After spending the past three years with the Denver Broncos, veteran running back Melvin Gordon is officially set to find a new NFL home. The Broncos parted ways with the running back on Monday, but this probably won’t be the end of the line for Gordon. While he’s certainly not the player he once was, there are many a team that would love to have someone like Melvin Gordon on the roster as additional depth.
Top Five Melvin Gordon Team Fits, Ranked
1. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have a strong roster with several Pro Bowl candidates. Unfortunately, none of those good, healthy players are running backs. J.K. Dobbins is still weeks away from suiting up, and Gus Edwards is battling yet another knee injury. This leaves Kenyan Drake atop Baltimore’s depth chart, and that’s not good for anybody. Melvin Gordon could come in and immediately play a role in this depleted backfield. When Dobbins and/or Edwards return, Gordon would transform into one of the better backups in the league.
2. Cincinnati Bengals*
Cincinnati’s standing on this list is entirely dependent upon the results of Joe Mixon’s concussion. The star running back did not return in Week 11, and it’s unclear at this point if the ailment will sideline him for an extended period of time. If it does, then the Bengals will desperately need another running back. Samaje Perine is a fine pass-catcher, but somebody will need to handle the early-down work. That somebody could be Gordon, as he should enjoy some success in a high-powered offense like this one.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Ever since they parted ways with Kareem Hunt, the Kansas City Chiefs have struggled to find a reliable option in their backfield. Isiah Pacheco has played well in a small sample, but it’s safe to assume that a true Super Bowl contender like the Chiefs wants someone with more of a proven track record. Gordon would be a perfect fit as part of a running back rotation in this offense, as he has the ability to take carries between the tackles and make plays out of the backfield.
4. Chicago Bears*
Every other name on this list has a chance of making the playoffs, but that cannot be said of the 3-8 Chicago Bears. However, even though their season is effectively over, they still have a lot to play for. Justin Fields has come alive in the second half of the season, and the Bears need to do everything in their power to ensure that positive development continues – assuming he’s healthy enough to play, of course. With Khalil Herbert on the injured reserve, Chicago’s backfield lacks even the slightest proven commodity outside of David Montgomery. Melvin Gordon would immediately solidify the backup role and provide a much-needed weapon for Fields.
5. Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker has taken the world by storm this year, and the Seattle Seahawks surprisingly are tied for the NFC West crown after 11 weeks. Seattle has a lot to play for, and they’d be in serious trouble if Walker suffered an injury. Pete Carroll loves his running backs, and he’d probably be thrilled to add some better depth for the final stretch of the season.
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