Melvin Gordon Believes Running Back “The Worst Position to Play in NFL” Because of Current Free Agency Climate
Melvin Gordon Believes Running Back “The Worst Position to Play in NFL” Because of Current Free Agency Climate…
There are still a lot of veteran running backs available on the free-agent market with about a month to go until NFL training camps open. Prominent players like Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, and Leonard Fournette are still unsigned.
Two-time Pro Bowler Melvin Gordon isn’t happy with how things have gone this offseason, either. According to Gordon, “it’s literally the worst position to play in the NFL right now.” Gordon was blunt while discussing the current status of running back free agency.
Gordon made those remarks during an interview on the Jim Rome radio show.
Gordon has expressed his desire to continue playing and his belief that he still has much to offer a team. But he also noted that it is tough for running backs to get noticed.
“It’s just so tough for running backs right now, man,” Gordon said. There are a lot of backs who can run the ball for you. No one seems to care about us. This is now the NFL’s worst position to play. In a word, it stinks.
He has a point. Not only are Cook, Elliott, Fournette, and Gordon still available, but so are Kareem Hunt, Mark Ingram, and James Robinson. None of them can find job despite having a combined 13 Pro Bowl appearances.
However, running backs frequently suffer from early fatigue. Rookie contracts for drafted players typically include significant playing time. Between three hundred and four hundred times a season is thrown at them over the course of several years before they are eligible for a big rise in salary.
Only the best players would be able to command such high salaries whenever that time comes. Many of the guys that racked up multiple 1,200-yard seasons despite taking heavy punishment end up being cast aside in favour of younger or more durable alternatives.
It’s safe to assume that all of the remaining free agent running backs have finished their careers. Teams have a hard time forking over big bucks for players they know are on the decline.
Gordon and other running backs will likely be in this position for the next two offseasons unless there are significant changes to the collective bargaining agreement. Given the structure of the NFL, it would be ludicrous to offer running backs huge salaries after they become free agents.
It’s difficult to disagree with Gordon unless something changes. At this time, running back is the NFL’s least desirable position.
