Austin Ekeler says RB zoom wasn't a one-off, plan is to 'attack' franchise tag
Los Angeles Chargers star Austin Ekeler has made it clear that he plans to do more to advocate for himself and his fellow running backs beyond the zoom call he organized last weekend.
In a recent interview with USA Today, Ekeler stated the initial RB-only zoom call was just the tip of the iceberg as he and several other of the NFL’s top backs have been outspoken about seeking more reasonable compensation for the fourth-lowest paid position in the NFL.
“It’s not just a one-time call,” Ekeler said. “We are going to have more of those and continue to get more people on. We just had that to kind of break the ice and bring awareness. There are going to be more calls and more education on what’s going on, and how we can combat it and decide if it’s worth combatting in the future. …It’s educating right now. That is the next step in my eyes.”
Though his situation differs a little from Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard and Josh Jacobs, who were all franchise tagged at the beginning of the offseason, Ekeler is one of a handful of RBs who have expressed frustration with their contract status this offseason.
The 27-year-old, who’s accounted for 1,550 yards from scrimmage with 11 or more touchdowns in three of the last four seasons, was scheduled to earn $6.25 million in the final year of his deal — 11th among running backs — but negotiated an additional $1.75 million in incentives at the end of May.
Though Barkley agreed to a revised one-year deal that could be worth $900,000 more than his $10.1 million franchise tag number, the 26-year-old, as well as Pollard and Jacobs, could be in the same boat next season if they’re tagged again, as could several other 2024 free agent backs including Ekeler, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry and D’Andre Swift.
Finding a way to either eliminate, or at the very, least limit the number of times RBs can be tagged seems to be at the top of Ekeler’s to-do list although changes can't be made to the NFL's current collective bargaining agreement until 2030.
“I want to attack it,” Ekeler said of the franchise tag. “I think it’s detrimental to us as players. … Our average career is three years. If you are fortunate enough to be in a position to have success, and now you’re able to be locked in for more on one year, one year, one year and not have to share any of that risk with the organization than it’s just not a great situation. It’s very one-sided. … You’re starting to piss people off and these guys are the superstars of the league. … We have the guys that make an influence, have been making an influence and have actual say in the locker room, in the media and in the fanbase.”
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