Melvin Gordon and the Los Angeles Chargers could be heading for a divorce. The star running back is currently holding out and has rejected the team’s offer of $10 million a season. Now, his agent Damarius Bilbo admitted he asked the team to trade his client.
Gordon is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is due to make $5.605 million this season. After a lackluster rookie campaign, Gordon has been one of the most productive backs in the league, accounting for more than 1,400 yards a season in rushing and receiving and scoring 12 touchdowns in three consecutive years.
Chargers RB Melvin Gordon's agent Damarius Bilbo tells me he requested a trade last wk for his client, after the team remained at their initial offer of aprox $10M/ year. GM Tom Telesco told Bilbo, Gordon is still family, but Bilbo was not given permission to seek trade partners.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 1, 2019
Bilbo is no stranger in seeking trades when contract issues arise. Another of his clients, Jarvis Landry, was traded to the Cleveland Browns after the Miami Dolphins hit him with the franchise tag last offseason.
A $10 million a year contract would make Gordon the fourth highest paid running back in the league, but he’s likely looking at $13 million. Gordon is young and he’s been healthy. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to let that amount of money land him on another team unless they could secure what they feel would be a high first round pick or fill another need.
With Gordon holding out, third-year back Austin Ekeler, an undrafted free agent in 2017 out of Western State, could make the most of his chance as the feature back, at least in practice. He was Gordon’s back up last season and averaged 5.3 yards per carry, rushing for 554 yards and three touchdowns and catching 39 passes for 404 yards and three scores. Ekeler’s stellar performance as a reserve, accounting for nearly 1,000 yards himself, could make L.A. feel pretty good about waiting Gordon out or trading him for the right price.
Chargers add Dee Liner to D-line
What’s in a name? A job, that’s what as the Chargers shored up their defensive line with a guy that was literally made for it, signing free agent Dee Liner.
The #Chargers have signed defensive tackle Dee Liner, who might be the most appropriately named player in NFL or even pro sports history.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) August 1, 2019
Liner was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State last season. He spent time with the Tennessee Titans, but never played in a regular season game.
