Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Chargers gave running back Austin Ekeler permission to seek a trade, and he’s now made it quite clear exactly why he wants to leave the team: to pursue more money.
During an appearance on Chris Long’s Greenlight podcast, Austin Ekeler opened up about his request to be traded from the team, revealing that the move is nothing against the Los Angeles Chargers. He just wants a long-term contract with a team because he is “so underpaid right now.”
“I’m so underpaid right now as far as my contract and what I contribute to the team, I am relentlessly pursuing this,” Ekeler said on the show according to Pro Football Talk. “I want to get something long-term done. I want a team that wants me long-term. I’m at the peak of my game, I’m going to score you another 20 touchdowns. As long as I’m healthy I’m going to score 20 touchdowns, I’m going to have 1,600 all-purpose yards. I’m getting half my value of what I can be getting. So I am relentlessly pursuing someone who wants me.”
So far, no team seems to be offering Ekeler or the Chargers what they want to make the deal happen. We’ll have to see how the situation progresses in the coming days and weeks.
