The Melvin Gordon Angle
July 12th, 2019
Would be nice, but…
Yesterday when Adam Schefter of BSPN twittered that Melvin Gordon is trying to strong-arm the Chargers to land a better contract, within seconds Joe started getting messages on Twitter and Instagram asking if there is any way the Bucs could land him?
Oh, if we’re speaking in the abstract, sure. Joe suspects Gordon could be had for a second-round pick since he’s in the final year of his contract. Maybe a second-round pick and a player or two.
The biggest stumbling block to obtaining Gordon would be how to fit him in under the salary cap.
Yesterday, Joe was listening to SiriusXM NFL Radio as he is wont to do. During “Movin’ the Chains,” co-host “The Professor,” John Clayton, immediately cited two teams where Gordon would fit. One was the Bucs but Clayton admitted Tampa Bay is currently in salary cap hell.
A few hours later on “Late Hits,” co-host Charles Davis said the “perfect fit” for Gordon would be Bucco Bruce Arians and the Bucs. Davis compared Gordon with running back David Johnson, who had great success with Arians in Arizona.
With a little tweaking, the Bucs could find a way to squeeze Gordon within the cap for this season if so motivated. It’s not out of the question that Jason Pierre-Paul could be cut due to his fractured neck. No one really knows when or if JPP can answer the bell. If the Bucs moved on, that would be some $7 million right there.
Nightmare Will Gholston would also be a prime salary cap casualty as well as Evan Smith. That’s roughly $5 million between the two right there.
So yeah, the Bucs could squeeze Gordon onto the roster financially. But after this year? Well, that would get very dicey.
Gordon, 26, has been an exceptional dual-threat running back for the Chargers. And that is the main sticking point with obtaining Gordon.
Usually, only rebuilding teams, or teams with new coaches, or poorly run teams, actually want to get rid of good players. The Chargers should be in the thick of it for the AFC West title this fall.
Also, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, 37, likely only has a few more years left. That window is closing shortly so why would the Chargers shoot themselves in the foot by trading such a valuable weapon like Gordon in his prime?
Joe cannot see the Chargers dumping Gordon. But if they did, well, things could get very interesting.
July 12th, 2019 at 5:27 am
I agree, can’t see the Chargers letting Gordon get away. But it is a sad situation that Bucs fans must watch and hope for dysfunction elsewhere for a glimmer of hope to be able to somehow make ends meet to squeeze a guy in where there is a gaping hole…but with no means to pay to fix it.
Think about it. Our first 10 sack edge rusher since Rice, an arugably top leader of the D and local favorite, would maybe have to be sacrificed going forward to have a shot at a big “maybe” in the moment.
One guy worth waiting for is JPP. Yet so many holes yet to fill.
July 12th, 2019 at 5:55 am
Dreaming….
July 12th, 2019 at 6:02 am
Definitely a dream! Gordon ain’t leaving the Chargers.
July 12th, 2019 at 6:18 am
Gordon yards per carry–career-3.5, 3.9, 3.9 and then last year, 5.1.
So, did Gordon miraculously get better or did he get a better offense line?
Granted, he can catch the ball. But his running abilities were Barber-like after his first three years. IMO, they would return to the high threes if he came here.
Gordon has proven, like all running backs, that it’s more about the run blocking than the runner.
Too bad many of the opinion pushers I digest here, albeit with an antacid, do not agree.
July 12th, 2019 at 7:01 am
13 days……sadly we can’t give up any draft picks….
July 12th, 2019 at 7:04 am
Send San Diego Cameron Brate, Peyton Barber, Wil Gholston, and release JPP and pray the Chargers GM is as clueless as Jason Licht.
July 12th, 2019 at 7:20 am
>>> Send San Diego Cameron Brate <<<
Why do people want to get rid of a touchdown machine so bad? Isn't the name of the game to score points? Didn't the Bucs have problems scoring points last year and you want to get rid of one of the few guys on the roster who can score? I don't understand. Instead of trading the guy, Brate needs to be on the field more. Has Mark Dominik been re-hired by the Glazers boys? Or Lovie Smith?
July 12th, 2019 at 7:32 am
Coach already said he’s not overpaying for running back. Now if a young pass rusher starts making some noise we got a shot
July 12th, 2019 at 7:35 am
Brate to Patriots for Michel or Harrison frees up cash to go after Clowney or Ngakoue.
July 12th, 2019 at 7:51 am
Jimmy its about winning not one individual that extremely overrated and overpaid. Any decent TE can catch the ball. Teams are not standing in line to trade for Brate or he would have been traded in the nfl draft.
July 12th, 2019 at 7:55 am
JA- Agree 100 pct –
I would only add to run blocking- coaching and scheme.
July 12th, 2019 at 7:58 am
“No future winning team will overpay for a runningback
It is more advantageous to hire a competent GM to draft a legit young runningback in the 2nd round under a rookie salary cap and rinse and repeat
Kobe Faker is willing to chop his pecker so that the Bucs can win 6 games in 2019 season”
Kobe Vrabel Faker
July 12th, 2019 at 8:00 am
Melvin Gordon has rushed for 1,000 yards one time in four years, are you kidding me he was a first round draft pick!!! So you want this guy over someone like Peyton Barber who gives you everything and then some? This is the kind of move that makes teams crappy, see DJax as a prime example, flash but with zero TEAM substance. What has this guy done to deserve a new deal exactly?
July 12th, 2019 at 8:01 am
Kobe your pecker is safe.
July 12th, 2019 at 8:04 am
5-11 and in cap hell? It’s a Bucs life.
July 12th, 2019 at 8:17 am
I usually try not to pile on the Licht sucks bandwagon, but to go from $18million under the cap to salary cap hell in just 2 years with nothing to show for it but a dumpster fire is unacceptable. In my opinion, if we don’t have a winning season this year, Licht has to go.
July 12th, 2019 at 8:24 am
Pass on any high paid RB’s.
July 12th, 2019 at 8:33 am
BA all ready said he would not pay for a running back. To re-sign Gordon would be around 10 million a year plus 2ND ROUNDER.
The Bucs should try to get Duke Johnson. His cap hit is a little over 2 million this year and he is signed thru 2021.
DUKE!!!!
July 12th, 2019 at 8:37 am
Still going from the night before, eh? Joe is jealous.
July 12th, 2019 at 8:40 am
JA: you go to the top of the class!!
July 12th, 2019 at 8:45 am
“I dont over pay for that position.”
-Bruce Arians in reference to going out and getting a RB. While I’d love to have a player like Melvin Gordon on our team. It ain’t happening.
July 12th, 2019 at 8:48 am
Good thing we passed on johnson and Guice for Rojo……
We should be set at back, right??!
July 12th, 2019 at 8:54 am
I wouldnt believe everything arians says, but how in the heck does 5-11 licht still have an NFL job running a franchise? This is getting as bad as the Vinny T years. History has shown that the bucs are very bad with coaches on their second acts
July 12th, 2019 at 8:59 am
Kobe Faker Says:
July 12th, 2019 at 7:58 am
Kobe Faker is willing to chop his pecker so that the Bucs can win 6 games in 2019 season”
^^^Now here’s a real Bucs fan! LOL
July 12th, 2019 at 9:04 am
Don’t overpay for a running back but lets overpay a tight end, quarterback, and wide receiver. Evans is great but 20 mil please.
July 12th, 2019 at 9:06 am
“Any decent TE can catch the ball.”
Yeah, the other teams in the NFL aren’t finding guys like that because, umm, why?
July 12th, 2019 at 9:07 am
@JA
Exactly. Will have to see if Barber is good out of the backfield catching the ball, which as we all know is crucial for an RB in BA offense. Going to be a very interesting camp for Barber I think he’ll do great.
July 12th, 2019 at 9:22 am
Never mind BA saying that’s not a position he thinks they should pay for or the fact that it’s not a smart move. Just goes to show with all the negative gloom and doom talk fans are frontin and cant wait to cheer on the team lol dont know why so many are faking like they aren’t excited to watch the team and looking for the negative. We got rojo dont need to go overboard this guy😁
July 12th, 2019 at 9:25 am
gordon has a lengthy injury history and can be a tad inconsistent…..i think we should go after duke….duke and barber would be a nice combo….imo, duke can be had for a 5th or 6th round pick….but knowing licht, browns will con him for a 2nd or 3rd….
GO BUCS!!!!
July 12th, 2019 at 9:26 am
I agree that the Bucs would be better off gambling with Duke Johnson. Also Licht should have been gone a couple of seasons ago.
July 12th, 2019 at 9:40 am
Nah I’d pass. Good player but I wouldn’t give up more than a 4th rd pick for a RB and I also wouldn’t overpay for that position. Just wait and grab a guy that gets released and let him split carries.
July 12th, 2019 at 9:45 am
San Diego doesn’t seem that interested in opening the safe for him and I doubt they miss him much if he leaves.
July 12th, 2019 at 10:06 am
Nope!no way no how even if BA wanted to. If we sign Jameis to a new contract there goes the rest of the cap space. We literally would not be able to se anyone else unless we have major cuts and contract reconstuctions throught the whole roster. WE STILL HAVENT EVEN SIGNED OUR 1ST ROUND PICK AND YALL GUYS WANNA GET MELVIN?!lmao
July 12th, 2019 at 11:36 am
I see someone put some extra Baileys in their coffee this morning….
July 12th, 2019 at 11:36 am
Comparing MG…. One 1,000 yd season in his 1st 4 years and you want the Bucs to give up prime draft capital and precious Salary Cap space. At least DM22 Had two 1,400 yd seasons in his 1st 4 years. MG hasnt come close on much better teams.
July 12th, 2019 at 12:03 pm
Can’t see this ever happening. If Gordon gets out of LA they better put the facility on lockdown because Rivers is going to go insane. I do love Rivers’ game… can’t believe he’s stuck in the Marino section of Super Bowl purgatory. Duke or Sony are much more likely adds… the fact that Bruce hasn’t sent Brate to NE for Sony already means he either 1) is happy with Barber (very possible given all the other weapons on O), 2) thinks Duke is going to shake loose eventually (very possible given he’s clearly willing to be vocal and cash Cleveland checks at the same time) or 3) he sees incredible value in Brate’s solo production and in the crazy sets one could run with both OJ and Brate on the field together (willing to bet he’s been watching tapes of Gronk/Hernandez). Most likely scenario is “all of the above”… meaning Bruce (unlike Licht) can sit back and let the offseason come to him without feeling the need to make any splashy moves.
July 12th, 2019 at 12:09 pm
Melvin Gordon could have easily washed out after a year or two it’s a credit to SD organization for sticking with him. It all clicked with him midway his 2nd season. Gordon is the real deal. I’m not sold on him leaving and if he would it’d be too rich for the Bucs. I agree that Duke Johnson is the way to go.
July 12th, 2019 at 12:20 pm
Gholston is starter though so
July 12th, 2019 at 12:31 pm
Arians will not pay that money for a RB. Never ever ever.
July 12th, 2019 at 1:47 pm
Gotbbucs he might change his mind when he sees how good our running game is this year.
July 12th, 2019 at 1:48 pm
Did we already forget Arians view about the amount of cap he spends on rbs? Its not the amount Gordon wants thats for sure
July 12th, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Pretty sure the Chargers aren’t getting a 2nd rounder from Gordon, not in the last year of his deal.
As for Gordon, he’s pretty good, but not in a top tier. Yes, I know his numbers are good, but he’s running in the wide open a lot of times. He clearly has very good speed, but without that line blocking for him, I’m not sure how much better he is than Barber – meaning in Tampa is he anything other than a 4.0ypc carry back? I’m not sure. Anywho, just to make sure I’m remembering everything correctly, I went and looked at his highlights for this last year, those should show his big plays where he shows something, and while there’s a couple of nice moves in there, it’s mainly him running through giant holes. To me it appears the Chargers don’t want to pay him elite money for a good reason.
July 12th, 2019 at 4:17 pm
Man some of you guys are getting hung up on his rushing yards only. The guy was a dual threat, every down back when healthy. He’d often get almost as many (sometimes more!) yards receiving as he did rushing. Plus he was really good at finding the end zone. With all that said I’m not advocating for the Bucs to even consider him…too much money for a team with a lot of question marks. I’m hoping RoJo becomes our Melvin Gordon, but the “let’s bring in Duke Johnson” crowd do make a compelling argument (assuming the cost to acquire isn’t very steep).
July 12th, 2019 at 5:52 pm
easy solution
Trade JW even up
July 12th, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Lets sign Devin White how’s that sound?
July 12th, 2019 at 8:19 pm
If Melvin Gordon is trying to get more money where he is, what makes anyone think he won’t want the same if traded?
And is he really worth it?
July 12th, 2019 at 8:29 pm
Interesting take..
July 13th, 2019 at 2:11 am
if you can curtail some of the OL line failures where barber and rojo and anyone else for that matter get stacked up or tackled for a loss, then barber is essentially a 4.5 yard per carry back…the line just has to work on limiting the TFL issues they have and the run game improves a lot…
#TacklesForLossPlagueThisTeam
July 13th, 2019 at 2:12 am
we don’t need a big kahuna at RB…
a little kahuna will do
🙂