NFL Free Agency 2020: 5 Best landing spots for Melvin Gordon
By Samuel Teets
5. Detroit Lions
While I don’t think Detroit even bothers making a play for Gordon, it’s a fun scenario to consider. The Lions already hold some intriguing young running back prospects, but signing Gordon would immediately elevate the offense. Detroit may feel pressured into this signing if they want to aid Matthew Stafford while the quarterback is still in his prime.
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Despite injuries at the running back position, the Lions still ran for 1,649 yards in 2019. While that ranked 21st in the league, it’s impressive considering the state of Detroit’s offense. With Stafford and Detroit’s top running back returning from injury in 2020, the Lions should run the ball better this coming season.
Detroit drafted Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Johnson started seven games for the Lions as a rookie and gave the offense a much-needed presence on the ground. However, Johnson struggled in 2019 and saw his season cut short by injuries for the second consecutive year.
While Johnson can play like a starting-caliber back at times and fans don’t realize how good Bo Scarbrough is, Gordon trumps them both. Even at his worst, Gordon can still grind out roughly 1,000 yards from scrimmage and ten touchdowns per season.
Neither Johnson nor Scarbrough are on expensive contracts, so the Lions could conceivably keep them along with adding Gordon. However, that seems extremely unlikely. If Detroit did add Gordon, the team could pawn Johnson off for some draft picks.