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Chargers give Melvin Gordon four years, $10.67 million guaranteed

By Nathaniel Reeves

May 1, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers first round draft pick Melvin Gordon speaks to the media at Charger Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers first round draft pick Melvin Gordon speaks to the media at Charger Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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The San Diego Chargers rookie running back is expected to start right away.

By selecting running back Melvin Gordon with the No. 15 overall pick in the NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers shored up a position of weakness on a team in win-now mode. On Tuesday, they gave Gordon a nice payday.

Gordon will earn $10.67 million fully guaranteed over four years with a $6 million signing bonus, according to Ian Rapoport of  NFL.com

It does seem a little strange to see so much guaranteed money attached to an unproven player at a replaceable position, but that’s how the deals for high draft picks work.

This year had two first round running backs picked, with Todd Gurley also going to the St. Louis Rams at No. 10. It was the first time a player at the position had gone in the first round since 2012, when Trent Richardson, Doug Martin and David Wilson were selected early on.

Gordon’s college production justifies a first round selection. Over the last two seasons, Gordon has churned out 4,196 rushing yards on over 7.5 yards per carry with 41 touchdowns. He now has to prove that it wasn’t just a product of a Wisconsin offense that always seems to produce huge numbers from the running back position.

Prior to the draft, there was a debate over whether Gurley or Gordon should be the first running back off the board. Gurley may have the higher ceiling, but is recovering from a torn ACL, meaning Gordon might be more ready to contribute right away.

For a team like the Chargers, that is very important, as San Diego has a lot of talent across the board. However, their window with the 33-year-old Phillip Rivers may only be open for a couple of more seasons.

The Chargers were near the bottom of every rushing category a year ago and don’t have another option with No. 1 potential like Gordon. Branden Oliver has some interesting skills but is more of a backup, while Danny Woodhead will be coming off of a fractured fibula and ankle.

If Gordon can’t contribute over the next couple of seasons, it will be a major blow to the franchise, which not only selected him in the first round but traded up to do so. But everything we saw from Gordon at Wisconsin indicates that won’t be the case.

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