Chargers' Division Rival Favorite to Trade for Austin Ekeler Following 2023 Draft

Is Ekeler staying in the AFC West?

The draft is finally over, and Austin Ekeler is still a Charger for now. There was a possibility that the Chargers could've dealt their star running back. 

Charger fans hope Ekeler is here to stay, but there is a chance he could still be dealt with many months ahead of us till the season starts. The trade request is still there, and the Chargers are doing all they can to keep the 27-year-old back. 

Nonetheless, the Bolts must be open to options. If he's traded, I'm sure the Chargers would love to get him out of the conference, but that's not how Bleacher Report writer Julia Stumbaugh views it. Stumbaugh believes four teams are the best landing spot for Ekeler, and one of them is the Bolts' division rival. 

Denver Broncos

Head coach Sean Payton called Samaje Perine an "important piece" after picking up the versatile running back in free agency. Adding depth to the position has been crucial for the Broncos this offseason as Javonte Williams continues recovering from a knee injury that has him set to return "at some point in 2023," per NFL.com's April 22 update. Payton has previously stated that Denver is willing to take a running back in the draft, but the top prospects are already off the board. Would the Broncos consider turning to a veteran option to add insurance for Williams' uncertain status entering the season?

Uhhh, hell to the no. Unless the package for the trade is something you can't say no to, you aren't even thinking about trading your best offensive weapon to your division rival. The Chargers' front office wouldn't be able to explain that to their fanbase, and it would be a horrible thing to do. 

The Bolts aren't doing this, but the Denver Broncos could use another running back at their disposal. Javonte Williams tore his ACL last season, and there is still no timetable for his return. 

No way that will happen, and I believe the Chargers will stand pat and not pay Ekeler until his contract expires. We still have a long off-season ahead of us, we'll see how it goes down.