NFL rumors: 5 teams who could trade for Melvin Gordon

4. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts don’t have a problem at running back, with Marlon Mack (908 rushing yards, nine touchdowns in 2018), Nyheim Hines (63 receptions last year), Jordan Wilkins and Spencer Ware on the depth chart. Having them all on cheap contracts helps.

But Mack missed four games last year, and Hines had almost as many targets as carries (81 vs. 83). Wilkins averaged 5.6 yards per carry last year, but he’s ideally a part-time player and Ware’s ceiling is high-end backup.

In Gordon the Colts would get the runner Mack showed he was in 2018, with a bit more scoring prowess, and a pass catcher that is arguably better than Hines overall. Gordon himself would be getting a serious offensive line upgrade in Indianapolis, so his production could find a new ceiling.

Despite having a load of cap space, the Colts stayed out of the big money end of free agency this offseason. That means they still have plenty of room ($45.7 million, according to Over The Cap) to take on Gordon’s $5.6 million for this year.

Their unwillingness to pony up for Le’Veon Bell has to be noted, in part due to having a harmonious locker room if general manager Chris Ballard can be believed.

So they may hesitate to give Gordon the multi-year deal he wants, but an opportunity to upgrade a piece around Andrew Luck shouldn’t be dismissed.