The Chargers are in the hunt for a new general manager and head coach as they transition into 2024, but the calendar will soon turn toward free agency.
The soon-to-be-hired leadership will have some tough decisions to make on their roster with several key internal free agents.
Los Angeles will enter March with just over two dozen free agents that have the potential to hit the open market.
However, for the sake of this exercise, I’ve decided to remove the lower-cost restricted and exclusive rights free agents to focus on the unrestricted class.
To make the necessary improvements on their roster, there are some Chargers that just have to be moved on from in the long term.
Ekeler is one of the longest-tenured Chargers who has been with the team since signing in 2017 as an undrafted free agent.
He’s had an incredibly productive career in usage, with over 8,000 scrimmage yards on 1,430 touches in that span.
But with that aforementioned production comes miles.
Ekeler will be 29 when the 2024 season starts. Unfortunately, this past season was one of his least efficient campaigns.
He averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry.
He finished with just seven explosive runs over 10+ yards, a mark that tied the lowest single-season figure in his seven seasons.
He won’t be too expensive on the open market, considering the down year in 2023.
But it’s time for the Chargers to rebuild the running back room from the ground up with the impending free agency periods for Ekeler and Joshua Kelley.
Ekeler is clearly on the decline as he approaches his 30s and Los Angeles needs explosive players more than safety valves.