Los Angeles Chargers star running back Melvin Gordon stated publicly this week that if he wasn’t given a new contract, he would ask for a trade to a new team.
The Chargers are in a precarious situation, and the season hasn’t even started yet. For the Chargers, the next two or three seasons are crucial in more ways than one. Los Angeles went 12-4 last year, but the window is closing for star quarterback Philip Rivers.
With the defense continuing to get better and the proper stars around him, they are in prime position to compete for a Super Bowl. Outside of that, this year is also an important year for the Chargers to remain relevant in Los Angeles. The Rams burst on to the LA scene and captured the hearts of many football fans. Unfortunately for the Chargers, the Rams are a young team and have quite a few years ahead of them of excellence. Meanwhile, the Chargers time to rebuild is coming sooner rather than later.
Pay the man
In this NFL climate, running backs are a dime a dozen. Philip Lindsey, Alvin Kamara, and Jordan Howard are just some of the late round/undrafted guys that have had success in the league.
Saquon Barkley had an incredible year, but it’s becoming more and more obvious teams can get starting caliber running backs in the later rounds. Gordon was a first-round draft pick of the team in 2015. Since 2016, Gordon has had at least 850 yards rushing, 400 receiving and 10 combined touchdowns every season. Gordon has been an exceptional back in all facets of the game and has helped alleviate the pressure on Philip Rivers.
Normally, I would advocate against paying a running back a ton of money, especially in the modern era. Melvin Gordon, however, is an exception. With Philip Rivers in the twilight of his career and the battle for Los Angeles at its height, there isn’t much time left. Paying Melvin Gordon would most likely set them back in the long run, but it may be a sacrifice they need to make if they want to compete for a Super Bowl. The opportunity is there. Will the Chargers make the right call?
