Los Angeles Chargers Austin Ekeler “Thankful” For Contract Compromise

The Los Angeles Chargers and Austin Ekeler did something that few teams have been able to do this offseason. They came to a contract compromise. While other running backs like Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley are holding out, Ekeler reworked his deal to stay on the Chargers. In a recent interview, Ekeler said that he was “thankful” for the compromise.

Los Angeles Chargers Austin Ekeler “Thankful”

Ekeler has one year remaining on his deal and at one point, looked to be a trade candidate. However, the team appeased their star running back by adding $1.75 million in incentives to his deal. Being one of the most productive backs in the league, it is not hard to see a world where Ekeler meets any incentive. Ekeler talked about the compromise.

“What’s been happening with the atmosphere around the running back market has been pretty tough,” Ekeler said Wednesday, per Tyler Dragon of USA Today. “I am thankful for the way it played out. The Chargers did give me something in the middle, some type of incentive.”

The Outlier In Today’s Running Back Market

The aforementioned Jacobs and Barkley seem to be far apart in contract talks. Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott have been released and have not signed with any team yet. Countless other running backs are on the market. Ekeler is the lone one to be signed with a team and is seemingly happy with his contract. What he probably is happy about is that he has a job something that is in doubt for some of these other backs. The Chargers also have to be happy about getting a deal done and having their star player back for an important season.

The Los Angeles Chargers will need Austin Ekeler to be special again this year. They have to try and knock off the Kansas City Chiefs and a slew of other AFC powerhouses if they are going to win the much coveted Super Bowl.