Chargers Trading Melvin Gordon To The Eagles, Packers, Bucs Or Jaguars?
Are the Chargers trading Melvin Gordon to the Eagles, Packers, Bucs or Jaguars?
It certainly looks that way.
On Sunday, the stalemate between Gordon and the Chargers intensified when Los Angeles general manager Tom Telesco announced that the organization was tabling negotiations with their unhappy running back.
“When or if Melvin reports, he’ll play this season under his current contract, and we’ll just revisit it after the season,” he said.
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Gordon, 26, is supposed to make $5.6 million this year on the fifth year team option of his rookie deal.
Over the past two years, Gordon has spearheaded the Chargers’ rushing attack.
In 2017 he put up 1,105 yards and eight touchdowns on 284 rushing attempts.
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One year later, in 2018, Gordon put up 885 yards and 10 touchdowns on 175 rushing attempts.
Despite his production, it is currently a tough market in the NFL for running backs.
Gordon wants the type of money Todd Gurley, David Johnson and Le’Veon Bell are getting, but Los Angeles simply does not see him as that sort of player.
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On Saturday, the team reportedly indicated to Gordon’s management team that they could go out and scour the league for a trade.
Some potentially big news for the #Chargers: They have given the reps for Melvin Gordon permission to seek a trade, sources say. He’ll explore his options, which include returning. But big few days.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2019
So with no resolution in sight for the Chargers and Gordon, a trade seems inevitable.
Late Sunday afternoon, Gordon made the interesting decision to follow Philadelphia on Instagram.
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While that obviously does not mean a deal is imminent, it is something to keep an eye on.
Melvin Gordon just started following the #Eagles, Ronald Darby and Corey Clement on Instagram
#👀 #HowieSzn— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) September 1, 2019
If not the Eagles, the Packers may also be a viable option.
Their running game going into the new season is going to be heavily reliant on Aaron Jones.
Last year Jones averaged 5.5 yards per carry on 133 carries.
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If he can top those totals in 2019, the Packers will be in great shape – but he is still something of an unproven commodity.
Meanwhile, Gordon is established.
He has shown that he can consistently put up more than 1,300 yards from scrimmage and has done so in each of the past three years.
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Should Green Bay not pull the trigger on Gordon, the Buccaneers just might.
Tampa Bay’s backfield is currently comprised of Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones, neither of whom figure to inspire much fear in opposing defenses.
Gordon could fit in perfectly in Bruce Arians’ offense.
Finally, don’t count out Jacksonville.
The Jaguars made a big splash by replacing Blake Bortles with Nick Foles.
That is clearly an upgrade at quarterback.
But Foles won’t be able to do it alone.
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Imagine an offense with Foles at QB, Marqise Lee and Dede Westbrook at wide receiver and Gordon at running back.
That is a group that can do some serious damage.
The Chargers, meanwhile, seem to be more or less content with the idea of letting Gordon go.
According to Telesco, Los Angeles will turn to Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson to shoulder the load at running back.
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“Those two guys are going to work in tandem with each other,” he said.
“I think the day and age of having to have one running back to carry it 300 times is probably not the smartest thing in the world anyways,” Telesco continued.
“Even if you have a big, bell-cow back, you’d like to have another back to come in and spell them, give them some rest and have a different dimension. So right now we’re very happy with Austin as an every-down back.”
So where will Gordon ultimately end up?
As things continue to get uglier and uglier between him and Chargers management, the answer appears to be: anywhere other than Los Angeles.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
That Jags offense would be sick.
Would be great on the Eagles too.
Very overrated. Chargers won’t miss him and he won’t add much whatever he goes
The Chargers are taking a major step back this season….