NFL rumors: 5 teams who could trade for Melvin Gordon
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay had the league’s fourth-worst rushing attack last year (95.2 yards per game), while tying for second-worst in yards per carry (3.9). But right now they are betting on a second-year jump from Ronald Jones, with Peyton Barber (871 rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry) in the mix.
The only offseason addition was Andre Ellington, who spent last year out of the league and will reunite with Bruce Arians.
With arguably the league’s worst running back situation, it’s no surprise the Buccaneers may enter the mix for another running back who’s available on the trade market.
Here's a team to watch as a potential Duke Johnson destination: Tampa Bay.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 11, 2019
There’s a possible opportunity to add Gordon now though, and the Buccaneers have to be in something of win-now mode with Arians as coach along with general manager Jason Licht naturally being on the hot seat.
Jameis Winston is playing out his own fifth-year option this year, in a make-or-break campaign for him, so any move to surround him with better talent has to be considered.
Tampa Bay is relatively up against it financially, with just $7.9 million in caps space currently (via Over The Cap), and Gordon would take up a big chunk of that. But some contract restructuring, or sending a player back to the Chargers in the deal, would make the move more palatable.