On Thursday, it was announced that Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is requesting a trade. Before we get into the teams that could land him, let’s take a look at Gordon himself.
In the 2018 season, Gordon missed four games due to a knee injury. Still, he managed to finish in the top 10 in total yards and touchdowns for three consecutive seasons. Gordon finished last season with 885 yards and 10 touchdowns, while averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Team 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After the 2018 season, the Buccaneers had the fourth-worst rushing attack. They averaged only 95.2 yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry. The depth chart contains Ronald Jones, Peyton Barber, and a new addition in Andre Ellington.
Tampa Bay has the one of the league’s worst running back core, and they could very well put their name out for Melvin Gordon. They have also hired a new head coach in the returning Bruce Arians, who could play a huge factor in Gordon taking his talents to Tampa Bay.
Team 2: Houston Texans
Another team Gordon could suit up is the Houston Texans. They have an expiring deal with Lamar Miller, their projected starter. Miller could get the job done, but likely won’t exceed expectations.
In Miller’s three-year span with the Texans, he has found the endzone a total of 13 times, while Gordon has done so 28 times. Upgrading from Miller to Gordon could move this Texans team from a Wild Card franchise to a playoff contender.
Team 3: Green Bay Packers
This makes a lot of sense, as Melvin Gordon is a Wisconsin native. Green Bay does have Aaron Jones at running back, but passing on a chance at Gordon would be a mistake. In the 2018 season, Jones accumulated 133 rushing attempts, gaining 728 yards and 8 touchdowns. The stat lines seem similar, but Gordon also missed four games. Adding Gordon to this team would give Green Bay more depth at running back.
The Fact of The Matter
Melvin Gordon wants to get paid and wants matters to work out in Los Angeles. He is a top five running back when healthy, so you can’t blame him for wanting more money. The Chargers, however, won’t budge on their previous offer of $10M per year. The Buccaneers, Texans, and the Packers could suit Gordon long-term financially, but right now, Tampa Bay is the betting favorite.
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