2. Don’t Re-Sign Gordon
Since the Chargers seem to have already made an official decision on Rivers, it remains to be seen if Gordon is back with the team next season. If Los Angeles hasn’t made the decision yet, it’s best they let him walk in free agency.
As mentioned above, Gordon held out from the Chargers in hopes he could negotiate a long-term deal. Instead, his holdout carried into the regular season and it backfired.
The reason it backfired is because his replacement—Austin Ekeler—outplayed him in the offense. In Ekeler’s four starts in place of Gordon, he totaled 490 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns.
On the other hand, Gordon had a terribly inefficient season for the Chargers. The former first-round pick managed to rush for only 612 yards on 162 carries in 11 starts.
In recent seasons, teams have paid running backs lucrative contracts and none of them have gone according to plan. Therefore, the Chargers should take note and allow Gordon to depart in free agency while expanding Ekeler’s role.
