The San Diego Chargers are heading into OTA workouts with Melvin Gordon ready to take over the starting job as a rookie with Danny Woodhead, Donald Brown and Branden Oliver on the roster, as he was one of the most productive backs in college football last season and this comes as Philip Rivers could be in line for a contract extension this summer.
Gordon comes in after a great career with Wisconsin and he should help give San Diego a strong rushing attack this season. Gordon has signed his rookie contract and according to Chargers GM Tom Telesco, Gorton was the "the best pass-protecting back in the draft" and that could help him get the starting job. Gordon rushed for over 2500 yards last season and had 45 touchdowns in his career and that could help him push to start for the Chargers.
The team let Ryan Mathews go in free agency and while Donald Brown, Branden Oliver and Danny Woodhead are returning, the team could turn to Gordon. The Chargers love using their backs as receivers and both Oliver and Woodhead are better skilled than Gordon at that, but he is the better overall runner. Gordon likely will be the featured back, as he had just 22 catches during his time at Wisconsin, leaving the other backs to compliment him in the offense.
Gordon was impressive in rookie minicamp according to Kevin Acee from the Union Times San Diego and he has the "inside track" to the starting job. The Chargers traded up to get Gordon and now he has the chance to be the feature back with Ryan Mathews gone. Gordon has had some fumbling issues in college, but that is something that can be fixed with coaching. Woodhead missed time last season and played in just three games and having Gordon could help him get back in shape this offseason with a bit less pressure on him.
According to NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport on Twitter, Philip Rivers is "open to listening" to contract extension with the Chargers and the team is "optimistic" that a deal will get done. Rivers was mentioned in trade rumors this offseason and he said he had no issue playing out the final year of his contract. Things could be changing now that Rivers has not been traded, as he previously was not looking to sign an extension.
Sources said that Rivers did not want to go to Los Angeles if the team moves, but right now the San Diego franchise looks like it is staying put. That could help the Chargers get a deal done and UT San Diego reports that Rivers could be interested in signing a short term extension over a longer deal to allay his worries about the move. Rivers has been very good over the past couple of seasons and now he has a new offensive weapon in Gordon.
