Heading into the final year of his rookie contract, Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has informed the team that he will be holding out until he gets a new contract or the team trades him to a team that will give him one.
Gordon is in his fifth-year rookie option and due to make $5.6 million this season. Reportedly,Gordon wants a salary close to those currently enjoyed by the Los Angeles Rams’ Todd Gurley, the New York Jets’ Le’Veon Bell and the Arizona Cardinals’ David Johnson.
More on Los Angeles running back Melvin Gordon informing the Chargers that unless he receives a new contract, he will not report to training camp and will demand a trade:https://t.co/EakhJBGHSc
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 11, 2019
That’s just not going to happen.
Gordon is a tremendous weapon and an important cog in Los Angeles’ offense. But in four years in the NFL, he’s amassed just one 1,000-yard season, which so happens to be the only year he was able to suit up for 16 games. Last year Gordon had 12 starts, rushing for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns, adding 50 receptions for 490 yards and four scores.
What Gordon could (and should) be looking at is a deal more akin to Devonta Freeman’s with the Atlanta Falcons. Freeman makes $8.25 million a year and got $22 million in guaranteed money. It’s possible the two-time Pro Bowler could get that per-year number up to $10 million, but $13 million or more seems like a ridiculous overspend for the Chargers.
Since 2016, Melvin Gordon’s production:
* 28 rushing TD, T-2nd most in the NFL
* 10 receiving TD, T-4th most amongst RB
* 38 TD from scrimmage, 2nd most in the NFLA versatile, workhorse back. Will be interesting to see how LA values the RB position in this case. https://t.co/cNRcFxUt9P
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 11, 2019
Los Angeles could very well look at a number of issues when offering Gordon a long term deal. The first being the health of Todd Gurley with the Rams. Gurley’s season was hobbled by knee issues late in 2018 and now there’s concern about how effective he will be while making $14.375 million a year. Adding to that, Bell was a star for the Pittsburgh Steelers for years, but they got comparable numbers from second-year man James Conner last year at nowhere near the price.
Then, there’s looking for a team that would be in the market for Gordon. If the running back is valuable enough to make $13 million, he’d certainly be worth a first round pick. But he’s not and the Chargers would get a second at best, and most likely a third in a trade.
Gordon just doesn’t have the leverage here for the deal he’s after.
