Los Angeles Chargers: Two early trade partners for Melvin Gordon
By Jason Reed
The worst-case scenario has happened for the Los Angeles Chargers as Melvin Gordon now wants to be traded out of Los Angeles.
Right before the Los Angeles Chargers reported to training camp it was reported that running back Melvin Gordon would be holding out until he could reach terms on a new contract with the team. And if that did not happen, he wanted to be traded out of Los Angeles.
The two sides engaged in discussions as the Chargers seemed proactive in getting a contract done. However, they ultimately did not meet Gordon’s needs and now the running back is looking to be traded, per Josina Anderson of ESPN.
The number that the Chargers were offering Gordon was $10 million per year, likely on a four or so year deal.
It is less than other elite running backs have gotten in the league but it would only be $4.25 million fewer than Todd Gurley is averaging per year. With the narrative around the league of not paying running backs, it is hard to come up with a team that will pay Gordon more.
And that ultimately is going to be the team he wants to be traded to as he can work on contract talks there, albeit he has no say in the manner of where he gets traded.
Because of this drama going public and the fact that Gordon is an expiring contract, he is not going to be worth as much as he could be on the trade market. The ceiling for a Gordon trade is probably a second-round pick.
Either way, here are two teams that should be interested in trading for the back that also wouldn’t come back to haunt the Chargers.