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5 NFL teams who should trade for Raheem Mostert

By Mike Luciano

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Running back Raheem Mostert #31 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Running back Raheem Mostert #31 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – DECEMBER 15: Running back Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – DECEMBER 15: Running back Austin Ekeler #30 of the Los Angeles Chargers (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

1. Los Angeles Chargers

Austin Ekeler showed that he is such a dynamic route runner that he could’ve been a Pro Bowler at wide receiver, as the former undrafted free agent hauled in 92 passes while tallying 993 yards and eight touchdowns last year.

On the ground, he ran for 557 yards on 4.2 yards per carry despite seeing Melvin Gordon take most of his carries away. With Gordon now in Denver, why would the Chargers trade for Mostert?

Well, head coach Anthony Lynn, a former running backs coach, and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen clearly favor a two-back system wherein one back is more of a weapon in the passing game and one handles the lion’s share of the work in the backfield. Rookie Joshua Kelley and Justin Jackson are both less appealing options than Mostert.

If the Chargers trade for him, Ekeler can stay in the role that made him so lethal as a receiver last year, while either Tyrod Taylor or Justin Herbert can trust that they can give the ball to Mostert 15 times a game and he’ll break off at least one big run.