallas Cowboys.
They’re hoping Moore will be able to get more out of Ekeler as long as he remains in L.A.
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Brandon Staley Gives Update On When Austin Ekeler Will Report To Camp
