Melvin Gordon turns down latest offer, requests trade

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)
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) /
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Melvin Gordon has requested a trade from the Los Angeles Chargers, per ESPN’s Josina Anderson.

Chargers RB Melvin Gordon's agent Damarius Bilbo tells me he requested a trade last wk for his client, after the team remained at their initial offer of aprox $10M/ year. GM Tom Telesco told Bilbo, Gordon is still family, but Bilbo was not given permission to seek trade partners.

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 1, 2019

We have seen teams win without having star-studded running backs. Gordon is a special talent, but the Chargers have two runnings backs in Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson who could get the job done as well.

Last season, Gordon missed four games due to injury. The Chargers defeated the Tennessee Titans in London, Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati Bengals in Los Angeles, and Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, all without Gordon. Ekeler and Jackson are not on Gordon’s level, but they are good enough to deliver wins.

Ekeler did not play in Kansas City, but when Gordon did not play last season, Jackson and Ekeler combined for 73 carries, 265 yards three rushing touchdowns, 19 receptions, for 156 yards. The Chargers went 4-0 in that span.

No one knows if Gordon will get his wish and get traded, but the Chargers have offered Gordon $10 million. But, Gordon wants to be paid like a Todd Gurley or Ezekiel Elliot would be paid. The Chargers don’t need to spend that much money on Gordon if they have two rising stars in Ekeler and Jackson.

Gordon could get traded, but no one knows yet who has an interest in him due to the Chargers not allowing him and his camp to speak to different teams about the interest they have in him.

Next. Chargers trade options for running back Melvin Gordon

Winning games in Pittsburgh and Kansas City were not easy tasks for the Chargers. But, they were able to win those games. Philip Rivers and Ekeler had good chemistry last season in the passing game, and we saw signs of Jackson becoming a rising star, so whether Gordon gets traded, or stays, the Chargers will be in prime position to compete for the Super Bowl.