Dolphins Should Make a Play for Chargers' Austin Ekeler amid Latest NFL Trade Rumors

The Miami Dolphins have a lot of pieces in place, especially offensively. They recently picked up the fifth-year option on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's contract, and they have two standout receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

What the Dolphins don't have is a quality backfield. Miami ranked a modest 19th in yards per carry last season (4.3) and could lose Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Myles Gaskin in free agency.

Mostert, who averaged 4.9 yards per carry and led the team with 891 rushing yards, would be a particularly tough loss, should he sign elsewhere. Even if the Dolphins are able to retain him, they would benefit from adding another top-tier back to the rotation.

Miami might have an opportunity to do just that via a trade.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler has requested permission to seek a trade. If the Chargers ultimately grant that request, the Dolphins should be interested.

While Ekeler isn't viewed as an elite ball-carrier, he averaged a solid 4.5 yards per carry in 2022. He is, however, an elite pass-catcher. Ekeler caught 107 passes this past season for 722 yards and two touchdowns.

In all, Ekeler compiled 1,637 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns.

That's the sort of top-tier production the Dolphins haven't gotten from a single back since perhaps the days of Ricky Williams. Ekeler would be a perfect fit for a Mike McDaniel offense that utilizes spacing to create big plays.

No player has produced more scrimmage touchdowns since 2021 than Ekeler's 38.

Putting Ekeler in an offense with Hill and Waddle would make Miami's offense extremely dangerous, especially in the passing game.

And this is the important piece of the equation. Miami is hoping that Tagovailoa continues to develop into a true franchise quarterback, and putting another reliable pass-catcher around him would only aid that development.

Ekeler is about as dependable as they come. In each of the past five seasons, he has provided a passer rating of at least 102.8 when targeted. For Tagovailoa, Ekeler could serve as the ultimate security blanket.

Now, this potential pairing comes with a couple of caveats. We don't know if the Chargers will make Ekeler available, and we don't know what the trade cost might be. However, general manager Chris Grier hasn't been shy about making trades to improve the roster.

Grier brought in Hill last offseason and on Sunday agreed to trade for Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey:

The 27-year-old Ekeler is also entering the final year of his contract and would likely prefer to land an extension along with a new home. That could be tricky for a Dolphins team entering free agency with $13.8 million in cap space.

Lastly, the Dolphins must consider that the 2023 draft is perceived as particularly deep at the running back position. The Bleacher Report Scouting Department lists 15 running backs inside the top 150 players in its latest draft rankings.

Miami is equipped with second- and third-round draft picks and might uncover a new starter in April's draft—though that isn't guaranteed.

Acquiring Ekeler would guarantee the Dolphins an elite dual-threat running back, and one who should have a few strong years left ahead of him. While Ekeler will turn 28 in May, he didn't see a heavy workload early in his career, has logged just 811 career carries and has shown no signs of decline.

Again, we don't know if Los Angeles will actually make Ekeler available, but if it does, Miami must be prepared to make a play.

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*Cap and contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.