Tag: AFC West

Pay Me Or Trade Me: Melvin Gordon Edition

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has demanded that the Chargers either give him a new contract or trade him before the new season kicks off.

Gordon is set to make $5.6 million in the upcoming season however the four-year pro believes that he’s worth more due to his consistency out of the backfield and ability to stay on the field. He has an argument as he’s started at least 11 games in each of his four seasons which includes two pro bowl appearances (2016 & 2018).

The former first-round pick out of Wisconsin is one of the best workhorse backs in the league as he has tallied 5,205 yards from scrimmage and 38 total touchdowns over his four seasons. He ran for over 1,000 yards in the 2017 season and this past year he fell just short of that, but he missed four games and had 100 less carries. He made up for that by averaging over five yards per carry for the first time in his career (He averaged 3.8 before).

If the Chargers don’t pay him now they would be risking watching their best back since LaDainian Tomlinson walk away in next year’s offseason. Would that be a wise move? I don’t believe so. Gordon wants to be paid in the same range as the game’s best backs who have already gotten big paydays such as Todd Gurley and LeVeon Bell and quite frankly he deserves it, especially with Phillip Rivers nearing retirement.

Is The AFC West Officially The Best Division In Football?

The NFL’s free agency period just opened up however a certain division had been making huge progress on their rosters even before free agency started. The AFC West teams have been making strides all off-season from roster cutest huge trades that will surely impact the 2019 season.

Incumbent division winner Kansas City began making their moves when they released linebacker Justin Houston and then later signed running back Carlos Hyde. The moves will help their explosive offense while offering them a chance to get younger on their defensive line. The Chiefs will wind up saving over $15 million in salary that they can invest into their defense while also having the ability to draft important pieces.

The Oakland Raiders have made the two biggest moves this offseason with the trade for Antonio Brown and the signing of left tackle Trent Brown. The two moves help solidify the Raiders’ struggling offense that desperately needed pieces around QB Derek Carr. The best part of their offseason moves so far? They still have their three first round picks in this year’s draft that they could use as trade capital or of course they could load up with young talented pieces for Jon Gruden’s resurgence.

The Denver Broncos have moved on from former starting QB Case Keenum and elevated to former Ravens QB Joe Flacco who brings a super bowl title to John Elway’s franchise. The Broncos also get former m

Chiefs release long time LB Justin Houston

The Kansas City Chiefs have released outside linebacker Justin Houston as he was set to eat up $15 million of the Chiefs salary for then upcoming season.

Houston was a third round pick by the Chiefs out of Georgia in 2011 and he quickly excelled by posting double digit sacks in two of his first three NFL seasons. In 2014, he ammassed 22 sacks (Second all-time and only 0.5 away from the NFL record) and four forced fumbles en route to earning a $101 million contract that made him the highest paid defensive player ever.

Whichever team picks up the four-time pro bowler will be getting a player who has only regressed since that superb 2014 season, however at only age 30 there is no reason not to believe that Houston has alot left to offer. He still ammassed 18.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries over the last two seasons.