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NFL Draft Rumors: Melvin Gordon won’t last past the Baltimore Ravens

By CM Towle

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs with the ball against the Auburn Tigers during the first half in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) runs with the ball against the Auburn Tigers during the first half in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon is not expected to last past the Baltimore Ravens 26th pick in the NFL Draft.

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Most of the mocks for the 2015 NFL Draft project running back Melvin Gordon to go in the first round, but Peter King of MMBQ says Gordon won’t make it past the Ravens and their 26th pick. Both Gordon and Todd Gurley are expected to go in the first round and many projections have them going to either the Cowboys, Cardinals or Chargers. Most mocks don’t have Gordon even lasting until the Ravens pick at number 26.

Part of the speculation behind King’s prediction is that former Wisconsin running backs coach Thomas Hammock is entering his second season on the Ravens coaching staff, according to a story by CBS Sports. Hammock was Gordon’s coach for his first three years at Wisconsin. The Ravens don’t exactly need a running back, having signed Justin Forsett to a three year deal, but on the other hand, Forsett is 29, an age when many backs start to decline. The good thing is that Forsett does not have much wear and tear, having played in a backup role for the vast majority of his career.

However, the Ravens don’t exactly have much depth behind him should he get hurt or not be able to reproduce the season he had last year. So it definitely makes sense for them to pick Gordon in many ways.

None of the mock drafts at CBS Sports have Gordon lasting as long as pick 26. Two of them have him going to the Chargers, one to the Cardinals and one to the Bengals. Gurley is projected to go even sooner with one pick to the Dolphins, one to the Chargers and one to the Cards.

On the other hand, Pro Football Talk has Gordon going at pick 27 to the Cowboys, who are also likely in the market for a running back. That’s where King’s prediction comes into play. It could be that the Ravens aren’t exactly banking on Gordon to be available by the time their turn comes, but if he is, they might take him.

The point is that there’s two very talented backs in the draft this year and unlike some years when the rule of not taking a running back in the first round seems to apply, it doesn’t look like it will this year. There are teams that need a running back for starters and as with the defensive bank run last year, teams are looking at teams who had postseason success with a good running game.

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