Chargers Rumors: Insider Believes These Contenders Should Trade for Austin Ekeler
A tale old as time in the history of sports is that franchises view everybody as replaceable. When you have thousands of players trying to enter their name in the NFL draft each year in hopes of even making a practice squad, front offices have a ton of options in front of them when it comes to their rosters.
Then you have the players themselves who are rightfully trying to control their destiny and profit off of their peak abilities. Austin Ekeler is a clear example of this happening right now and he is not backing down from the extension he wants. With new reports surfacing that the Los Angeles Chargers did indeed approach him about a new contract multiple times before the offseason, it has fans questioning just how much it is he wants and if he's even worth it at this point.
There is no doubt that Ekeler would be one of the top options on whichever squad he's on this coming season. He has clearly displayed with over 900 yards accumulated in 2022 that he's going to get the ball down the field. But it's not just that, he goes beyond the responsibilities of a running back and has shown this through his 107 receptions as well. He led his position with this number and beyond all of the money talks, his talent on the football field would uplift any contender.
Bleacher Report's Maurice Moton certainly agrees that Ekeler could very well be on his way out and it might be beneficial for the Chargers' locker room following his most recent comments. He took a deep-dive into which contenders could seriously make a play for him and why they would benefit.
Moton started off with the Philadelphia Eagles, who had one of the best regular season records in 2022 but also lost some key pieces in free agency.
"The Philadelphia Eagles allowed Miles Sanders to walk in free agency. Ekeler could take over the lead role with Penny, Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott in reserve roles. With that group, the Eagles can field another top-five rushing offense and lighten quarterback Jalen Hurts' workload on the ground."
(Via Bleacher Report)
If they pulled this deal off for the right price, the Eagles would definitely be poised to match last season's success.
Moton also pinpointed the New York Jets as a possible landing spot for Ekeler.
"Assuming the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers eventually come to terms on an Aaron Rodgers trade, Gang Green could acquire a dual-threat running back as a welcome present for the four-time league MVP. The Jets can feature Ekeler in the short passing game while Breece Hall works his way back into game shape from a torn ACL."
(Via Bleacher Report)
The New York Jets have all the cards on their side to make themselves a top-tier team in 2023.
A lot of this does come down to if these squads offer enough in return for Ekeler. The Chargers have their own goals in mind this season and it's going to take more than just some decent draft compensation.
