Report: Chargers to exercise Gordon’s fifth-year option, Tyrell Williams signs tender

The Los Angeles Chargers plan on exercising Melvin Gordon’s fifth-year option.

Earlier this month, I suggested that the Chargers should pick up running back Melvin Gordon’s fifth-year option. According to general manager Tom Telesco himself, it appears is if the Chargers will do just that.

Gordon, who’s only 25 years old, was the Chargers’ first-round pick (15th overall) out of Wisconsin in 2015. After failing to reach the end zone in an underwhelming and injury-riddled rookie season, Gordon has really turned things around.

He’s been a workhorse for the Chargers, carrying the ball 538 times for 2,102 yards and 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He’s also added 99 receptions for 895 yards and six touchdowns.

2017 marked the first year Gordon played a full, 16-game season. He finished with the seventh-most rushing yards (1,105) and tied for the sixth-most rushing touchdowns (eight). He accounted for the second-most first downs (58) on the team behind only wide receiver Keenan Allen. He was also extremely good at breaking tackles, ranking second among all running backs in that category, per Pro Football Focus. It’s impressive to see him put up those numbers running behind an offensive line that struggles in run blocking.

In other news, Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams has signed his second-round tender. Williams, 26, is scheduled to make $2.9 million in 2018.

The former undrafted free agent out of Western Oregon is one of the better receivers out there. He recorded a 1,000-yard season in only his second year as a Charger. His numbers last year (43 catches for 728 yards and four touchdowns) dropped because of the return of Keenan Allen, as well as some inconsistencies of his own.

He’s currently the team’s No. 2 receiver, but the Chargers are expecting 2017 first-round receiver Mike Williams to make a big jump after a slow rookie year. Even if the big-bodied Williams takes over No. 2 duties, T. Williams, who has that rare combination of size and speed, should still be part of the game plan. Travis Benjamin, who is an effective deep threat, is also on the roster, as is Geremy Davis, who was also brought back on a one-year deal.

Overall, the Chargers are very deep at the position, which is important considering both Allen and M. Williams have dealt with injuries in the past.