The Denver Broncos made an upgrade at the running back position. They are signing former Los Angeles Chargers standout Melvin Gordon to a two-year deal worth up to $16 million, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
There was an interesting element to Rapoport’s update regarding Gordon’s decision to sign with the Broncos. He mentioned that Gordon received a better offer from another team, but it was appealing to be able to play in the same division as the Chargers.
After the emergence of Austin Ekeler, the Chargers did not need to consider paying two running backs. Los Angeles will now be able to fully commit and focus to building around Ekeler in the backfield without having to worry about the distractions that came with Gordon.
The holdout from Gordon proved to be not as unsuccessful as one might think. He did still end up receiving $13.5 million guaranteed on his deal with the Broncos, which is only $1.5 million less guaranteed than Ekeler got on his four-extension with the Chargers.
The Broncos will be able to formulate an admirable one-two punch with Gordon playing alongside Philip Lindsay. With Drew Lock at quarterback and a Pro Bowl primary receiver in Courtland Sutton, the offense Denver is building is intriguing.
There is still more work for the Broncos to do when it comes to solidifying their roster. One area that needs work, in particular, is the offensive line. Being able to protect Drew Lock and provide favorable running lanes for Melvin Gordon could help take the offense to another level.
