Austin Ekeler has requested and received permission from the Los Angeles Chargers to explore trade options after contract extension talks went nowhere.

While appearing on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast, Ekeler clarified that the request had nothing to do with the team but simply a desire to get paid equal to his value.

"I think it's really important to put it out there that it's not like, 'Oh, I hate the Chargers and I need to get out of this organization, and I need to leave,'" Ekeler said. "That couldn't be further from the truth. I would like to stay if it was under the right circumstances.

"Obviously, I have one more year on my contract there, so I'm contractually obligated to play for them for this upcoming year. So, we're in a situation where it's like, look, we have no guarantees or anything like that this year, so kind of in a spot where I've been outplaying my contract, and we might have an opportunity to go seek out other options that can bring me up."