Los Angeles Chargers: Pre-camp 53-man roster projection

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CARSON, CA – OCTOBER 07: Running back Melvin Gordon #28 of the Los Angeles Chargers makes a 34 yard run in the second quarter against the Oakland Raiders at StubHub Center on October 7, 2018, in Carson, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Running back (5)

Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, Detrez Newsome, Derek Watt (fullback)

Cut: Jeremy Cox, Troymaine Pope

Potential surprise cut: None

Obviously, this list will look a lot different if the team decides to trade Gordon, rather than pay him the money he is looking to make. He is the clear-cut No.1 running back on the roster and the team doesn’t have that every-down back behind him. Of course, many teams go with a complete committee approach in today’s NFL and the Chargers have some versatile players behind Gordon in Ekeler, Jackson and Newsome.

Cox is a tremendous prospect. Undrafted out of Old Dominion, he is a tough, straight-ahead runner and it would not be a tremendous surprise to see him beat out Newsome for a roster spot. He will be no worse than a practice squad addition and he should be a fun player to watch this summer.

Of course, the contract situation surrounding Gordon has dominated talks lately and a potential trade would really shake up the offensive backfield. If the Chargers were to trade Gordon, would it be best for the team to sign a free agent such as Jay Ajayi, Alex Collins or Chris Ivory, or would a four-man rotation of Ekeler, Jackson, Newsome and Cox be better?