The NFL draft is known as the time of year when former college football players’ dreams come true as they get drafted and signed by NFL teams.
But there’s a flip side to NFL organizations bringing in new draft classes and reshaping their rosters.
It’s the job security of some veterans. Because when a team spends considerable draft capital on a rookie, it becomes the vets who need to battle in order to keep their starting jobs.
For former Badger running back Melvin Gordon, that was the case this weekend as the Denver Broncos traded up to select North Carolina RB Javonte Williams in the second round.
RB1 JAVONTE WILLIAMS
Welcome to Denver
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) April 30, 2021
USATODAY’s Nate Davis broke down what the signing means for Gordon’s stock, exclaiming that the former Badger was ‘put on notice’ by the move.
“It’s only been a few weeks since he expressed to a local TV station that ‘I get overlooked a lot and I am kind of sick of it.’ Welp. Fan favorite Phillip Lindsay is gone, but second-rounder Javonte Williams may become the anointed one after new GM George Paton traded up for him. Despite a rocky season on the personal front in 2020, Gordon still finished with 1,144 yards from scrimmage and 10 TDs and remains a valuable performer … but one who might bring something nice back in a trade, which would also save Paton about $7 million if done before the season.”
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