Nothing has changed for the better on Melvin Gordon's preseason holdout from the Chargers. The 26-year-old running back is waiting for the team to reach out with an offer more substantial than $10 million per year, and he remains unwilling to play out the final season of his rookie contract at $5.6 million for 2019.
The Chargers are sticking with their hard-line stance on contracts, and with the regular season only a couple weeks away, Gordon appears willing to sit out as long as necessary. At this point, there's less of a chance Gordon will be traded and a growing possibility he could become a free agent in 2020 via one of two paths.
First, Gordon could return to the Chargers, play out the season and enter free agency as scheduled. If he sits out the whole season — a path Le'Veon Bell took when he refused to sign the Steelers' franchise tender last year — and if the Chargers still don't plan to re-sign him to a deal he would like, Gordon will hope the Chargers release or trade him in 2020 as opposed to having his contract toll.
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In the early stages of this impasse, when Gordon rumors first started swirling upon his trade request, there were only two teams that made sense as potential partners for the Chargers based on backfield needs and salary-cap means.
Yet, if Gordon were to hit free agency next year, that list would grow. Here's a look at Gordon's top five landing spots regardless of his path, trade or free agency.
Melvin Gordon's best fits in trade or free agency
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Now that second-year running back Ronald Jones is dealing with a knee injury on top of his limited production, the Buccaneers likely will be starting veteran Peyton Barber by default. Dare Ogunbowale has flashed, but he is an unproven third-year player.
Gordon would give coach Bruce Arians and Tampa Bay's offense the true lead back they're missing to play off what will be a more efficient downfield passing game with Jameis Winston throwing to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard. If the Bucs want to add Gordon now, though, they would need to get creative. They have only about $4 million left in projected cap space for 2019.
Next year would be a different story. With Winston yet to be extended, the team is sitting on a projected $55 million in cap space for 2020, per OverTheCap.com.
- Houston Texans
The Texans just traded for Duke Johnson to replace the released D'Onta Foreman as complement to Lamar Miller. But Houston also just saw second-year slot receiver Keke Coutee exchange his rookie hamstring issues for an ankle injury, which has kept him sidelined for two weeks. Should Coutee stay on the shelf through Week 1, Johnson's role as an outlet pass-catcher would extend to help fill that receiving void.
Gordon, who two years younger than Miller, would be an upgrade for the Texans on early downs. Miller also is unsigned for 2020, and Houston is projected to have a league-high $79 million in cap space next year.
What could stop the Texans from going after Gordon is the fact that they already gave up a conditional 2020 NFL Draft pick for Johnson (third or fourth round), leaving them with only six picks next year. For the same reason the Jets didn't go after Bell in 2018, the Texans might be thinking they'll get a shot at Gordon in free agency. Houston then could focus on extending Deshaun Watson in 2021.
- Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins — a rebuilding team, especially on offense — first need to figure out what they have in the combination of Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage in their backfield, just as they're doing with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen at quarterback. So next year will be when we see Miami's true offseason plan in action.
Drake will be a free agent in 2020, and the Dolphins are projected to be more than $61 million under the cap. They would be able to afford a veteran workhorse back to presumably pair with a first-round rookie QB.
Gordon's offseason training hub is in South Florida, not far from Miami's team headquarters. It would make a lot of sense to recruit him to stay in town all season.
- Buffalo Bills
The Bills' backfield is a crowd now with LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore on top of the depth chart, but both of those aging backs will be free agents in 2020. Buffalo is looking at $59 million of projected cap space next year, plenty of room to sign Gordon and pair him with Devin Singletary.
Gordon's power running would be a good asset for Buffalo, and it would facilitate downfield passing game and the big arm of Josh Allen.
- Tennessee Titans
The Titans need to make a decision on Derrick Henry, who is in the final year of his rookie contract after being drafted in 2016, a year and a round later than Gordon. Henry is coming off a strong finish to the 2018 season, but Gordon is the more complete back and would work well with Dion Lewis, who is signed through 2022.
Henry will be cheaper than Gordon, which is a consideration for the Titans and their more modest projected $24 million in cap space. Not to mention the looming decision on Marcus Mariota.
