Los Angeles Chargers: Melvin Gordon was the biggest winner of the draft

The popular consensus heading out of the 2017 NFL Draft is that Phillip Rivers is was the biggest winner on the Los Angeles Chargers. In fact, it was Melvin Gordon.

The Los Angeles Chargers made some shocking picks in the 2017 NFL Draft, but they also made absolute genius choices. In the first round, with the seventh overall selection, many anticipated the Chargers to fill their void at safety with either Jamal Adams or Malik Hooker. With Hooker still on the board, this selection seemed to be a foregone conclusion.

Instead, the Chargers turned to their receiving core, adding arguably the most talented receiver in the draft in Mike Williams. Williams, out of Clemson, was seemingly selected with question marks around Keenan Allen’s health. If Allen can stay healthy, then the Chargers have the potential to have a special one-two punch. If not, the Chargers now have their receiver for the future.

Then, the Chargers followed up Williams with arguably the best second and third round selections in the entire draft. With the 38th overall pick, the Chargers snagged the highest rated guard by Mel Kiper, Forrest Lamp. Lamp was widely expected to go in the first round, so the fact that he even lasted until the Chargers second pick was astounding.

Then, to follow up the steal of Lamp, the Chargers drafted the third-ranked guard by Mel Kiper, Dan Feeney. These three picks instantly gave the Chargers one of the best passing games in all of football, led by future hall of fame quarterback Phillip Rivers.

Rivers now has a line that can protect him. With Lamp, Feeney, and new signing Russell Okung this Chargers line is reinvented and may finally give Rivers the protection he has lacked.

Throw in a star-studded receiving core, filled will Williams, Allen, Travis Benjamin, Dontrelle Inman, Tyrell Williams, Antonio Gates, and Hunter Henry and it is apparent Rivers has the tools to succeed. Whether it was because a lack of depth, or unlucky injury history, Rivers has not had this kind of supporting cast in some time.

This is what has caused everyone to rate this draft extremely well for the Chargers, it supplemented their best player. However, the biggest winner of this draft will be the Los Angeles Chargers third-year running back Melvin Gordon.

Melvin Gordon had a solid bounce back year in 2016, and 2017 will be even better for the Pro Bowl running back. Last season Gordon ran for just under 1000 yards, finding the endzone on the ground ten times. Six of those times were in the first four weeks, which coincidentally were all weeks in which Rivers posted over a 90 quarterback rating (QBR).

More from Los Angeles Chargers

In fact, the lowers QBR Rivers had in a game that Gordon rushed the ball in the endzone was 79.8. In Gordon’s best game, where he rushed for 196 yards and scored against the Titans, Rivers had his third highest QBR. The two weeks that were higher, week two and five, Gordon scored either on the ground or in the air.

It is evident like it is in any offense – the better the passing game, the better the running game. Melvin Gordon is a talented kid, but the second the Chargers receiving core suffered injuries was when defenses could turn their entire focus to Gordon.

The addition of Williams alone makes this receiving core immensely deep, add in a returning Keenan Allen and it is one of football’s best.

Not only that, but Gordon now has two new guards to run behind up the field. I guarantee if Gordon remains healthy we will see a 1500 yard, 16 touchdown year out of the third year back.

Next: 2017-18 will be special for the Chargers

Overall, the Los Angeles Chargers were the biggest winners of the 2017 NFL Draft. While many think Rivers is at the center of this winning draft, the biggest beneficiary is indeed Melvin Gordon.

Home/Los Angeles Chargers