Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Melvin Gordon (Wisconsin) poses for a photo with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number 15th overall pick to the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
If the San Diego Chargers could run the ball last year, they would have been in the playoffs. Quarterback Philip Rivers had to do everything and the defense didn’t have much of a chance to rest. Therefore, there were times that the Chargers were unable to hold on to leads and lost games because of it.
In the 2015 NFL Draft, the Chargers did something about it by selecting running back Melvin Gordon No. 15 overall. They actually traded up to get him so the Chargers deserve credit for trading up as well as the pick itself. In 2014, Gordon had the second-most single-season rushing yards in FBS History with 2,587 (Barry Sanders is No. 1 with 2,628 in 1988).
Running backs the have collegiate success like that don’t miss in the NFL very often. That’s especially the case when they’re as shifty in open field with the jump-cut at line of scrimmage Gordon has. The Chargers have a big, Physical offensive line now too so Gordon will come in and help, making the Chargers the favorite to win the AFC West.