Chargers: Melvin Gordon market slowly diminishing

The Chargers could move Melvin Gordon, but his trade market is becoming smaller and smaller as the regular season draws closer.

Melvin Gordon and his agent have requested the Chargers trade him in response to what they feel is a disrespectful offer from the organization. Though the franchise back is deserving of both an extension and a raise, the one he expects himself to get may be completely unreasonable. Much discussion has been held over the disgruntled running back, and many have offered various landing spots for Gordon should it truly come down to a trade.

Except, those destinations are starting to become fewer and fewer.

The New York Jets signed their running back in free agency, the Oakland Raiders drafted theirs in the first round, the Pittsburgh Steelers already found their replacement last year, the Washington Redskins are incredibly happy with their stable of backs, and the Philadelphia Eagles both signed and drafted backs to fill their unit.

Now, Duke Johnson is being moved to the Houston Texans for a conditional 2020 fourth-round pick, all but ending any talks of the Chargers moving him to pair with Deshaun Watson.

Who’s left for Gordon? It isn’t the Miami Dolphins, who are very excited about Kalen Ballage and expect him to be a great pairing with Kenyan Drake. Though the Green Bay Packers do not have a franchise back to feature, they do have a solid rotation behind an excellent offensive line. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be the most bereft of talent at the running back position, and would make sense as a destination outside of the AFC; however, they have just roughly $3.2 million in cap space.

The Chargers have expressed the desire to keep Gordon under contract this season, and are unwavering in their stance to neither trade him nor give in to his demands for more money than what they have offered him. With the trade market drying up, and with fewer teams in need of a running back with an injury history, Gordon may have to report to Chargers practice sooner or later. It doesn’t sound like he’s going anywhere soon, because there’s little to no demand elsewhere.