Chargers running back Austin Ekeler received permission to seek a trade on Tuesday.
If Los Angeles were to deal Ekeler, here are a few teams that could show interest in him.
Chicago Bears
The Bears are seeking to add as much talent around Justin Fields as possible. First, it was D.J. Moore. Now, it could be Ekeler. David Montgomery signed with the Lions. Therefore, Chicago will look for a complement to Khalil Herbert. Herbert was hardly involved in the passing game, which is the element that Ekeler could bring. The Bears can afford to make this type of move, as they have plenty of draft capital after trading out of the No. 1 overall pick. Additionally, they have more cap space than any team in the league.
Washington Commanders
With Eric Bieniemy as the new offensive coordinator, the Commanders will ensure he has as many weapons as possible. They have a nice wide receiver core with Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson. But the backfield could be better. Washington recently released J.D. McKissic. Antonio Gibson is in the final year of his rookie deal. Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. would be a nice one-two punch.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins want to get the most out of Tua Tagovailoa’s rookie deal. They have the speed with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but the backfield still leaves plenty to be desired. Despite re-signing Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, Ekeler is much better than the two. And with how Mike McDaniel likes to use his running backs in the passing game, it would be the perfect marriage.
Baltimore Ravens
J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards have dealt with significant injuries, suffering torn ACLs before the 2021 season. Upon returning, Dobbins led all Ravens running backs with only 520 rushing yards in 2022. Edwards will be a free agent after this upcoming season. With or without Lamar Jackson under center, head coach John Harbaugh will likely continue to lean on a run-heavy approach, where Ekeler could come in handy.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills’ leading rusher last season was Devin Singletary, who is currently a free agent. Buffalo did use a second-round pick on James Cook in 2022. Cook ran for 507 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season. Additionally, they traded for Nyheim Hines. But Ekeler’s skill set and talent could really benefit Josh Allen as the Bills continue to try to make a push for the Super Bowl.
