Tom Brady is among the most coveted NFL players in free agency for his resume, clutch play in the postseason and his talent. More importantly for Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, Brady can fill the leadership void in the Chargers’ locker room.
Ekeler, who just signed a four-year extension with the Chargers, appeared on NFL Total Access on Tuesday night and advocated for his team to sign Brady so they can have the future Hall of Famer’s voice in the locker room.
“It’s an opportunity for people to step up, but if you bring a guy like Tom Brady in the room, he’s been there, done that,” Ekeler said, via NFL Total Access. “He’s already got the leadership qualities and he’s already proven that he’s a winner. So hey, let’s build something around that, too.”
The Chargers certainly have the weapons in place to attract Brady’s interest. Not only would he get to move his family to Los Angeles, but he’d also get to play with a better group of pass-catching weapons than he had with the New England Patriots.
Keenan Allen and Hunter Henry are Pro Bowl talents, while Ekeler caught 92 passes for 993 receiving yards this season and rushed for 557 yards with 11 total touchdowns. While the Chargers would need to upgrade at offensive tackle, that could be accomplished with the No. 6 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It creates a team where Brady could compete and be in a position to rebound from a down season in 2019.
“I feel like we have the pieces to make a run regardless,” Ekeler said, via NFL Total Access.“I feel like that void is there, it’s going to be filled by somebody. But we just have the talent around him, whoever that person is, to make him successful.”
Besides, the Chargers need all the help they can get drawing in fans. Brady would make this team better and he’d help attract more fans, all while pushing this team back to contention in 2020. If Brady ultimately leaves the Patriots, Ekeler’s pitch to Brady could help bring him to Los Angeles.