Editor’s note: This story updated March 5, 2024.
Not many NFL running backs have made the type of impact out of the backfield that veteran Austin Ekeler of the Los Angeles Chargers has in his more than 100 games in the league.
That’s because the 28-year-old has accumulated an approximate value of 59 in 103 games in the league with the Bolts, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. He had an AV of 7 in last year’s injury-shortened 2023-24 season, when he ran for 628 yards and five scores in 14 games.
Now, Ekeler is officially an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his six-year NFL career, after earning $6.250 million with L.A. in 2023-24. Website Spotrac.com estimates that the veteran back has a market value of $7.4 million, with a contract estimate of three years and $22,367,367.
With that in mind, BetCalifornia.com used a California sports betting mindset and broke down the odds on which team could land Ekeler next.
Austin Ekeler Next Team Odds
Where Austin Ekeler Lands Next
There’s good reason to believe that the Chargers might not be able to keep Ekeler in L.A. long term. With our new, updated odds as of March 5, 2024, we say their AFC West rivals from Las Vegas have the upper hand in landing the 28-year-old.
The Raiders are our No. 1 team for Ekeler, at +450 odds (or an implied 18.2% probability). The Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears are listed at +600 apiece, followed by the Houston Texans (+800), then the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, at +1000 apiece.
Ekeler’s current club is a long shot at the moment to sign the veteran running back, with +1200 odds of inking a deal that keeps him in the City of Angels in 2024 and beyond. Ahead of them, we have a host of run-first teams that have more use for the veteran’s backfield presence.
The NFL’s increasingly pass-friendly offenses have lessened the value of running backs on the open market, but it seems Ekeler is bound to make a splash this offseason, regardless of where he lands once he hits the open market.
Stay with BetCalifornia.com as we track Austin Ekeler's next team and read up on all the best California sportsbook apps expected to come to the Golden State once legal.
