Chargers running back Austin Ekeler has garnered the majority of the attention within the past week after receiving a much-needed contract extension.
Even though Ekeler’s payday already came, he’s rooting for RB Melvin Gordon, along with the other backs that will hit the free agency market, to get paid.
“For me as a player in the NFL, we need Melvin to get paid,” Ekeler said Tuesday on NFL Network. “Cause the market for running backs is a lot lower than any other market as far as pay and things like that.
It’s a double-edged sword. We want him here, but we always want him to get paid. Especially as a running back—and all the other running backs—we need some people to set the market, the Pro Bowl guys need to set the market.
“We need Derrick Henry, we need those guys to get paid.”.
In the past three seasons, Ekeler has become one of the league’s most dynamic dual-threat backs. While his role shouldn’t change too much in the offense, the former Western Colorado product expects there to be a “new aura” in Los Angeles next season as they move into their new stadium.
“It really is [going to be different],” Ekeler said. “I was actually talking to our [general manager], Tom Telesco. And he’s just like, ‘There’s gonna be a new aura around the Chargers next year.’ [Antonio] Gates is gone—retired. Philip, who’s been there forever—these guys that have been there forever are starting to move out.
You know one of our leaders, Russell Okung, he’s going over to the Panthers, so we’ve lost a lot of our leadership that we used to have. And that’s new opportunities for guys to step up. And we’re moving to a new stadium, as well.”
The biggest change that can be expected is on the offensive side of the ball. With quarterback Philip Rivers and offensive tackle Russell Okung gone, along with running back Gordon likely gone, the offense will have a new identity.
It’s expected that the Chargers will implement a new zone scheme where the read option has a large presence as they are likely to have a more mobile quarterback under center.
If Los Angeles chooses to delay their new offensive system by pursuing a non-mobile, yet a big fish in the pond to help with ticket sales with someone like Tom Brad, Ekeler is onboard.
“Here’s why I think it would be a good fit. We just lost a lot of leadership in Philip Rivers, right? So it’s like, all right, there’s a void there now,” Ekeler said. “Also, Russell Okung, one of our tackles, got traded. He was one of our team leaders as well. So there’s a void in leadership right there.
It’s an opportunity for people to step up, but if you bring a guy like Tom Brady in the room, he’s been there, done that. He’s already got the leadership qualities and he’s already proven that he’s a winner. So hey, let’s build something around that, too.”
Regardless, no matter who is under center, Ekeler believes the Chargers have the pieces on the offensive side of the ball to make a run.
“I feel like we have the pieces to make a run regardless,” Ekeler said. “I feel like that void is there, it’s going to be filled by somebody. But we just have the talent around him, whoever that person is, to make him successful.”