Melvin Gordon provides Drew Lock, Broncos with dynamic backfield
Free agent running back Melvin Gordon has signed a two-year deal with the Denver Broncos, giving young Drew Lock dynamic help out of the backfield.
The Denver Broncos have been aggressive in making moves for 2020 this offseason, first trading for cornerback A.J. Bouye, then tagging standout safety Justin Simmons before then inking offensive guard Graham Glasgow and then stealing away Jurrell Casey from the Titans in a savvy trade. Now they’ve made another splash with running back Melvin Gordon.
On Friday, after Todd Gurley was scooped up by Atlanta earlier in the day, the other big-name running back on the free agency market this offseason was snatched up by general manager John Elway and Denver. Per NFL.com, Gordon is signing a two-year pact with the Broncos worth up to $16 million with $13.5 million guaranteed.
Gordon was one of the most interesting free agents available this offseason because of the buildup to hitting the market. The 26-year-old running back held out of Chargers training camp last offseason and missed four regular-season games. He reportedly was seeking something north of $10 million per year in a new contract, which he didn’t get then.
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When he returned, he found the end zone nine times in 12 games but averaged only 3.8 yards per carry, his worst mark in four years. And by the eye test, he looked more like the player with a low yards per touch average than the one scoring a fair amount of times on the year. And now he doesn’t get the payday he totally wanted a year ago either.
Though that narrative may shed a negative light on Gordon, make no mistake, the Wisconsin product is a talented player. He offers solid versatility as a runner and pass-catcher out of the backfield with a solid combination of speed and power in his 6-1, 215-pound frame. And as he joins the Broncos, he should be a terrific companion to Phillip Lindsay.
Since breaking out in 2018 as a rookie undrafted free agent, Lindsay has wowed in Denver with back-to-back 1,000 yard rushing seasons, 16 total rushing touchdowns and 437 receiving yards as well. The issue, however, is that there are still viable concerns how Lindsay can hold up over a 16-game (or soon to be 17-game) season at just 5-8, 190 pounds.
Gordon’s arrival in Denver alleviates that concern and ensures that the Broncos can keep both Lindsay and Gordon fresh and on the field. The result, especially if they continue to address the offensive line in the draft, should be one of the more dynamic backfields in the NFL.
Not only is having that aspect of the offense important in a vacuum but it’s even more so for the Broncos as they enter the first full season with quarterback Drew Lock at the helm. The Missouri product came in as a rookie and performed quite well in 2019. Having said that, the franchise must do everything in their power moving forward to put him in position to succeed.
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Expected to add a wide receiver early in the draft to complement Courtland Sutton after taking tight end Noah Fant in the first round last year, the Broncos are clearly invested in improving the situation around Lock. Adding Gordon to the backfield to pair with Lindsay is no exception to that. The former Charger puts Lock in one of the best positions possible for a young quarterback and he should be able to reap the benefits in his sophomore NFL season.