Austin Ekeler Talks Chargers Contract, Trade Request: 'I'm So Underpaid Right Now'

Los Angeles Chargers star running back Austin Ekeler discussed his desire to sign a contract extension during an interview Monday.

Appearing on Green Light with former NFL defensive end Chris Long, Ekeler said the following about his contract status and his desire to get a new deal done (beginning at 3:30 mark):

"I feel like there's no timeline ... I'm so underpaid right now, as far as my contract and what I contribute to the team. I am, I am relentlessly pursuing this. I want to get something long-term done. I want a team that wants me long term. I'm at the peak of my game."

Last week, Ekeler requested permission from the Chargers to seek a trade since the two sides have been unable to come to terms on a new deal, and his agent, Cameron Weiss, told ESPN's Adam Schefter the team had granted his request.

The 27-year-old signed a four-year, $24.5 million contract in 2020, and he is set to enter the final year of that deal in 2023.

Ekeler is scheduled to earn just $6.25 million in base salary in 2023, which isn't in line with his elite-level performance over the past two seasons.

In 2021, he led the NFL with 20 total touchdowns, plus he rushed for 911 yards and caught 70 passes for 647 yards.

He followed that up with an equally good season in 2022, again leading the NFL with 18 total touchdowns, rushing for a career-high 915 yards and catching a career-high 107 passes for 722 yards.

Regarding his low pay relative to his production, Ekeler said: "Scored 20 touchdowns last year, 1,600 all-purpose yards. Right. Like, and I can't get an extension? Like, you don't want me here? Like, wait a minute. Am I missing something here? What am I missing? It's confusing and frustrating at the same time."

Ekeler's earning potential has seemingly been impacted by the devaluation of the running back position, but he does more than a typical running back and is almost a running back and wide receiver rolled into one.

In many ways, the Western Colorado product is similar to San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, who signed a four-year, $64.063 million contract with the Carolina Panthers in 2020.

McCaffrey has a higher ceiling than Ekeler and is slightly younger at 26, but he is also injury prone, missing 23 games between the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Meanwhile, Ekeler has appeared in at least 16 regular-season games in three of the past four seasons and four times in six NFL seasons overall.

He says he wants to stay with the Chargers, but he is also looking to realize his full worth in his next contract:

"It's not like, 'Oh I hate the Chargers and I need to get out of this organization. And I need to leave.' Like, that couldn't be further from the truth. I would like to stay, if it was under the right circumstances.

"[...] For me, it's like, if there's an opportunity to get more value, why would you not jump on that?"

Ekeler is a key piece of L.A.'s explosive offense along with quarterback Justin Herbert and the wide receiver duo of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and losing him would have a hugely negative impact on the unit.

The veteran running back has become Herbert's preferred safety valve in the passing game, and despite being a smallish player, Ekeler has excelled in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

Trepidation on the Chargers' part to sign Ekeler to a new deal is somewhat understandable due to the volatile nature of the running back position, especially with the player approaching 28 years of age.

Perhaps the biggest thing working against Ekeler in landing a new contract from the Chargers or another team is the softness of the running back market.

Miles Sanders has landed the biggest free-agent contract among running backs this offseason with an average annual value of $6.25 million from the Panthers, but the vast majority of free-agent backs have signed for $4 million or less annually.

Ekeler is unlike most other running backs in the NFL, but teams aren't necessarily lining up to invest big money in the position, especially at this stage of free agency.