Ekeler: Negotiated Incentives for 2023 Contract Year

[Critty]

Ekeler likely believes he should be paid in top 10.
So he is looking for 10-12mil or more per year.
He is currently 15th highest paid.
At age 28 Chargers probably offered to bump him up to 12th
only 2 years at 8mil per year.
Ekeler wants to see if he can get traded to a team that will pay him 10-12mil or more with an extra year. 3/35mil or more deal. But which team would give up a draft pick and then pay a 28year old RB that much money. It only takes one to do it.

[Bolt4Knob]

Exactly

Ekler has been extremely productive. But with Justin Herbert as your QB, you probably dont want 107 short passes goimg to your RB in a better offence, and you need to be able to pound the ball on running downs, like in the 2nd half against the Jags. There are RBs that can do that better than Ekler.

I dont think a switch at RB is the end of the world, unless they dont add to Kelley and Spiller.

Thats exactly what it is. Its kind of why I was ready to move on from Allen and also why I don't think Schultz makes sense if you have Allen, Williams and Palmer - - they need to get more explosive and vertical

I also get why Ek wants a raise

[jamrock]

Ekeler likely believes he should be paid in top 10.
So he is looking for 10-12mil or more per year.
He is currently 15th highest paid.
At age 28 Chargers probably offered to bump him up to 12th
only 2 years at 8mil per year.
Ekeler wants to see if he can get traded to a team that will pay him 10-12mil or more with an extra year. 3/35mil or more deal. But which team would give up a draft pick and then pay a 28year old RB that much money. It only takes one to do it.

He deserves it. He’s a guy that you should want to keep happy. TT, pay the man

[Velo]

Because managing the cap is a complex thing for a team with little wiggle room and he is almost 29 and will soon be declining like all RBs do at that age.

He and his agent were pretty quick to play the trade card. This clearly seems like a negotiating tactic. Teams that contend let go of good players, find replacements and keep going while managing their overall rosters and cap. We could use an RB that can get tough yards and sustain drives. Plus if Herbert plays in a non Lombardi offence designed more for his arm talent he doesnt need to pass to Ekler 100 times

Dont get me wrong, I like Ekler, but this team doesnt need to be paying a 29 year old RB 12 million with their cap situation.

Trade Bosa, pay Ekeler. Bosa is set to make $24 mil this season. Who does more for the Chargers, Ekeler or Bosa?

[el_jefe999]

Heard this on NFL radio in the car and it's pretty disappointing. I love Ek and everything he's brought to the team but if he and the team can't agree on value then we need to get what we can for him via trade. This is the unfortunate part of the business. I get why Ek wants a raise as he's getting towards the downhill part of his career which is likely the same reason the team is hesitant to invest big dollars.

I've heard the Bills are super interested as they need a RB upgrade. They are in bad cap shape though so not sure how it could be made to work.

[21&500]

No no no
I say we have him for a year and let him walk, we keep finding new ways to make it harder for Herbert to do his job.
JFC!
He will no hold out, we need him for this season where 4 big names were recently restructured.
I wouldn't listen to any trade offers that didn't start with a 2nd round pick, if at all.

[Bolt4Knob]

Trade Bosa, pay Ekeler. Bosa is set to make $24 mil this season. Who does more for the Chargers, Ekeler or Bosa?

too late to trade Bosa
they already re-did his contract
granted, they could trade him and take a huge cap hit

[FoutsFan]

If he is traded it has to be to the Bears or Lions or teams that have no chance of winning in the NFC and have cap space.

[Lefty2SLO]

too late to trade Bosa
they already re-did his contract
granted, they could trade him and take a huge cap hit

I really like Eckler, even more as a leader (by example) than what he does on the field (which is a lot for this team), and I'd hate to lose one of our toughest players as we don't have many of those to begin with. I don't think it's ALL about money - IMO he wants to play for an organization that has a chance to go deep in the playoffs, and he'd prefer to be in a solid platoon situation so that his shelf life is extended. The Chargers have played the crap out of him the last couple of years and he knows that's not sustainable. If he can get more $$$'s annually from someone else then that's icing on the cake, but playing longer makes him more money.

JMHO - I see this as his way of getting out. Based on what I know of his character the way last season ended must have really grated on him. Interesting timing that this comes out right after the 'big 4' restructuring effort is complete.

[21&500]

If he is traded it has to be to the Bears or Lions or teams that have no chance of winning in the NFC and have cap space.

100%
I wouldn't want to see him on a contending AFC team.

[CanadianBoltFan]

No no no
I say we have him for a year and let him walk, we keep finding new ways to make it harder for Herbert to do his job.
JFC!
He will no hold out, we need him for this season where 4 big names were recently restructured.
I wouldn't listen to any trade offers that didn't start with a 2nd round pick, if at all.

Bear could really use him to help Fields and they have tons of good picks.

[Critty]

If he is traded it has to be to the Bears or Lions or teams that have no chance of winning in the NFC and have cap space.

Bears make a lot of sense as a trade destination.
They have extra picks, cap space and could use a pass catching RB.
Not ideal to lose a player like him, but better than hold out.