Bill Barnwell predicts quarterback scenarios for Chargers, replacements for RB Melvin Gordon

Who could the Los Angeles Chargers sign to replace Philip Rivers? Who are some replacements for Melvin Gordon?

The Los Angeles Chargers are set to embark one of the most polarizing offseasons in over the past decade. Not only will the franchise have a slew of notable soon-to-be free agents that they will have to decide on, they will be looking for a replacement to quarterback Philip Rivers.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell came out with his annual NFL Offseason Dominoes – which is a predictions column about possible moves we could see in free agency that could cause a domino effect.

To address the quarterback position, Barnwell listed two potential suitors: Tom Brady and Cam Newton.

For Brady, Barnwell has L.A. signing the 42-year old to a massive deal for five years worth $180 million.

In desperate need of both a reliable quarterback and a marquee player to sell tickets in their new stadium, the Chargers find both in one fell swoop by inking the greatest player in NFL history. Brady’s deal crucially includes three guaranteed years, meaning that L.A. is committing to Brady’s long-discussed plan to play until he’s 45.

The Chargers are set to have the most salary cap space available that they’ve had in years, but it’s hard to believe that the team would write him that big of a paycheck, especially when he’s up there in age.

For Newton, Barnwell has Los Angeles giving up a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft to acquire the 30-year old.

With Philip Rivers entering free agency, the Chargers are left with Tyrod Taylor and Easton Stick on their depth chart. Adding Newton is a rare chance to acquire a 30-year-old former MVP in what could be the middle of his career, and the Chargers can install a roughly similar scheme for all three of their quarterbacks. Newton is signed through only the 2020 season.

Out of the two possibilities, trading for Newton is more reasonable.

If they were to work a deal to only dish one or two draft picks, not including their first-round, the Bolts could benefit from having Newton since he fits what coach Anthony Lynn is looking for at the position and he’s easily a top-10 quarterback when healthy.

One player that the Chargers have to decide whether or not they’re going to be back next season is running back Melvin Gordon.

For the first scenario, Barnwell has the Texans signing Gordon to a deal. To replace the former Wisconsin product, Los Angeles signs RB Lamar Miller to a one-year deal.

Miller missed all of 2019 with a torn ACL but should be ready for Week 1. The former Texans back was a league-average starter before his injury, so the Chargers could get a relative bargain — something like $2 million — in using him as half of a rotation with Austin Ekeler.

Miller never really saw the field in 2019 because he had a severe knee injury that kept him off. With him expected to be at full health, he could be a reliable option in the backfield, and it wouldn’t cost the team all that much.

Scenario No. 2 sees Gordon joining the Redskins. The Chargers then sign Kenyan Drake to a one-year deal worth $8 million.

Drake isn’t quite an exact replacement for Gordon, but the Cardinals improved dramatically on offense after he took over lead back responsibilities from David Johnson. If Drake doesn’t see a great multiyear deal on the table, he could take this one-year pact and head back into free agency after a stellar full season.

Nearly halfway through the 2019 season, Drake joined the Cardinals where he raised some eyebrows. In eight games, he rushed 123 times for 643 yards and eight touchdowns. Unlike Miller, there are no durability concerns with Drake.

Basing it off his play from last season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he demands more money. But if Drake hits the market, he would be a viable option to shore up the backfield.

The final scenario has the Buccaneers signing Gordon. Not only that, Barnwell has the Patriots trading a third and fifth-round selection for Austin Ekeler. The Chargers then sign LeSean McCoy to a one-year deal.

The veteran running back was reportedly negotiating with the Chargers in August before agreeing to terms with the Chiefs, and while McCoy ended up winning a Super Bowl in Kansas City, it was as a healthy scratch. Going to the Chargers would give him a chance at a starting job, which he probably wouldn’t get elsewhere.

Gordon signing with Tampa Bay and Los Angeles signing McCoy makes sense, but I don’t see the Chargers dishing away one of their most productive play-makers, even if they’re able to get some draft capital from it.

Bill Barnwell predicts two former Chargers could find their way to the Bucs

See why ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could lure two former Chargers stars to the team.

With the entire NFL turning their attention now to the 2020 season, teams are preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of the month and the start of free agency next month.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have several big-name free agents who can hit the open market, so the front office needs to be wise about where they spend their money. Bringing back the league leader in sacks from 2019, Shaq Barrett, is a good place to start, but what about the quarterback position?

It’s no secret that Jameis Winston has failed to live up to expectations during his five years in Tampa. The question now is whether or not the Bucs want to invest one more season in the former Heisman Trophy winner. Tampa Bay may very well be seeking a short-term deal with Winston, possibly even just one year. Winston, meanwhile, is likely hoping to get some long-term security.

Perhaps it is because of this standoff and uncertainty that Bill Barnwell of ESPN, in his 2020 free agency predictions and the dominoes that could fall, thinks the Bucs may very well end up investing in veteran Philip Rivers, with a three-year, $90 million deal.

Per Barnwell:

“It warms my heart to see Rivers and Bruce Arians come together for one ride into the sunset. It’s a great fit for both player and scheme, as both would throw the ball vertically every play if they could. This deal has minimal guaranteed money after 2020, freeing up the Bucs to pursue another quarterback in 2021 if it doesn’t work out.”

Is Rivers really that big of an upgrade over Winston, though? He does have playoff experience, but he throws interceptions almost as often as Winston.

And, Barnwell thinks that if the Bucs manage to land Rivers, they could try and bring in Chargers running back Melvin Gordon, Rivers’ old teammate, on a four-year, $36 million deal.

“If Bruce Arians tries to bring in Philip Rivers to play quarterback, the second-year coach might consider adding Rivers’ former teammate to play alongside him in the backfield, too. Gordon would be an upgrade on Ronald Jones and the sort of receiving back Arians hasn’t had since David Johnson’s breakout year in 2016.”

Now if Rivers and Gordon came as a packaged deal, I think Bucs fans everywhere would be willing to go along for the ride.
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Will the Dolphins pursue RB Melvin Gordon in free agency?

Would the Miami Dolphins serve as a logical landing spot for Melvin Gordon in free agency?

The Miami Dolphins are, in all likelihood, going to have more money at their disposal in free agency than they’ll actually know what to do with. Even the Dolphins, with their aggressive tendencies under former VP of football operations Mike Tannenbaum, never had a boatload of cap space like this to spend. The key for Miami wasn’t to create a bunch of cap space and not spend it — nor was it for the team to flush it all down the drain in a spending purge in 2020.

The Dolphins will need to find balance.

Could that balance really come at the expense of a luxury position like running back? A new post from Sports Book Review by Ian Wharton has pegged the Miami Dolphins as the perceived favorites to sign Chargers running back Melvin Gordon in free agency — a surprising revelation, considering how much work the Dolphins’ offensive line is going to need to kickstart their running game.

“(Gordon is) fantastic at falling forward and producing in three phases as a receiver and blocker. Teams with cash to spend shouldn’t be scared away from this investment since he’d fill a need prior to the draft,” wrote Wharton.

“Miami is the hottest team linked to Gordon that I’ve heard, but there could be another clear opening in Houston, and Tampa Bay has money to spend with Bruce Arians looking to push for a playoff appearance. Gordon would be a great upgrade in each spot.”

Would this signing make sense? It would be something of a surprise. Sure, the Dolphins would benefit from the name value of adding Gordon to their running back ranks and filling a need ahead of the NFL Draft. But the Dolphins would need to invest heavily to ensure their commitment to Gordon doesn’t fall victim of the same issues that plagued Le’Veon Bell and the New York Jets in 2019. With running back being an easier position to find comparable production from, ideally Miami would avoid breaking the bank or spending big on Gordon — knowing that his production is at the mercy of the team’s offensive line in front of him, too.

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RB Melvin Gordon hopes to re-sign with Chargers before free agency

Will the Los Angeles Chargers re-sign running back Melvin Gordon?

All attention has been shifted to what quarterback Philip Rivers’ future holds since he is set to become a free agent. But another player whose future with the Los Angeles Chargers remains to be seen is running back Melvin Gordon.

Gordon, who is set to hit the market, is holding hope that he can strike a deal with L.A. before free agency begins.

“Hopefully, I’m here. Hopefully, I don’t have to wait til March to know where I’m gonna be playing,” Gordon said, per Pro Football Talk.

Gordon spent this past offseason pushing for a new, hefty contract, but was unable to get that fulfilled. He held out into the regular season, but came back four weeks into it knowing that it wouldn’t do him any good to remain off the field.

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Gordon upon returning to the playing field, but he finally found his groove in Week 9. He finished the season with 612 rushing yards (3.8 yards per carry) and nine total touchdowns.

Even though Gordon has proven his worth the past few seasons, durability is still a concern since he’s had a slew of injuries throughout his career. Plus, the emergence of Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson may have made it easier for the front office to make a decision.

Gordon hopes to return in 2020 in the blue and gold. But he appeared to be uncertain solely off of recent conversations with general manager Tom Telesco.

“When it comes to business, you have to take your emotions out of it. It’s not about if you deserve to be here or not. I’ve talked to Tom plenty of times, he tells me ‘you deserve to get paid’ but sometimes it just might not be the right situation,” Gordon said.

Chargers Mailbag: 2020 NFL Draft, Philip Rivers, Joey Bosa, Hunter Henry, Melvin Gordon, offensive line

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez addresses questions regarding the 2020 NFL Draft, Philip Rivers’ future, paying Joey Bosa and Hunter Henry.

Anthony S. — In such a deep offensive line draft and many veteran quarterbacks in free agency, is it more likely that the Chargers make a play for one of the quarterbacks at 6 or do they look at (Isaiah) Simmons or an interior defensive lineman early on?

To me, the Chargers have four glaring roster needs that they need to fulfill during the draft – quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver and cornerback. Since Los Angeles is picking so high – this being the third time they’ve selected in the top-10 in a 15-year span – they’re in a good position to grab their future face of the franchise.

Clemson linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons has been a big riser, and has been linked to the Chargers with the idea that him and safety Derwin James would make a lethal tandem in the backend of the defense. Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown is the top-ranked player at his position and would be a plug-and-play nose tackle for L.A.

Any other year I could see Simmons or Brown being atop of the Bolts’ big board, but I think the quarterback position takes rein because of where they’re picking and how much of a need it is to find future signal-caller. Even though I am a firm believer of taking talent over need, quarterback is the most important position on the field.

The offensive tackle position is certainly in play since the team needs to fortify it after a below average output in 2019. But I can see general manager Tom Telesco be aggressive in free agency to bring in at least one big-name player, and then look to take advantage of a deep positional group in the draft by snagging a starting caliber player in Round 2.

Jacob F. — Would it be smart to pick up a lineman in the first round or wait til later or free agency?

I laid out how the Chargers should go about addressing the offensive line.

Daniel G. — What’s the possibility of trading down for some early round draft picks? Address offensive line and run defense.

I’ve seen more and more fans wanting to trade down in the first-round to acquire more picks. While it sounds like a reasonable option because who wouldn’t want more ammo to draft players, I believe that Telesco likes where the team is sitting in the top-10. Like I mentioned in my first answer, this is a prime position to draft a quarterback. If anything, there’s more of a possibility that he looks to trade up two or three spots to jump another quarterback-needy team in the Miami Dolphins so that way they can secure their guy.

Brian W. — Do you think the Chargers will pay out for Henry and Bosa?

Re-signing tight end Hunter Henry and extending defensive end Joey Bosa should be at the very top of the Chargers’ to-do list. With Los Angeles having a projected $56.245 million in salary-cap space – the most in Telesco’s tenure with the team, a decent amount of that money needs to be dealt to the two.

With Henry, he has been banged up throughout the career, but he is easily one of the league’s top tight ends when healthy. He is a complete player at the position, showing the ability to be dangerous as a pass-catcher and reliable as a blocker. It’d be a mistake for L.A. to let him walk and look to match that type of talent elsewhere. The Packers’ Jimmy Graham is the highest-paid tight end in football right now at $10 million in average annual value. I expect Henry to top that, likely ending up with a four-year deal for $36 million and $38 million in total value.

Bosa is slated to make $14.36 million on his fifth-year option next season. Based on the impact that he’s made since joining the team, he would be underpaid if he was to play making that much in 2020. That is why Bosa could possibly hold out if he doesn’t receive a hefty contract this offseason. Los Angeles will likely pay him in the ballpark of what Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence got, which is five years, $105 million, with $65 million guaranteed or even Bears’ Khalil Mack’s six-year, $141 million deal with $90 million guaranteed.

@Jtex_33 — Where will Rivers land?

I laid out five potential landing spots for Rivers if the team decides to move on from him. Given the fact that he moved his family from California to Florida, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Miami Dolphins could also be in play. But one option that isn’t talked about that much that could still be a possibility is retirement. Rivers did say that he wants to play in 2020, but a week or two prior to saying that, he told the media that he was going to weigh out his options with his family after the season – which is something that I’m sure he has done or is still in the process of doing. Even though he said he felt like he could still play, his mind could change, and the move could factor into his decision.

David M. — How high of a priority is it to pick up a running back to replace Melvin Gordon? Or should we consider signing him at this point?

If the Chargers move on from Gordon this offseason, they should absolutely look to bring in another running back. But it wouldn’t be a glaring need like many people think it is. Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson would sit atop of the depth chart. Telesco has had a knack for finding gems outside of the early rounds of the draft. Ekeler went undrafted and Jackson was drafted in the seventh-round. This year’s class is no different, as late-round gems can be found. The team could also look to re-sign Troymaine Pope to solidify the position.

Poll: Which free agents should Chargers re-sign in 2020?

If you were the general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers, who would you re-sign this offseason?

The Los Angeles Chargers have a ton of impending free agents when the new league year begins in March. It’s unclear how many of these players the team will be able to keep, but they will have to be selective during the process.

Even though they have the most salary cap available that they’ve had in years, they need to make sure that they have enough to bring in unrestricted free agents from other teams.

There are several of these players that will likely get attention on the open market because of their success in the blue and gold. Some are already being considered as top free agents by analysts.

Three Chargers’ players were listed in ESPN’s top-50 free agents in 2020: tight end Hunter Henry quarterback Philip Rivers and running back Melvin Gordon. There are other notables including guard Michael Schofield, safety Adrian Phillips, fullback Derek Watt and defensive tackle Damion Square.

If the decision was up to you, which free agents would you have the Chargers re-sign in 2020?

While our poll only lists seven, you can find the full list of Chargers free agents below.

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Chargers players react to the death of Kobe Bryant

Players of the Los Angeles Chargers react after the heartbreaking news.

The sports world was absolutely heartbroken when news broke of Kobe Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash on Sunday. The five-time NBA champion was 41 years old.

Los Angeles Chargers players took to Twitter and expressed their shock and sorrow after hearing about the passing of one of the best players to play the game.

20 candidates for NFL franchise or transition tags

Dak Prescott heads a list of 20 candidates for the NFL’s franchise and tags.

When all else failed in negotiations in past years, NFL teams had the option of using either the franchise tag or transition tag to keep a player they didn’t want walking away as a free agent. This year is a little different. In the final year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams are allowed to use both the franchise and transition tags.

The tags can be designated between Feb. 25 and March 10. There are two types of franchise tags, exclusive and non-exclusive. A player with the non-exclusive franchise tag can negotiate with other teams. If an offer is received from outside, the current team has the option to match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation. The franchise tag is calculated by the average of the top five salaries at a given position or 120 percent of the player’s salary from last year (whichever number is greater).

The transition tag is valued at an average of the top 10 salaries at the player’s position or 120 percent of his salary from the previous year. There’s one big difference between the franchise and transition tags. With the transition tag, the current team receives no compensation if it elects to not match an offer from another team.

Some players, such as New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, New England quarterback Tom Brady and Seattle defensive end Jadeveon Clowney have language in their contracts that forbids the use of franchise and transition tags.

Let’s take a look at the top candidates for franchise or transition tags in 2020:

20. James Bradberry, CB, Carolina Panthers

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

General manager Marty Hurney has told Bradberry the team wants to keep him. That makes sense because Bradberry is Carolina’s best cornerback in a division that features receivers Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. But there’s a potential problem on the horizon. Former Carolina coach Ron Rivera is now in Washington and Bradberry was one of his favorites. The best way to box out Rivera may be to franchise Bradberry.

Trio of Chargers included in ESPN’s top-50 free agents list

The Los Angeles Chargers have three of the top-50 free agents heading into the offseason.

We still have a couple of months until the new league year begins in the middle of March, but everyone is already gearing up for what will be one of the most enticing offseasons for the Chargers in the last decade.

While there are a number of players from other teams that look like good bait to sign during the free agency period, Los Angeles will have a handful of in-house names that are intriguing other teams that they will have to decide on.

ESPN released their top-50 free agents to hit the market, and the Bolts had three players listed: tight end Hunter Henry, quarterback Philip Rivers and running back Melvin Gordon.

Checking in at No. 9 is Henry:

Henry returned to full strength after a torn ACL cost him the 2018 season, catching 55 passes for 652 yards — both career-highs. The dynamic role of tight ends in today’s offenses suggests he will be highly sought-after if he reaches the market. The Patriots, in particular, seem like an obvious team of interest.

Henry should be a priority for general manager Tom Telesco. Though he has been hindered by a couple knee injuries, he is a difference-maker in the passing game and he is arguably one of the better blockers on the team. It wouldn’t be surprising if Henry becomes the highest-paid tight end in the league.

Seven spots after Henry is Rivers at No. 16:

Rivers slipped in his 16th season, finishing No. 22 in QBR (48.9), and his teary Week 17 postgame press conference suggested he is ready and willing to move on. It’s not outlandish to think he could put a playoff-ready team over the top. Remember, Brett Favre was 39 when he signed with the Vikings in 2009.

All eyes are on the 38-year old during this period. Rivers is coming off one of his worst seasons yet, and it just so happened to occur on a contract year, giving the team some pause in regards to his future. While some of it falls on the offensive line carousel throughout the season, there were clear signs of regression in terms of his arm strength and decision-making.

Lastly, is Gordon, who checks in at No. 24:

The Chargers’ decision to stand firm during Gordon’s 2019 holdout, and Gordon’s career-low 612 rushing yards upon his return, seem to suggest a parting of ways this offseason. Gordon did manage to rush for eight touchdowns, and his total of 26 over the past three seasons ranks No. 6 in the NFL. His holdout reduced the mileage on his body, but at least some teams will view him as an aging running back whose best years have passed.

Gordon spent last offseason and a few games into the 2019 regular season holding out in hopes of receiving a new paycheck. That was never granted, so he decided to return to show his worth. He finished the season with 612 rushing yards (3.8 yards per carry) and nine total touchdowns.

It was an up-and-down year for the former Wisconsin product, but durability concerns still loom and the emergence of running backs Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson could justify the team’s decision to move on from him this offseason.

Badgers in the NFL: Melvin Gordon ribs James White on Bill Belichick

Melvin Gordon, James White, Bill Belichick

The folks at Patriots Wire provided this story on multiple Wisconsin Badgers who have covered themselves in NFL glory.

It is a well-documented reality that Melvin Gordon wants to be paid at a higher level, a legitimate demand given his scale of output and degree of importance as a member of the Los Angeles Chargers. It is also known that James White has been an important Swiss Army knife skill-position player for the New England Patriots in their dynastic run over the past several seasons.

These crosscurrents met when White posted on Instagram about his ability to keep getting contracts, albeit with comparatively modest numbers when matched against what Gordon is seeking:

View this post on Instagram

Don’t keep count, just keep gettin it 🤐

A post shared by James White (@sweetfeet) on

Gordon found a clever way to express support for his Wisconsin teammate while also reminding everyone of his uncertain situation with the Chargers. He replied to White’s post:

“Tell bill get that bread right 😂”.

It is a moment of levity in which Melvin Gordon didn’t take himself too seriously. It is the kind of moment which makes Gordon more relatable and reduces the distance between athletes and the viewing public. This is merely one small manifestation of the larger reality of how social media has given fans a small (and carefully controlled) but still real measure of increased access into the lives and thought worlds of professional athletes.

The Super Bowl is in two and a half weeks. After that game on Feb. 2, all eyes will turn to NFL free agency, where several big-name players — including and especially those on James White’s Patriots and Melvin Gordon’s Chargers — could move to other teams.

It is not likely that Tom Brady and Philip Rivers will change places — Brady to Los Angeles, Rivers to Foxborough — but that also doesn’t seem like an impossible turn of events, either. If Brady does leave New England, the Patriots will need to find someone as their 2020 quarterback. NFL analyst and reporter Peter King has suggested Andy Dalton to the Patriots. The rumor mill has cranked out a Rivers-to-Indianapolis-Colts suggestion. Rivers and Brady swapping places might not be LESS absurd than those, but it certainly isn’t MORE absurd, either.

Stay tuned. Meanwhile, enjoy the fact that Melvin Gordon and James White had a few laughs and some happiness on Instagram.