Austin Ekeler joined the Washington Commanders in 2024 after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. The running back recently opened up about his departure from Los Angeles and why he felt he had no leverage in contract negotiations.
How Did Austin Ekeler Build His NFL Career With the Chargers?
Ekeler began his NFL journey as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Los Angeles Chargers ahead of the 2017 season. The Chargers inked him to a three-year, $1.66 million contract that included a $5,000 signing bonus. During his seven seasons in Los Angeles, he played in 68 of 103 games and put up solid numbers across the board.
The versatile back accumulated 990 rushing attempts for 4,355 yards and 39 rushing touchdowns. His receiving ability set him apart, hauling in 440 receptions for 3,884 yards and 30 receiving touchdowns. Ekeler became the first NFL player to record 30 rushing touchdowns and 30 receiving touchdowns within his first seven seasons, showcasing his dual-threat capability.
His production peaked during back-to-back seasons when he led the league in total touchdowns in 2021 and 2022. This performance put him in position to seek a contract extension, but the Chargers weren’t willing to meet his asking price.
Why Did Ekeler Feel He Lacked Leverage With the Los Angeles Chargers?
While appearing on the “Stories Untold” podcast, Ekeler explained the contract situation that led to his departure from the Chargers.
“I’m coming off of my second year leading the league in touchdowns, and I go to the Chargers and I’m like, ‘Hey, let’s get an extension.’ I had one year left on my contract so they didn’t have to move anywhere.”
The timing worked against Ekeler. With one year remaining on his deal, Los Angeles held all the cards in negotiations. The team could simply let him play out his contract without feeling pressure to offer an extension.
When extension talks stalled, Ekeler requested a trade to explore other options. The Chargers’ response surprised him. They told potential trade partners they wanted a first-round draft pick in return for the running back.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, so you don’t want to pay me, but you want a first-round pick?’ So I learned a little about leverage and being in a position to negotiate things like that. For myself, I was in a position where I didn’t really have any leverage.”
The situation taught Ekeler about the business side of the NFL. Teams can value a player highly in trade discussions while simultaneously being unwilling to pay that same player what he believes he’s worth.
How Has Austin Ekeler Performed in Washington?
Ekeler had a successful opening season with the Commanders, carrying the ball 77 times for 367 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He also caught 35 passes for 366 receiving yards, maintaining his reputation as a pass-catching threat out of the backfield.
Washington utilized Ekeler’s versatility by adding kick-return duties to his responsibilities. He finished the season with 594 kickoff return yards on 19 returns across 12 games.
The financial terms of Ekeler’s Washington contract reflected his market value. He signed a deal worth $11.43 million with $8.34 million guaranteed. His base salary for the 2024 season was $1.21 million, and he’s scheduled to earn $3 million in 2025.
The move to Washington gave Ekeler the fresh start he sought after feeling undervalued in Los Angeles. His first season with the Commanders showed he still has plenty left in the tank at age 30.
