Among the whirlwind of teams preparing for free agency, it was reported that running back Austin Ekeler had received permission to speak to teams around the league about a trade. He and his representation had engaged the Los Angeles Chargers in contract extension talks and things did not go well. As a result, he was looking for a team that may pay him what he is seeking.
Austin Ekeler is the best pass-catching back in the NFL. He is coming off a season in which he caught 107 passes and nearly hit the 1,000-yard plateau in 2019 when he caught 92 passes for 933 yards.
While his pass-catching ability is elite, he is more than just a third-down back. Austin Ekeler can hold his own on early downs as a lead back, making him one of the best dual-threat players at his position in the league.
The biggest thing working against him right now is that the market is oversaturated. The free-agent running back market was very deep this offseason. Any team that had a hole to fill in the backfield had plenty of options to choose from and a majority of them already have.
That makes the market for Austin Ekeler, despite his skill set, tough to pinpoint. One team that could show interest in him is the Washington Commanders. Strong rumors persist about the Commanders being where Ekeler can land in a trade in the coming weeks.
It is certainly an interesting team to hear in Ekeler discussions, as Washington’s backfield looks set. Brian Robinson Jr. had a miraculous return to the field last season after being shot before the season started and handled early-down work. Antonio Gibson thrived in his change-of-pace and passing-down role.
Shaking that up would certainly be a surprise, but there is no denying that Ekeler would be an upgrade for that group. What could it cost the Commanders to land him? An offer of Gibson and a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft could pique the Chargers’ interest.
While certainly not the same caliber of player, Gibson has shown a dual-threat package in his career and can be plugged right into the lineup. In the final year of his rookie contract, he would be exponentially cheaper than Ekeler will be to sign to a new deal.
The Commanders would have one of the best skill-position groups in the NFL. Slowing down a passing game with Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel at wide receiver with Ekeler coming out of the backfield would be a lot for opponents to handle. That amount of weapons would also enable the Commanders to see right away whether or not Sam Howell is their long-term answer at the quarterback position.
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