The Los Angeles Chargers have reached an agreement on a four-year, $24.5 million contract with running back Austin Ekeler, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal includes $15 million in guaranteed money.
Ekeler was set to be a restricted free agent.
The 24-year-old is coming off of a 2019 campaign in which he played every game and rushed for 557 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 4.2 yards per carry. In addition, he hauled in 92 receptions for 993 yards and eight scores.
Ekeler's rushing production was certainly stunted by Melvin Gordon, who held out for the first several weeks of the season but returned to become the Chargers' primary halfback.
This deal for Ekeler almost certainly spells the end of Gordon's tenure in Los Angeles, as Gordon is also a free agent.
Ekeler, who played his collegiate football at Western State in Colorado, went undrafted but eventually landed with the Chargers in 2017.
He appeared in every contest during his first season, totaling 260 yards and a couple of touchdowns on the ground while logging 27 catches for 279 yards and three scores.
The following year, Ekeler began to show more promise, registering 554 yards while reaching the end zone three times as a rusher, recording 5.2 yards per attempt. He also caught 39 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns.
Los Angeles entered this past season with Super Bowl aspirations, but instead, the Bolts ended up being one of the most disappointing teams in the league, as they won just five games and missed the playoffs.
The Chargers will be undergoing significant changes this offseason, as the team has already announced that Philip Rivers, who has been the club's starting quarterback since 2006, will not be back in 2020.
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