The Chargers’ AFC West rival, the Kansas City Chiefs, locked up their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a whopping 10-year contract extension worth nearly half a billion dollars earlier this week.
Mahomes has established himself as one of the best players in the NFL in a short period of time, and the team knew that they could have success with him for a handful of years to come.
There probably isn’t another player in the league at the moment that will get a contract that looks like that because it’s a very rare occasion, as there’s been only five other players in NFL history to get a deal of 10 years or more.
Nonetheless, let’s have some fun and lay out four members of the Chargers who have solidified themselves worthy of keeping around for the next decade.
RB Austin Ekeler
Ekeler received a $5,000 signing bonus as an undrafted free agent and far outplayed his minimum contract. This offseason, the Chargers inked Ekeler to a well-deserved four-year extension.
Running backs are replaceable, right? Well, Ekeler is more than a running back. He is an offensive play-maker. Give him the ball on the ground, and he will produce. Distribute the wealth to him through the air, and he will produce.
Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey is the best pass-catching back, but Ekeler has shown that he might be the second best. In 2019, Ekeler finished with 92 catches for 993 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
At age 25, the best has yet to come for the former Western Colorado product.
EDGE Joey Bosa
Bosa has already played his way into a monstrous contract, which could be the largest for a player at his position either before or after the 2020 season.
A dominant force at wreaking havoc in opposing backfields, Bosa has 40 sacks in 51 career games, which makes him the 10th player since 1982 to total 40 or more sacks in his first 50 games. He has recorded 10-plus sacks in three of his four pro seasons thus far.
The former Ohio State product has been a difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball for Los Angeles, and at age 24, he has yet to reach his prime. There aren’t many players that are on or will likely reach his level.
WR Keenan Allen
After being hampered by injuries near the beginning of his professional career, Allen has flourished against opposing secondaries, finishing this past season with his third consecutive 1,000-yard season en route to Pro Bowl honors.
There have been a handful of young receivers that have proven themselves throughout the years, but there aren’t many that have the skillset that Allen does. The 28-year old is king at route-running and getting separation, which doesn’t come around that often with players at his position.
Allen is heading into the final year of his contract, and he will be sure to be at the top of the Chargers’ priority list, as they look to lock up one of the key pieces to their offense.
S Derwin James
James is a rare breed.
Listed as the top safety from that draft, James has lived up to his expectations and much more in just two seasons. The do-it-all defender has thrived as a safety, slot corner, linebacker, and even as a pass rusher off the edge.
James played in the Pro Bowl and was voted first-team All-Pro in 2018. And while he didn’t see the field much in 2019 due to a foot injury sustained prior to the season, his impact was felt upon returning to the starting lineup.
In 21 games played and started, James has posted 139 tackles (98 solo), 14 passes defensed, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions.
These are the type of players that don’t come around that often.