Expert Hints Chargers Deal with Conference Rival Amidst Legal Allegations

Two of the best RB's in the league involved here.

Amidst the Austin Ekeler saga that has been going on for about a month now, multiple teams have been consistently named by experts as likely trade candidates. While there have been no solid offers in place for the 27-year-old running back, one franchise that continues to get mentioned is the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals also play in the AFC so there have been questions of whether or not the Los Angeles Chargers would agree to send Ekeler there and potentially make their road to a Super Bowl tougher along the way. However, the Bengals hold multiple draft picks that the Bolts will definitely be interested in and they've been looking for a Joe Mixon replacement in order to save money.

But there is a whole new layer of controversy surrounding Mixon that will persuade the Bengals to do so even more. He just had an aggravated menacing charge dismissed some weeks ago following the accusation that he harassed a women verbally and with a gun. It looks like it may not be over just yet though as the case has been refiled and it was announced Friday that the charges will hit him once again.

Joe Mixon has been recharged with aggravated menacing after allegedly pointing a gun at a woman in January.

The misdemeanor charge was initially dropped in February pending further investigation. pic.twitter.com/kZzqh9GyJf

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) April 7, 2023

David Lathan of 'Last Word on Sports' believes this could open the door even wider for us to see Ekeler end up in Cincinnati.

"Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is not happy with his current team. The former undrafted free agent wants a new contract, and perhaps the Bengals would be willing to give him one. However, the question then becomes if the Chargers would trade Ekeler to a conference rival. The Chargers and Bengals are two of the best five teams in the AFC, and both teams should have Super Bowl aspirations in 2023. The Bengals would probably need to give up a decent amount in draft compensation to make a trade happen."

(Via Last Word on Sports)

Legal cases are always tough to work around and it seems as though the Bengals won't be able to make a firm decision any time soon. Luckily for them, it doesn't look like Ekeler will be moved any time soon either.