3 moves the Chargers should definitely make if they trade Austin Ekeler

Los Angeles Chargers v Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Chargers v Arizona Cardinals / Christian Petersen/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next

3. Use the money freed up with a trade to re-sign more 2022 standouts

The Chargers have re-signed the likes of Easton Stick, Donald Parham, Trey Pipkins and Morgan Fox this offseason. Heading into the offseason the team was $20 million over the salary cap so it was unclear whether or not they would be able to bring multiple returners back but alas, Tom Telesco made it happen.

There are other standouts from the 2022 team that seemingly earned a longer tenure with the Bolts. Kyle Van Noy, Bryce Callahan and even Breiden Fehoko were all solid for the team last season and earned a new deal as a result.

However, business is business at the end of the day and even with the Chargers having more spending space to use, it does not seem like the team will have the means to bring those players back. That being said, an Ekeler trade changes everything.

Trading Ekeler would free up $6.5 million against the cap and that alone would probably be close enough to bring back the trio of Van Noy, Callahan and Fehoko. Even if the team has to leave Fehoko out, getting those two veterans to return from last year's team would be huge.

MORE: Ranking Justin Herbert and the top 32 QBs in the NFL

The Chargers will likely use the remaining space the team does have to bring in a depth receiver and safety in free agency. Additional space by trading Ekeler gives the team more potential signings to make.