Melvin Gordon Wants a New Contract or Out of the Chargers
 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thebigl...act-trade/amp/

Melvin Gordon, entering his fifth season in the NFL and thus still on his rookie deal, is dissatisfied with his contract with the Los Angeles Chargers and is taking those frustrations public:

Los Angeles running back Melvin Gordon has informed the Chargers that unless he receives a new contract, he will not report to training camp and he will demand a trade, his agent Fletcher Smith told ESPN.

Elite backs in the NFL persistently face this issue. The five-year deals for first round picks lock them in at below market wages, and then when they hit their mid to late twenties the teams say they are nearing the end of their useful lives. Last year, Gordon missed four games with an injured knee, but when he was playing he averaged over five yards per carry. Gordon is slated to make $5.6 million this season.

Off the top of my head, if they could make the compensation work the Packers would be a great fit for Gordon. He is from and played college football at Wisconsin, and is the threat to catch passes out of the backfield that Aaron Rodgers has been sorely lacking.

I hope Chargers overpay him he isn’t a Top 5 back.

I notice the 1st round picks that end up flaming out and have 5 year deals never offer to give any money back.

Why would anyone want to leave the preseason super bowl favorites 20 years running?

The is how players will attempt to avoid the franchise tag until the next CBA.

I hope they pay him.

Is there a big market for running backs who have averaged under 4.0 ypc for the bulk of their career?

Oh please, please Chargers pay him. I'm pretty sure they will.

SHHHHHHH

Charger fans dont like to talk about that. They prefer his career stats that make him look a little better, so lets only talk about those please.

I think he's a good player. Solid RB.

But I wouldn't pay him. If he wants that i'd trade him for whatever I could get.


DON"T DRAFT RBS IN THE FIRST ROUND EVER!!!!

The more I think about it, this is hilarious. The guy is a terrible running back.

He's started 16 games 1 season out of 4.
He's averaged more then 3.9 ypc 1 season out of 4.
The only year where he got more than 4.0 ypc, he missed a quarter of the season.
He's fumbled 10 times in 4 years, even though he's missed 12 games during that span.

I hope this guy is a Charger for life. He's a street free agent under any analytical microscope, and yet he thinks he's a star.

Oh hells no.

I mean, i mean...yeah he's great! Top 5 even!

He also had tremendous difficulty learning the playbook for his first two seasons. If the Chargers ever make a coach/system change, look out.

Yea he’s overrated.

One blessing of losing Hunt is not dealing with this nonsense.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Since 2016, Melvin Gordon’s production:<br>* 28 rushing TD, T-2nd most in the NFL<br>* 10 receiving TD, T-4th most amongst RB<br>* 38 TD from scrimmage, 2nd most in the NFL<br><br>A versatile, workhorse back. Will be interesting to see how LA values the RB position in this case. <a href="https://t.co/cNRcFxUt9P">https://t.co/cNRcFxUt9P</a></p>&mdash; Field Yates (@FieldYates) <a href="https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1149318432359354368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I mean, that's not bad right?

He's a good RB. But I can find a good RB anywhere (and the Chargers probably have 2 good ones behind him).

But you're right, of course. The Chargers should pay him as a top-five running back since they're the favorite to win the division. Can't go changing things up when they're the favorite.

I guess “good” isn’t a terrible way to describe him, but I’m not even sure that he’s better than Damien Williams. He’s definitely overrated because of fantasy football.

True. However, I don't think Hunt was ever going to get paid in KC.

Agreed. Hunt is likely a top back deserving of top money, but damn if we can't replace that production for a mere fraction of the cost.

I think he's probably more "talented" but in terms of what he'll produce? Nope.

RB's are such a product of their system, unless they're just a special ass player but even then, I dunno how much i'd wanna pay one.

I guess he’s a more talented runner, but I’d give Williams the edge as a receiver.

But yea you’re 100% right about the rest.

Maybe not but at least we avoid the distraction.

Sucks for them, but they do have one do the best GM’s in the league who could easily replace him.

Ekelar and the other RB whose name escapes me already are just as good.

They'll tell him "well I guess we'll see you week 1 big guy".

Getting a productive running back is just a matter of building a productive offense. If your offense is good, your backs will produce. There's no need to devote a lot of cap dollars or draft capital to the position.

Yes, yes, just focus on that. Focus on the cumulative stats that are a bi-product of being forced the ball as a #1 back. Good idea. Don't talk about his 3.9 YPC as a full time starter, his two broken knees, the fact that he couldn't score a TD till his 2nd season, or his inability to learn the playbook.

Hopefully that's what the Chargers are doing at least.

Justin Jackson is who I think you are referring to.

Ok but they forced him the ball as the number one overall back and he produced.

What you said is valid for sure but he’s a fine player

I would trade him and move on if I were the Chargers

Yes that’s him

Even the "special ass players" are only special until they aren't.

Todd Gurley, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

Aaron Rodgers sure could use a 3 down, pass catching RB.

You're right about that.

Hopefully, the Chargers pay him the richest contract in NFL history for the 12 games he will play this year when he is not hurt.

The problem is, teams just don't want to trade much for a RB when they're so easy to find.

Truth. With that said, they’ve been an organization that has struggled to find one.

I think it's more their coaching staff hasn't been able to utilize the ones they've had.

I think LaFleur is way over his head there too so it may not get better.

The issue here too is that Gordon just has zero leverage. Who's giving up a reasonable pick AND a new contract for him?

If he doesn't show up the first week of camp he has to repeat the last year of his contract just like Chris Jones. So his leverage is even lower.

I'm not sure though, he's on his fifth year option. Does that change anything?

I don't know. If it is all rookie contracts it should not.

1st round RBs that flame out don’t have their 5th year option picked up, but keep ****ing that players are overpaid chicken.

Good. Hope he becomes the highest paid back in the league and sucks up their cap for years.

Amen to this.

If I was a good team I'd have no issue in spending a low 1st on a running back.

I'd treat them as a disposable talent. Never give one a second contract unless its on the cheap.

So don't draft Saquon Barkley in the 1st round?

nope

I could make an exception here I suppose.

But even with that, I'd probably just hold off and grab one in the 2nd or 3rd.

If i'm a good team and have good coaching, i'll go cheap at RB and manage

That's insane. There are a few RBs that deserve to go in the first round.

Now it is not like the 90s where it should be common place but you got a chance to draft an RB like Saquon in the 1st -- you do it.

Drafting Barkley over Darnold was as stupid as it gets.

That remains to be seen. Darnold hasn't done anything yet.

Regardless, there are a lot of players that went in the 1st round that Barkley is going to have a better career then. To say 'Never draft an RB in the 1st round!' is taking it too far when it comes to the reality of RBs losing their importance in todays pass happy NFL.

The jump from good to great at the RB position is simply not big enough to justify the cost. You'll get a few years of hype and excitement from your RB (especially if you ave bad QB play) and then you'll be hamstrung.

Go ahead and take running backs in the top 3. Good luck on that.

Year after year we see teams take backs in the 3rd round and have success, Hell the rushing champ this year was an UDFA.

Saquon is great. He had a great rookie year. They're drafting in the top 5 again and needed a QB.

5 year deals? You need to explain exactly how you think all this actually works.

I didn't say take an RB in the top 3 I said in the first round...

Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round Montana in the 3rd, Mahomes was the 10th pick. You can find great players in any round. Doesnt mean you pass up on a player like Saquon in the 1st round cause he is an RB. That's nuts.

One of these is not like the others.

Productive starting QB's taken in rounds 2-7 is rare. For RB's it's common.

If your team needs a RB and you're loaded everywhere else, then sure whatever. But now you're stuck having to dump him before his next contract no matter how productive he was. You simply cannot pay him.

I'm actually more scared of Ekeler than Gordon

You should be. He was the more productive back per carry. As a rookie UDFA.

Which position is consistently found, year after year, in the mid to late rounds?

Interior OL and RB's.

Saquon was drafted with the 2nd overall pick, so if you wanted him, theoretically, you're gonna have to take him in the top 3.

Whats the difference in Saquon and say, James Connor as a player? Saquon is an A+ blue chip player, whereas Connor is a B player. The value in the difference isn't enough to spend a first round pick on said player. We have mountains of evidence that shows that running backs can be found year after year, anywhere. Literally, grab a mid tier FA running back for cheap.

I think Saquon is a great, generational type running back. Going to have a great career. I still wouldn't draft him over a potential franchise QB in the first round. I'd take a pass rusher, a LT, a Corner, hell, even a LBer over a RB in the first round.

The generational RB just isn't that much different in terms of value vs a good solid one.

How many teams are actually loaded everywhere though? Truly?

I mean, sure if Saquon had dropped to pick 29, **** I guess go ahead. Run him in the ground for 5 cheapish years and move on.

Taking him 2nd (same with taking Zeke, or Fournette high) is just dumb in that you aren't even getting the monetary value out of having a draft pick RB because the market for RB's just isn't high so they're already the highest paid player at their spot.

Take the Cowboys and Zeke draft. They took him at 4. Jalen Ramsey goes at 5, and the next RB isn't taken until 45.

Maybe this is just me, but Jalen Ramsey and Jaylon Smith sounds better than a RB at 4.

The only time I would take a RB in the first round is if I’m picking late and an elite level talent falls to me.

I don’t want to draft an elite talent early and fall into the trap of giving them the big second contract. If I’m already a contender, then I’m not as worried about it.

I would never take a RB under any circumstance in the top half of the first round. There’s always another position with better longevity available early.

Pay the man, Chargers!

Give him all your bags.

FAX

Every position is constantly found year in and year out in mid to late rounds. That statement doesnt mean anything.

This isnt boxing or tennis every position in football is important although to different degrees. If there is a guy like Saquon available in middle 1st round and even a small need for RB on the team.. You take him. Every NFL GM would.

Crickets from Dumbass-oinian.....

I can say with confidence today that drafting Barkley over Darnold to turn around and have to take Daniel Jones #6 overall is as stupid as it gets.

Taking a RB in the first round in general (not to mention the top 3 picks) when you have no QB is butt ****ing reeruned.

I don't think half would when they know that could get a player like Hunt, Kamara, etc. in the 3rd. While filling another hole with a better talent that would not be available in the 3rd.

Middle of the first? Barkley was taken at the top of the draft. I guarantee neither the pats nor the Chiefs would take him that high.

With the way the NFL has gone it’s hard to justify taking any RB in the 1st round and especially early like Barkley. He is a stud no doubt but he and RBs in general just don’t impact the game the same way anymore. RBs just do not have the shelf life to justify being picked high. They are better found in the lower and cheaper rounds and replaced before they can potentially become expensive.

Nonsense. Not every team has Andy Reid and a Pat Mahomes.

You don’t need Reid and Mahomes to see what I am saying is true. The days of Barry Sanders, Walter Payton etc.... are over for the time being.

Ezekiel Elliott is taking a 6-10 to 8-8 squad and has them being a playoff squad when he isn't busy breaking the law.

Not at #2 overall, no. That's just ****ing stupid.

Dude's name is Melvin. Melvin. hahaha...

Saquon Barkley>Eric Fisher

That might’ve been the extremely rare draft that taking a RB #1 would be defensible.

And you could still argue we’d be better off with Fisher who’s a good LT. We would’ve had to overpay to keep a RB had we drafted one and he’d probably already be breaking down, while Fisher is entering his prime and protecting our franchise QB’s blindside.

Well yeah that's a no duh, but still doesn't change the fact that taking Barkley over Darnold was reeruno.

Stop making this into a science question. Barkley is way better than Fisher could ever hope to be. Period.

The notion that you 'have' or 'can never' draft a certain position is what leads to draft busts. There are so many variables to that question there is really no absolute answer like some of you all want to make it out to be. It is also why most of you on here would suck at being a GM.

Saquon Barkley is also better than Tony Mandarich.

Just because busts at the top of the draft happen doesn't mean it's smart to take a RB that high.

And one man's Saquon Barkley is another man's Trent Richardson or Ronnie Brown or Curtis Enis or Ki Jana Carter.

Busts can and do happen at EVERY position. Drafting a RB with a high pick is not a failsafe to avoiding a draft bust. GMs who think that way are bound to get ****ed just as hard.

I've actually come around on taking a RB in the 1st, mostly because of the 5th year option.

Not in the top 10, and only if you have a QB and are ready to contend - but take the RB, franchise him for his 6th year, then let them walk.