Austin Ekeler: ‘I Have No Guarantees’ On New Deal
Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is one of the luckier players in his position this week. He actually has a contract.
Following Monday’s deadline for franchise-tagged players to negotiate contracts, there are a few disgruntled running backs around the league. The likes of Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard and Josh Jacobs don’t have deals.
Austin Ekeler agreed to a revised deal back in May, but not before testing the demoralizing RB trade market.
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“You were going to have to trade some high picks for me,†said Austin Ekeler.
“The Chargers, they weren’t going to let me go for anything that wasn’t up there, so they saw my value there. It’s funny how when they allow me the trade, they’re like, ‘OK, but we want you to get these types of picks,’ which were not low picks, ‘but we’re not going to pay you like you’re that type of player.’ So, it’s kind of interesting where it’s like, ‘Oh, if you’re going to get traded, you got to get traded at this level, but if we’re going to keep you, we’re going to keep you down here at this level.’
“You can see for them, yeah, it makes sense because they’re getting the best of both worlds there. They have the leverage. And so that’s why it was tough for me to get anything out there or get a new contract where you’re going to have to give up high picks and also restructure my contract. That’s just being transparent on my situation.”
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“Look, I signed my four-year deal,” Ekeler said. “I am very thankful to have another opportunity to continue to play. I’m going to go out there and play at another high level again. But now there’s just more pressure on me because I have no guarantees, and I will be a free agent after this year unless something gets done during the year, which could be a possibility.”
