In addition to the murky status of Philip Rivers, the Chargers have another high-profile free agent on offense. Melvin Gordon is less than two months away from the open market.
Gordon played out his fifth-year option season, doing so after waging an unsuccessful holdout that cost him a chunk of it. Despite Gordon not enjoying a strong contract year and the Bolts falling well short of expectations, the former first-round pick would like to stay in Los Angeles and wants to re-sign before the start of free agency.
“Hopefully, I’m here,” Gordon said during an appearance on PFT Live. “Hopefully, I don’t have to wait til March to know where I’m gonna be playing.”
The two-time Pro Bowler, who will turn 27 in April, said he and GM Tom Telesco have talked “plenty of times.” But those discussions do not appear to have produced much momentum toward keeping the Wisconsin alum in L.A. The Bolts saw RFA-to-be Austin Ekeler outplay Gordon this past season. Gordon’s yards per carry dropped from 5.1 during a Pro Bowl 2018 slate to 3.8, and his 908 scrimmage yards trailed Ekeler by more than 600.
“When it comes to business, you have to take your emotions out of it,” Gordon said. “It’s not about if you deserve to be here or not. I’ve talked to Tom plenty of times, he tells me ‘You deserve to get paid’ but sometimes it just might not be the right situation.”
It sounds likely Gordon will be allowed to test the market. Running backs have not fared especially well in free agency in recent years, and Le’Veon Bell‘s rough Jets debut — after a top-market offer came in March — may hurt Gordon’s cause. The Chargers are projected to hold more than $54MM in cap space. Of course, if they decide to franchise Rivers, much of that will go toward their quarterback and limit the Bolts’ spending elsewhere.
Chargers should keep Gordon and draft in Justin Herbert.
Chargers if they do so would have two good RBs, a top 5 WR in Allen plus Williams there also. They have a tidy defence with Bosa, Ingram, Hayward, Davis and James.
Herbert is a step in the right direction for sure, plus the money you save by letting Rivers walk can be spent improving the team
Makes sense.
I really can’t disagree with this. The question is do you let him go right away or start Tyrod
Bosa might be the most overrated player in football.
Ummm what?
He had 67 tackles and 11.5 sacks last year. Hardly superstar numbers that everyone thinks he is. I watched pretty much every minute of every game and there were many games you never heard his name mentioned. Derwin James has half as many tackles in only 5 games compared to 16 games. Now he’s a true super star. Bosa never ever takes a game over like his rookie brother does. Overrated
Sorry, but Keenan Allen is not a top 5 receiver. Good player but not an upper tier WR.
Keep Gordon and Draft Herbert
Resign eckler, draft herbert. Draft another rb in rounds 2-3 reset done.
Man Eckler can’t be your main back. Chargers offense was best in 2018 when he was an additional weapon
Chargers need OL more than anything outside QB. Lack of an OL killed any chance of Rivers making a strong run to the SB. The same weak OL will kill any QB without the wheels like a Lamar Jackson.
Detroit should sign him. Him and K. Johnson could rotate.
Gordon’s way too old for Detroit
He wants to play with Tom Brady.
Yeah with his butt
Stupid of him to pass on $50 million. Welcome to the real world Mr. Greedy.
Save the money. You can find useful running backs anywhere in the draft.
now that Rivers is gone I don’t blame him
It’s pretty clear that Gordon doesn’t figure into the Chargers plans at the price Melvin is expecting. Redskins should pursue him as a FA because they can’t rely on 34 yr old Adrian Peterson much longer.
We don’t want yo Melvin! He is dumba$$, fumbles, and a quitter. He doesn’t deserve LA. Hit the road.