The Buffalo Bills don’t seem like a team that is in the running back market, but Bleacher Report NFL analyst Brent Sobleski believes the team is among the best landing spots for two-time Pro Bowl running back Melvin Gordon.
Gordon, 26, and his agent, Fletcher Smith, are in the middle of a contract dispute with the Los Angeles Chargers. Smith told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the running back wants a new contract with Los Angeles. Without one, Gordon will not attend training camp and will demand a trade.
The former first-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He’s set to receive $5.6 million, but feels he’s worth more as one of the league’s most dynamic backs.
Why would the Bills possibly be interested in Gordon with LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, Devin Singletary and T.J. Yeldon already on their roster? Sobleski believes Buffalo lacks a feature back heading into 2019 despite having a solid running back room.
The Buffalo Bills feature a deep, albeit aging, backfield. LeSean McCoy (who turns 31 on Friday) and Frank Gore (36) are no longer the runners they once were, and the Bills shouldn’t go into the regular season with those lead options if another possibility exists.
McCoy put up career lows last season with 514 rushing yards, 3.2 yards per attempt and 36.7 rushing yards per game. Age and a decline in production are only parts of the problem, though. McCoy remains one of the league’s highest-paid backs. The 10-year veteran holds a $9.05 million salary-cap hit this year, according to Spotrac. The Bills can save $6.43 million by releasing McCoy and put it toward other options, like the possibility of trading for Gordon.
General manager Brandon Beane signed Gore this offseason to serve as a mentor and tone-setter. He's not going to be a featured portion of the Bills offense.
Buffalo acquired a pair of younger options this offseason in T.J. Yeldon and Devin Singletary, the latter of whom the organization drafted in the third round. Neither is expected to be a featured back as training camp looms.
The Bills own a strong running back stable, but it could be drastically better with Gordon's acquisition. A Pro Bowl runner in his prime will help take the onus off second-year quarterback Josh Allen and provide a legitimate weapon opposing defenses must account for on a down-by-down basis. The Bills lack an offensive player of that caliber.
Gordon Compensation: 2020 fourth-round draft pick, offensive lineman LaAdrian Waddle and defensive end Shaq Lawson
In return, the Chargers receive competition at right tackle, depth behind Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, and an early Day 3 draft pick, much like the Miami Dolphins received for Jarvis Landry.
Sobleski’s assessment of Buffalo’s backs heading into 2019 is fairly accurate. Buffalo’s top two backs, McCoy and Gore, are on the downside of their Hall of Fame careers. Singletary probably isn’t ready to be a feature back in the NFL as a rookie and Yeldon is more of a complementary back.
The Gordon trade compensation also seems fairly agreeable in Sobleski’s article. LaAdrian Waddle is a valuable swing tackle who has experience playing under offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, but the Bills have Dion Dawkins, Cody Ford and Ty Nsekhe competing for the team’s two starting jobs. Shaq Lawson, arguably coming off of his best season in the NFL, is entering the final year of his deal with the Bills and the team may be willing to part with him if they are confident in Trent Murphy returning to form and the depth behind him.
Much like Le’Veon Bell is expected to help Sam Darnold, Gordon could make life easier for second-year quarterback Josh Allen. Gordon has averaged 996 yards rushing over the last three seasons while catching about 45 passes per season during this span of time. He’s also scored 38 total touchdowns from 2016-2018. With a revamped offensive line, Gordon could give the Bills a dangerous threat on offense.
The only question is whether or not the Bills would be willing to pay Gordon as one of the league’s top backs. Durability has been a concern in Gordon’s career. He’s only appeared in 16 games once in his four seasons in the league and has missed nine games in his career.
