Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is one of the players that found difficulty this offseason in landing a contract that translates to his value on the field. He was permitted by the team to seek a trade, but nothing was found.
But, he was still able to cash in somewhat as he and the Chargers agreed to a restructured contract that pays him a little more via incentives. While he got somewhat of what he was seeking, the running back market as a whole has cratered this offseason.
During a recent appearance on the Rich Eisen show, the Chargers’ star voiced his frustrations with how negotiations went for him compared to other players in the league at other positions. He called out franchises around the league for diminishing the starting running back market while paying backups at other positions more money.
“If I’m looking at some of the backup receivers out here that are still making more than me, that’s going to piss me off, right? I’m a little bit like, ‘OK, wait a minute, so you’re telling me these people are the No. 3 receivers and they’re going to make more than me? And I’m the starter? I get more carries, I touch the ball more, I have more of an impact.’
“It causes us to question, right? We’re going to fight for that. I’m bringing more value to the team than this person. I think I should be compensated for that. … It seems like it’s about money, but it’s about principles. It’s about the principle of adding value to a team.”
Ekeler certainly makes a good point when it comes to the difference in value on the field. As the starting running back, especially as a dual-threat like he is, he is touching the ball a lot more than a No. 3 wide receiver is. In most instances, he is outpacing that player in receptions as well as he is a key component of the Chargers’ passing game.
But, for whatever the reason may be, teams around the league have seemingly come to a consensus that running backs should not be paid the same top-of-the-market deals as other positions around the league. Some teams have been burned by handing out long-term deals to running backs, but players not living up to a contract aren’t running back specific.
That is something that happens at every position in the NFL, so why running backs are being singled out is anyone’s guess. Ekeler has proven to be one of the best players in the league at his position during his time with the Chargers and he deserves to be compensated as such, just like everyone else playing professional football.
