Chargers News: Columnist Compares Austin Ekeler Drama to Previous LA Situations

Will the Chargers and Ekeler get a deal done?

We're a little over a month from when Chargers star running back Austin Ekeler requested a trade, and we've heard nothing happen on that front. The news came as a bit of a shock as Ekeler has been a touchdown machine for LA, but hopefully, they can retain Austin. 

At the moment, the 27-year-old is holding out as he is seeking a new contract, whether that's with the Chargers or another team. This isn't the first time the Chargers have had one of their star players hold out. Charger fans have seen this movie before, but we're not quite sure how this will end. It's all a mystery right now, but it could go one of two ways; how it went down with former LA running back Melvin Gordon, or it could go down like Chargers All-Pro safety Derwin James. 

Chargers insider from the LA Times, Jeff Miller, sees it that way and compares the current situation to those two players. 

"But the possibility of this disconnect stretching into training camp is very real, the Chargers having recent experience with players “holding in.” Melvin Ingram III did it in 2020, as did Derwin James Jr. last year."

Gordon did so in 2019 and left in free agency after that season. The 2015 draft pick held out in the 2019 season, missing the entire preseason and first four regular season games. The Bolts didn't budge, and Melvin returned and wasn't the same back because of missing out. When Melvin signed with the Broncos the following season, he regretted the entire situation and said he would've done it differently. 

As for James, he got what he wanted, but it took longer than expected. He was in the final year of his rookie deal and wanted some big money. James got what he wanted, signing a record-breaking extension worth $76.53 million over four years. The deal made him the highest-paid safety, and he produced like it. 

I see that situation ending one of those two ways for Ekeler; he's been producing like the best back in the league and deserves some big money. Will that be with the Bolts or another NFL team? We will find out soon enough.