Jacksonville Jaguars: RB Melvin Gordon can provide invaluable depth

Melvin Gordon could provide value for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the first round of 2015’s draft, Melvin Gordon signed a two-year $16 million contract with the Denver Broncos this past offseason. So far, the Wisconsin product has racked up 189 carries for 893 yards and eight touchdowns as part of the Broncos running back committee.

Gordon has a pending driving under the influence case and if he plead guilty, he could get slapped with a three-game suspension from the league that could void the $6.5 million in guarantees left on his deal. This in turn could make it easier for Denver to release the sixth-year running back in order to avoid having to pay him.

If Gordon becomes a free agent, there surely will be a demand for his services, but due to his suspension, the cost of signing him may not be prohibitive. For his career, he’s carried the ball 1,248 times for 5,133 yards and 44 touchdowns and has averaged 4.1 yards per carry. He’s also caught 252 passes for 2,014 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Jaguars are projected to have $77.61 million in cap space and adding Gordon in free agency would help them use allocate their 2021 draft picks to other roster needs such as the defensive line and their cornerback group, which the team needs to address.