NFL Free Agency 2020: 5 Teams that should tender an offer for Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler had a breakout campaign in 2019, but now enters restricted NFL free agency where others can acquire him. Who should pursue the young star?
Austin Ekeler took the league by storm in 2019. With his running mate Melvin Gordon holding out for the first four games, Ekeler surprised many with his stellar performance as the RB1 for the Los Angeles Chargers.
He accumulated over 150 total yards and three touchdowns in his season debut versus the Indianapolis Colts, 127 total yards and one score versus the Detroit Lions, 91 total yards versus the Houston Texans and 122 total yards and two touchdowns versus the Miami Dolphins.
Even when Gordon returned, Ekeler maintained his dominance despite a limited timeshare. He logged seven more games with 80 or more total yards, including a contest versus the Jacksonville Jaguars where he totaled 100 rushing and 100 receiving yards.
On the season, Ekeler ranked second in receiving yards, first in receiving touchdowns and eighth in all-purpose yards among running backs. He demonstrated the ability to be a game-changing running back that could thrive in nearly any role.
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Now, Ekeler enters restricted NFL free agency, where he can negotiate a contract with other teams. The Chargers would have the right to match any offer and could possibly receive additional draft compensation depending on the tender they place on him. While a first-round tender would make Ekeler all but unobtainable, a second-round, original-round or right-of-first-refusal tender could open up the possibility for another team to acquire him.
Let’s take a look at several teams I believe would be a great fit for Ekeler and should offer him a contract that could pry him away from Los Angeles.