Ekeler: Negotiated Incentives for 2023 Contract Year

[Topcat]

If he wants a long term deal he's asking for at the very least a three year contact at 30 million dollars minimum or "Trade ME"! Good luck with that.

Yep...if the Bolts offer Ekkie a three year deal with an out after two, he should grab it before the Bolts sign someone else...

[charger1_sj]

Yep...if the Bolts offer Ekkie a three year deal with an out after two, he should grab it before the Bolts sign someone else...

That's never going to happen. I could see a two year extension @ $8M, with about $13M guaranteed. At $10M, not going there.
If he balked at the $13M guaranteed then he's being foolish.

[richpjr]

I'm guessing Ekeler is back playing out the last year of his existing contract and will test the market again next year.

[northerner]

Not according to what’s been reported to date, he was offered an extension that added two years to his current deal, it was 7 miilion APY with about 13 million gauranteed…it was basically the deal pipkins just signed with an additional 3 million in guaranteed cash..the deal was designed to give him some guaranteed money and some 8 million up front, it was a 1 mil bump on APY from his current deal and also would’ve dropped his cap hit from 6.25 to 3.5 giving the team almost 3 million in cap relief…at the time it was offered I felt it was a low ball offer, but after seeing the RB market play out, it wouldn’t surprise me if the team has since withdrawn the offer…one thing is 100% clear, if his agent advised him to test the market, he should fire his agent…sounds like lazy and poorly researched work from his representative…you never ask for a trade without proper back channeling, it might be against the rules but who are we kidding all top teams and agents do it…

he sounded reasonable to me - "reported" is about as accurate as a broken clock. playing on a lame duck contract does seem unfair to me (and yes, i am pro-chargers).

does anyone here think he only has one season left in him?

[northerner]

A long-term deal...and this is precisely one of the key issues which is driving salary caps into the stratosphere and forcing teams to cut players, even before their contract ends...I'm guessing more and more teams will start shying away from bloated, megabank deals that blow the lid off the cap...and for 2nd and 3rd contracts, we may see a lot more 2-3 year deals with outs...

so 2 years is long-term? as i just mentioned in another post, do we all think Eke only has one year left in him, which does not sound fair to me. the big question is: what the heck is he asking for?

[beachcomber]

don't blame Ek one bit.... he is easily worth $10m/year, and am surprised to hear the Chargers cut off extension talks.... was the agent that disagreeable ??

haven't even looked @the extensions they just handed out, as really think it was a mistake to extend the either of Bosa or MW.... they over pay for the both of those guys, but won't pay for Ek ??

I'd be a little ticked off myself, as know who I'd retain outta those three, and yes.... have already scryed that don't think Ek will be here in the '024, as think he will play out his contract and be about his biz.

the good news is that do think Ek is gonna get paid, even if he has to wait a year to get it done, and no.... don't think he is gonna be much of a distraction/problem going forward.... he just doesn't care for training camp so much, and will likely use his hold out as an opportunity to show up as late as he can.

[beachcomber]

and re: Kelley.... think we resign him next year, as think he continues to improve.

as mentioned a few moons ago, was more excited w/Kelley coming out than I ever was re: Spiller.

not so rosy eyed w/Isaiah's prospects, but really think Joshua could be alright.

would even entertain the thought to encourage him to loosen up his running style in camp and not be so worried 'bout ball security.... if he starts fumbling, then you can reel him in, albeit really think his problems began after his first fumble, and when A. Lynn weighed in on him after that.... personally, think JK puts too much emphasis on ball security, and should spend more time watching his tape as a Bruin, and working on being a bit more free lance and instinctive, rather than putting a vice grip on the ball @the first sign of trouble.

[Boltjolt]

Most teams are going with a 2RB system, meaning there are very few to no RBs that can run for 1000 yards with 300 carries AND gain 600 or more yards
receiving. So by your standard there are no complete RBs. If all a RB can do is run between the tackles he is not complete. That type can be stopped by
loading up the box. CMC unlike Ekeler gets hurt, a lot. So Ekeler would seem more durable. CMC stats are better but on a team whose offense does revolve
around him. The passes to CMC unlike the ones to Ekeler are designed beyond the LOS (except the srcreens), not dump offs when the QB is in trouble like the Chargers.

Actually Ekeler does deserve more money than he's making. The problem being the market for RBs is not there and the Chargers are not going to outbid
the market. Asking for more money in his last contract year is NOT controversial. That's actually the norm. Name a starter in the NFL that is in his 20's in
his last year contract? What happens in such a case: A) The team restructures the deal B) The team cuts the player C) The player plays out his contract
or holds out. D) If valuable enough the team Ftags him. E) He gets a contract with another team. Note the situation with a former MVP QB. Nobody is
signing the guy. A team signing L. Jackson would have to give up 2 1st round picks and pay him a boat load of money. That's the QB position the most
valuable in the NFL by far.

The likely outcome for Ekeler is C. There is still a chance B may prevail if the Chargers feel they get the RB they want through the draft.

There were 16, 1000+ yard rushers last season.
I don't think there will ever be few to none.

[northerner]

also, for anyone who want to bring up Pacheco on the chiefs: we drafted Spiller in the 4th and could not get on the field. what is my point? the chiefs got lucky. every 7th round back is not a lottery hit.

again, i am pro chargers, and i am first in line to bash a guy with a bad attitude, but i don't see that in Eke.

[Bolt4Knob]

That's never going to happen. I could see a two year extension @ $8M, with about $13M guaranteed. At $10M, not going there.
If he balked at the $13M guaranteed then he's being foolish.

Chargers have to be leery about pushing more cap down the road too much.

Ekeler for sure outplayed his contract but at the same time - he didn't understand the market. Also teams aren't stupid when looking at the film

[CanadianBoltFan]

also, for anyone who want to bring up Pacheco on the chiefs: we drafted Spiller in the 4th and could not get on the field. what is my point? the chiefs got lucky. every 7th round back is not a lottery hit.

again, i am pro chargers, and i am first in line to bash a guy with a bad attitude, but i don't see that in Eke.

Speaking of 4th round....Dameon Pierce looked like a stud....not every team misses on RB picks

[Boltjolt]

also, for anyone who want to bring up Pacheco on the chiefs: we drafted Spiller in the 4th and could not get on the field. what is my point? the chiefs got lucky. every 7th round back is not a lottery hit.

again, i am pro chargers, and i am first in line to bash a guy with a bad attitude, but i don't see that in Eke.

There are a few but it doesn't happen often.

Elijah Mitchell wasn't a 7th but a low rounder who I liked and a couple others . He has been pretty decent.....when he isn't hurt. That just don't happen very often.

He weighed in at 215 at the combine but is listed as 200 on the Niners depth chart which probably contributes to his injuries.

Likewise for Justin Jackson. I really liked him but he couldn't stay healthy for us.