Melvin Gordon says running back is the 'worst position' to play in the NFL
There is no doubt that NFL teams are valuing running backs less and less in recent years. Yes, two running backs were drafted in the first round of this year’s NFL draft. But as free agent running back Melvin Gordon recently pointed out, teams are not paying top money for backs, or even signing them in some instances.
Gordon went as far as to say that running back is the “worst position” to play in the NFL on the Jim Rome Show earlier this week.
“It’s just so tough for running backs right now, man,” Gordon said. “You have a lot of running backs that’s out there. We just don’t get no love. It’s literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now. It literally sucks.”
Gordon, who is 30, was drafted by the Chargers with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
He has had a successful NFL career, including making the Pro Bowl twice, but he ended last year on the Chiefs’ practice squad and has not signed with anyone this offseason.
Gordon is confident he can still make plays in the NFL if given the opportunity.
“I still wanna play. I’ve got some tread left on the tires. Coach [Andy] Reid kind of sat me down and told me that, ‘You still can play.’ It’s just about the right situation,” Gordon recalled.
“I’m just staying ready, because I know what I can do. I know that once I get in camp I can turn some heads. I know what I need to do; I know my mistakes that I’ve made. You’ve gotta be ready to correct them, but I’m ready to go, man. I’m staying ready. It’s hard, though. It’s hard training knowing that you’re not going to be on a team. It’s tough mentally, but I’ve talked to some players that went through it. Just taking their advice, being a sponge and that kind of helps you get through it.”
Whether Gordon will get another shot or not remains to be seen. It seems that more and more now, teams are turning to younger running backs who are cheaper and haven’t taken as many hits.
According to Gordon, this trend started with Todd Gurley, who received $45 million in guaranteed money from the Rams, before dealing with injuries. He was cut ahead of the 2020 season, only two years into the deal.
“I think after Todd got paid, and then Sean McVay came out and said, ‘I’ll never pay a running back again, I’ll just use them and rotate them out.’ … I think after that statement was made and then they won the Super Bowl, everybody just followed suit,” Gordon said. “I think that’s where everything started going downhill.”