Melvin Gordon: 3 Potential trade partners for Los Angeles Chargers
By Joe Kipp
Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has reportedly requested a trade. Here are three potential landing spots for the talented runner.
It appears Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has become disgruntled with his current contract. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Gordon and his agent have asked for a new contract from the Chargers. If Los Angeles and Gordon cannot reach an agreement on a new deal, the star running back would like to be traded and will not report to training camp.
Gordon, who is entering the last year of his rookie contract after the Chargers exercised his fifth-year option last offseason, is set to receive $5.6 million in 2019, per Spotrac.
For the past three seasons, Gordon has been the workhorse running back for the Chargers. After a disappointing rookie season in 2015, he’s accumulated 4,372 scrimmage yards and 38 touchdowns since 2016. He also only has four fumbles and has averaged 5.1 yards per touch during that time period.
From the Chargers’ perspective, it could be hard to pay a player who’s spent significant time on the sideline. Gordon has only played in all 16 games once in his four seasons, and has missed nine total games over his career. It looked like Gordon was headed for a monster year in 2018 before a knee injury forced him to miss four games.
From Gordon’s perspective, the Chargers have shown weakness without his presence. The two-time Pro Bowler is the focal point of the offense, and at just 26 years old should see plenty more productive seasons ahead.
That said, it’s hard to ignore the price (pun intended) of paying a running back. For instance, look at the Los Angeles Rams, who made Todd Gurley the highest-paid running back in the NFL last offseason (four years, $60 million). Gurley reportedly is dealing with arthritis in his knee, and the Rams are on the hook for three more years.
The Chargers may want to avoid a similar situation with Gordon and could look to trade him. If that happens, here are three potential trade destinations to watch out for.