Chargers News: Austin Ekeler Trade Status Remains Same, LA Hoping He Stays
Los Angeles Chargers star running back Austin Ekeler requested a trade from LA in mid-March. We're now in May, and there is no sign of that happening in the near future.
But don't just take my word for it, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco went on the Rich Eisen show and said nothing has changed on that front and hopes Ekeler is still rocking the powder blue in 2023.
"Nothing's changed," Telesco said Tuesday on "The Rich Eisen Show." "His (Ekeler's) situation is unique. I completely understand that, which is why we kind of allowed them to kind of look and see if anything was out there. We had no intent, no interest of trading him, but fully knowing his situation to go ahead and do it."
Telesco was on the show on Tuesday and spoke about all things Chargers with the sports analyst.
Ekeler is in the last year of his four-year contract and is looking for a new one, whether with LA or another squad. His contract is worth $24.5 million, but he's been outplaying his contract in the past two seasons. There is no doubt Austin deserves more money, but the question is, who will give it to him?
He plays the running back position, the most expendable position in the game, regardless of how the numbers look. He is a star player, but paying him more than he's getting is tricky; on top of that, the Chargers might give their QB Justin Herbert that money Ekeler wants.
If the Chargers can retain the 27-year-old, they would remain one of the best offenses in the league and be a real threat in the AFC. Hopefully, that will remain the case by September.
