Austin Ekeler’s current commerce request does not imply that he needs to depart the Chargers. In truth, the versatile working again not too long ago stated that he wish to stick with the franchise that signed him as an undrafted rookie again in 2017, however provided that the state of affairs is true.
Ekeler’s current contract, he stated, is the one motive why he has requested a commerce. He has one yr remaining on a four-year, $24.5 million deal (with $15 million assured) that he signed in 2020. His present projected market worth is a three-year take care of $12.82 million yearly, in keeping with Spotrac.
“I feel it is actually vital to place it on the market that it isn’t like, ‘Oh, I hate the Chargers and I must get out of this group, and I want to depart,'” he stated throughout a current look on “Green Light with Chris Long” podcast, by way of NFL Media. “That could not be farther from the reality. I wish to keep if it was beneath the precise circumstances.
“Obviously, I’ve yet another yr on my contract there, so I’m contractually obligated to play for them for this upcoming yr. So, we’re in a state of affairs the place it is like, look, we have now no ensures or something like that this yr, so type of in a spot the place I’ve been outplaying my contract, and we’d have a chance to go search out different choices that may deliver me up.”
Ekeler emphasised that his commerce request isn’t a mirrored image on how he views his time with the Chargers.
“It actually has nothing to do with the connection. I’ve made a fantastic relationship there,” he stated. “Grown there. That’s the place I began. So, I need to be there, however on the precise phrases. Because I do know, look, I can not play ceaselessly. I feel I can play for a very long time simply the best way I play and the best way I deal with myself and my mentality.”
Ekeler has a powerful argument relating to his want to obtain a pay increase. He has been one of many NFL’s most efficient ability gamers over the previous two seasons after accidents restricted him to 10 video games in 2020. Over the previous two seasons, Ekeler has run for 1,826 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has additionally caught 177 passes for 1,369 yards and 13 touchdowns over that span.
Ekeler’s determination to signal his present deal again in 2020 is considerably of a head scratcher. He was coming off of a 2019 season that noticed him amass over 1,500 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns that included a 993 yards receiving.
The 27-year-old stated if he was introduced with an opportunity to get extra worth then “why would you not bounce on that?”
After taking part in nicely beneath market worth for the final a number of years, Ekeler, who has been granted permission by the Chargers to hunt a commerce companion, is hoping to be correctly compensated sooner quite than later. He stated that there is no such thing as a timetable, nonetheless, in terms of a potential commerce.
“I’m so underpaid proper now so far as my contract and what I contribute to the workforce, it is like, I’m relentlessly pursuing this,” Ekeler stated. “I need to get one thing long-term finished. I desire a workforce that wishes me long run. I’m on the peak of my recreation, proper? As lengthy as I’m wholesome, I’m gonna rating you one other 20 touchdowns. I’m gonna have, , one other 1,600 all-purpose yards. I’m getting half my worth of what I may very well be getting. I’m relentlessly pursuing somebody who needs me for the long run.”
