Denver Broncos sign Melvin Gordon: Grade, reaction and more
One of the NFL’s more versatile running backs is staying in the AFC West as two-time Pro Bowler Melvin Gordon is joining the Denver Broncos.
It’s been a strange five years for a player who was the 15th player selected in the 2015 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, running back Melvin Gordon touched the ball 217 times for the then-San Diego Chargers, totaled 833 yards and never sniffed the end zone. That would change dramatically the following three seasons. In 41 regular-season contests, the former University of Wisconsin ran for 2,987 yards and 28 scores, added 1,385 yards and 10 TDs on 149 receptions and earned Pro Bowl invitations in 2016 and ’18.
Then came the 2019 offseason and Gordon wanted a new deal as he was in the final year of his rookie contract. He sat out the summer and the Chargers’ first three regular-season contests before returning in Week 4 at Miami. He would not play in that game but returned for the club’s final 12 outings, finishing with 908 yards from scrimmage and a team-high nine touchdowns.
Now the five-year pro is back for a sixth NFL campaign in the AFC West. But it won’t be with the Bolts.
Contract Details
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Gordon is inking a two-year contract worth $16 million, with $13.5 million guaranteed.
National Reaction
Source: The #Broncos and RB Melvin Gordon have agreed to terms on a 2-year deal worth $16M with $13.5M guaranteed. The former #Chargers star stays in the division, creating a strong 1-2 punch with Phillip Lindsay.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 20, 2020
Melvin Gordon had a better offer from another team, but the lure of playing in the same division as the #Chargers, that appealed to him. https://t.co/ZX9KZ4nvkc
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 20, 2020
The #Chargers offered more last year, before Gordon’s protracted holdout. $8M APY makes Melvin Gordon the NFL’s 4th-highest paid RB, though well below Zeke ($15M), Le’Veon ($13.125M), David Johnson ($13M). https://t.co/16jo05NfIB
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 20, 2020
A look at Gordon from before free agency (wasn't expecting much, but was surprised). #Broncos https://t.co/j5wX3S4Xkh
— Ryan O'Halloran (@ryanohalloran) March 20, 2020
Per @WISN_Watson the Denver Broncos are signing HB Melvin Gordon
— PFF (@PFF) March 20, 2020
Gordon: 41st ranked HB in 2019 pic.twitter.com/LleAUSS9cP
RAPID REACTION | @bstokley14 says the #Broncos signing Melvin Gordon added depth to the backfield, but what does this mean for Phillip Lindsay? pic.twitter.com/Zoq3kePbXq
— Denver Sports (@DenverSportsCom) March 20, 2020
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Gordon now joins a team that already has a proven commodity out of the backfield in running back Phillip Lindsay, who finished with 1,267 yards from scrimmage and eight scores this past season. And he also latches on with a club that won four of its last five games and plenty of promise from young signal-caller Drew Lock. And by all indications (via Rapoport), he was extremely interested in facing his former employer at least twice a year. He has certainly found his way to the end zone after a forgettable rookie year in that department. He and Lindsay will make for an intriguing 1-2 punch and it could mean bigger things for a Denver ground attack that hasn’t put up impressive numbers in recent years.