Potential trade packages for Melvin Gordon
By Steven Haglund
The Green Bay Packers have made several smart moves this offseason, shoring up the defense as they look to build a true contender around Aaron Rodgers. However, their skill positions still leave much to be desired beyond Davante Adams.
Aaron Jones has flashed potential but who knows if he can be a consistent lead back for an entire season. Jimmy Graham has been largely disappointing since he left New Orleans, and there aren’t many other positive pass-catching options now that Randall Cobb is in Dallas.
Rodgers and Adams are good enough to keep the Packers in the playoff race, but their schedule is tough and the other teams in their division are getting better every year. With the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and the Packers all battling for playoff spots this division race will be very entertaining to watch.
Their front office clearly had a sense of urgency this offseason. A trade for Gordon follows that logic and should be strongly considered. A trio of Rodgers, Adams and Gordon would be the best QB-WR-RB trio in the league and would make them the clear favorite over the Bears and Vikings for best odds to win their division, and put them in the running for best team in the conference.
Would they be willing to swap Jamaal Williams and two draft picks for Gordon? Gordon and Jones may be a little repetitive but Gordon is good enough in the passing game that they would be able to make for quite an explosive duo.
Head coach Matt LaFleur has already shown a willingness to employ a similar dynamic with Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis in Tennessee, but Gordon and Jones would be even better. This move would make a lot of sense for the Packers if they are willing to pay Gordon.
Jamaal Williams sees everything pic.twitter.com/q7puOzFvH8
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) March 16, 2019
In this scenario, the Chargers should ask for William, and two future draft picks in return. While there are those out there who have suggested safety Josh Jones would make sense as a trade piece, the Chargers are already equipped with one of the best groups of safeties in the league and do not need another one to crowd the rotation even more.
Jason Spriggs is their swing tackle, but they would be unlikely to include him due to a potential lack of depth up front if they were to include him for Gordon. So Williams is the player to target here for the Chargers.
Williams has shown the ability to be a positive goal-line back and would be a nice complement to Justin Jackson and Austin Ekeler. He’s also an elite blocker from the running back position and has consistently shown his ability to protect the quarterback, see above.
They would then be able to employ a well-balanced trio of running backs and be able to use that future draft pick to continue to build for the future. This package would only work if the Chargers get a first-round pick along with Williams. Anything less should take the Packers out of the running.
Trading Gordon for Williams and the Packers’ 2021 first-round pick could do the trick, but ideally, they’d get the Packers to sweeten the deal with a second draft pick.