Detroit Lions should target Melvin Gordon

The Detroit Lions need to improve their ground game. With the 2015 NFL Draft boasting a deep pool of running backs, should the Lions target Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon?

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The Lions looked strong on paper with their running back depth heading into 2014. With veteran Reggie Bush being joined by Joique Bell and Theo Riddick, they looked set to build on the unit that ranked 17th in the NFL in 2013.

Instead, they got worse. Much worse. According to ESPN Stats, the Lions ranked 28th in the rushing offense in 2014–they gained 370 fewer yards than they did the season prior.

Following Bush’s release and subsequent signing with the San Francisco 49ers, the Lions now have an even bigger need at the running back position. Fortunately, if there is ever a year to need a running back, it’s 2015.

In a deep draft class at the position, Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon arguably sits at the top. The 6’1″, 215-pounder rushed 343 times for 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2014, breaking the single-season rushing yards record for the Badgers. He also ranks third in all-time rushing yards (4,915) for Wisconsin, according to Sports Reference.

Nov 15, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) celebrates his touchdown during the game with the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Nebraska 59-24. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports

Gordon has a ton of speed and is deadly when he gets into open space. He uses his long stride to break free and has the potential to hit a home run every time he finds some room.

Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com ranks him second among running backs in this year’s class. He wrote:

"“At the Combine, Gordon ran a little slower than expected but still produced a quality time. He did well in the field work. Gordon is a play-maker with excellent speed to along with enough size and toughness to be an every-down back. He has excellent cutting ability, vision, patience and balance. Gordon needs development on diagnosing and picking up blitzes, but he was almost consistently dominant in 2014.”"

He has received high praise and could be the first running back selected in the first round of the draft since 2012. That year, Trent Richardson was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the third-overall pick, Tampa Bay’s Doug Martin was taken with the 31st-overall pick and the New York Giants selected David Wilson with the final selection of the first round.

Teams tend to shy away from selecting a back in the first round. Looking back at the three selected in the opening round of the 2012 NFL Draft: Richardson was a bust at Cleveland and struggled in Indianapolis after being traded there in 2013. He is now at his third team with the Oakland Raiders.

Martin rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns in his rookie year, earning a place in the Pro Bowl. Since then, however, he has struggled with injuries and has only played 17 times in the past two seasons, rushing for 950 yards and three touchdowns.

Gordon has the potential to exceed in the NFL and then some. With the Lions so desperately needing to turn around their fortunes on the offensive side of the football, taking a gamble on a running back in the first round may pay off in a big way for them.

Wilson suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 5 of the 2013 season against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was advised by doctors to never play football again and announced his retirement in August 2014.

Those three examples alone highlight the risk of taking a running back in the first round, and many top backs have dropped to the second round and beyond in recent drafts. Le’Veon Bell, who finished behind only DeMarco Murray in rushing yards last year, was selected with the 48th-overall pick of the 2013 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Eddie Lacy, the 2013 Offensive Rookie of the Year who has become one of the most important pieces of the Green Bay Packers’ offense, was selected with the 61st-overall pick the same year.

Maybe history will repeat itself, but maybe the trend will be broken.

With a talented passing attack that features Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate and Matthew Stafford, a running back tandem of Gordon and Bell could take the offense to the next level that is required to dethrone the Packers in the NFC North.

Next: Detroit Lions: Regrets on passing up Aaron Donald in 2014?

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