Report: RB Melvin Gordon expected to test free agency market

It’s looking like running back Melvin Gordon won’t be back with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Los Angeles Chargers and running back Melvin Gordon are not expected to agree to a contract before the start of free agency, allowing him to test the open market.

According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, Gordon is expected to hit free agency, despite hoping that both parties would be able to work a deal.

I'm told #Chargers RB Melvin Gordon is expected to test the market, per source.

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 5, 2020

After a four-game holdout due to contract disputes, Gordon returned to the action while playing under the franchise tag, finishing with 612 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while adding 42 receptions for 296 yards and a score.

It’s expected that plenty of running back-needy teams will show interest in the former Wisconsin product. Despite being banged up with various injuries throughout the course of his professional career, Gordon has still produced.

In five NFL seasons, the 26-year old has tallied 4,240 yards on the ground and 36 touchdowns on 1,059 carries (4.0 yards per carry). On top of that, Gordon has caught 224 passes for 1,873 yards and 11 scores.

Moving forward with the Chargers backfield, the team has Austin Ekeler, despite being a restricted free agent and Justin Jackson. Ekeler will likely receive the tender and they could find a cheap rental like LeSean McCoy or draft one in the later rounds.

4 ridiculously bold trade ideas for the 2020 Saints offseason

The New Orleans Saints have a habit of making bold moves in the offseason, but are they bold enough to trade for Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew?

Just how weird could the New Orleans Saints offseason get? The Saints are in the business of making bold moves, ranging from big hits (like signing Jared Cook and Demario Davis in consecutive years) to big whiffs (Jairus Byrd and Brandon Browner once shared the field), with others still to be decided (the jury’s out on Marcus Davenport, a player with terrific potential and a growing injury history).

So we should expect more big swings from the Saints in 2020. We took a shot at projecting four scenarios that might test the boundaries of what’s realistic; so take note that we aren’t advocating for these moves, just speculating. Think of it as a series of thought experiments, in the form of our hottest takes.

Trade up for a top-three wide receiver prospect

CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs III are all expected to be picked in the first half of the 2020 NFL Draft. They’re the cream of the crop, the most-accomplished and most-athletic receivers available, and the Saints won’t have a shot at any of them barring a big trade up. So that’s where we’ll start.

The Saints have made big leaps up the draft board before, moving from No. 27 to No. 14 (for Marcus Davenport in 2017) and from No. 56 to No. 28 (for Mark Ingram, back in 2011). They’ve been willing to give up future picks for immediate returns before, and could so again. It’s just kind of puzzling to do so in such a deep receiver class.

Maybe instead of jumping up that high for Lamb or one of the Alabama prospects, the Saints could make a smaller move up for Justin Jefferson or Jalen Reagor (like their trade from No. 27 to No. 20 in 2014, targeting Brandin Cooks). But that wouldn’t be ridiculously bold as another Davenport-esque trade, would it?

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If the NFL offseason seems a bit longer this year, it’s because it is

There is such a thing as story fatigue. We can only review where Tom Brady is going to end up so many times until all the angles are covered. That’s been one of the consistent stories of this offseason and by consistent that means it’s been about the only thing major that’s been talked about for weeks now. The thing is, people love the NFL. They can’t get enough NFL talk, articles, takes, and Twitter posts. The fact that Tom Brady’s impending free agency is a huge focus when the NBA is in the full throes of a playoff race, NCAA basketball is hitting conference tournament time, MLS is starting, MLB teams are gearing up for the regular season, and the NHL is getting close to its playoffs, is a testament to how strong and popular the NFL is today. It just seems like this offseason is lasting a lot longer than normal. Let’s get on with the free agency period, franchise tags, and really delve into the draft.

There’s good news for those who think this dead time is dragging. That’s the fact that this year, the NFL added an extra week to its calendar. That means for the next 11 days, there won’t be much real news or real action. It was designed that way.

The NFL needed to figure out a way to own the entire calendar and the easiest way to do that was to push free agency back a bit and extend the calendar. They did exactly that, and it’s played out perfectly.

So if you’re sick of Tom Brady news or the latest tidbit on the CBA, there’s good news: it’s coming to an end on March 16. After that free agency should provide enough content along with the latest draft projections and news. Once we get to the draft, there’s a bit more downtime, but we all need a break at some point. The real problem for the NFL will be next year if there’s nothing major to fill the dead time. The last thing the league wants is people taking time off. They don’t want the NBA to catch momentum. They don’t want eyeballs anywhere else but on NFL content.

By the way, if you do need content, there’s a bunch of interesting stuff here. We have Mark Schofield’s latest mock draft. There are 20 things we learned from the combine from Doug Farrar. There’s in-depth football content to be had and its location is pretty easy to find. Yes, ESPN, Fox, and NFL Network may be pushing the latest Tom Brady conjecture, but that won’t mean anything in 11 days when a decision is probably made. It’s fine. Draft season is upon us. Football content is coming. It’s exactly how the NFL designed things.

The grass is always greener: does the NFL or NBA have free agency/draft timing right?

For those not familiar with the NFL offseason structure, the next big date to look forward to is the opening of free agency. Don’t worry if you haven’t read your free agency primer just yet. You have time. Free agency technically opens March 16-18. That’s when players’ agents are able to talk to prospective teams and start negotiating deals. Well, if that’s the case, how do we have deals announced at midnight on March 16? Well, the obvious answer is that players, teams, and agents have been talking this entire time. Tampering is a joke, but back to the main point: in the NFL, first comes free agency and then a little more than a month later, the NFL Draft arrives.

The NBA has that schedule flipped. Instead of going with free agency first. The NBA has the draft and then free agency. The question is which one is better? Would the NFL ever consider flipping its calendar to have the draft followed by free agency?

There are benefits and drawbacks — as there are with every situation. If the NFL were to flip its timeline, it would allow teams to plan long-term before targeting its free agents. For example, if Jordan Love or Justin Herbert fell to the Colts in the draft, they would not have to work on bringing in a veteran quarterback into the mix. The same could be said for a team like the Colts who need a long-term answer at quarterback. They may still make a run at someone like Philip Rivers, but they could do so with more knowledge. The veteran players who are signing deals would also have more information when choosing their next location. Maybe Rivers looks more at Tampa Bay if he knows he’s one and done in Indianapolis. The same can be said for teams even further back in the draft. If Herbert fell to the Saints, they may not have to be in the market for someone like Teddy Bridgewater or they could let Taysom Hill walk.

Having the draft first may allow teams to avoid high-priced free agency mistakes as well. There’s no reason to invest in a long-term deal if they have some sort of knowledge of what their rookies might project as.

Of course, it works both ways. NBA fans will say that the NFL has it right. Free agency happening first sets a team up for the next two to three years. There’s no reason to reach for a need in the draft because that need was hopefully filled in free agency. There’s even more short term fantasy with the NFL having free agency first versus having the draft. If there’s a chance for a free agency bust, that bust probability jumps exponentially when it comes to the draft. Besides, teams can still take younger players and fill in the role. There are 53 members of the active roster. It’s fine to have Philip Rivers, Jordan Love, and another veteran backup. Teams have one-year, three-year, and five-year plans. They aren’t stuck like the NBA with its smaller rosters.

The truth is that the NFL probably has it right. Most NBA fans have been clamoring for the league to flip the calendar because signing a free agent creates more possibilities for trades. Sign a free agent, trade your current starter, move up in the draft, and there you have it. It makes sense to know exactly what a team has before they start making major moves and trades. Trades are exciting and this allows more trades to happen because there’s a bit more short term certainty. The NFL has it right.

5 wide receivers Jets should target on the trade block

The Jets need better wide receivers. These five players could be good options on the trade block.

Every offense needs playmakers and the Jets are in prime position to add several in free agency and the draft.

With Le’Veon Bell entrenched at running back and a quartet of tight ends led by Chris Herndon, Joe Douglas needs to shore up the wide receiver group, especially if he lets Robby Anderson and Demaryius Thomas leave in free agency. There are several free agent wideouts the Jets can target this offseason, as well as a dearth of prospects in the upcoming draft, but Douglas would be wise to scour the trade block as well for some players that could immediately upgrade his receiving corps.

The Jets aren’t tied directly to any of the following players, but all options should be on the table for Douglas his offseason. With that, here are five wide receivers the Jets should look at for potential trades.

Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery

Adam Gase needs playmakers on offense for Sam Darnold to work and Jeffery would be a solid addition to the Jets given his veteran skillset and connection to both Gase and Joe Douglas.

Jeffery caught 54 receptions for 807 yards and four touchdowns in 2017 with the Bears when Gase was his coach and when Douglas was the director of pro scouting. Jeffery also played for the Eagles for two years during Douglas’ tenure in Philadelphia.

Jeffery would become the Jets’ best wide receiver option with his 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame, but there are obvious concerns when it comes to his production and durability. He’s coming off his least productive season since his rookie year in 2012, hasn’t turned in a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2014 and hasn’t played a full 16-game schedule since 2017.

Jeffery reportedly “would welcome the change of scenery,” according to The Athletic’s Connor Hughes, but there’s no telling what the Eagles would want in return for his services. Given his injury history – he just had Lisfranc surgery for his foot in December that comes with a nine-month recovery period – and the $9.910 million base salary the Jets would take in, it wouldn’t take much to acquire Jeffery, though it would be a huge risk.

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Rams ‘get calls on a lot of players’ in new era of aggressive NFL GMs

Les Snead said the Rams get trade calls on a lot of their players, but usually, the answer is no.

In recent years, NFL trades have become more common. We’ve seen superstars such as Jalen Ramsey, Odell Beckham Jr., Khalil Mack and Antonio Brown all get dealt within the last two years as general managers and front offices become more aggressive on the trade market.

The Rams have been at the forefront of that shift, making trades involving Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters twice, Ramsey, Brandin Cooks and Sammy Watkins since 2017. Les Snead has shown a willingness to take chances and part with draft picks for proven players, which other teams are also doing now, too.

At the NFL combine this week, Snead discussed the shift in philosophy among NFL front offices this time of year. He says the Rams get calls on a lot of their players, but typically, they say no.

“This time of year, it is interesting,” Snead said, via the Los Angeles Times. “You get calls on a lot of players. There’s a new era, in that somebody may call and ask about your best player, which in the past, I don’t know that phone call would be made, right? But usually the answer is no.”

What’s sparked this change is the influx of young GMs across the league – guys such as Howie Roseman, Brett Veach and now Andrew Berry of the Browns, who’s the youngest in the NFL at just 32 years of age.

“This time of the year, maybe younger general managers are more aggressive, but you get asked about a lot of different players which probably didn’t happen five to seven years ago,” Snead said.

Sean McVay has helped orchestrate some of those deals and works hand-in-hand with Snead on shaping the Rams roster. As he’s said before, he mentioned at the combine that the Rams “always explore things — you always listen.” That doesn’t mean they’re going to strike a deal, though.

As it pertains to the Rams, there will be two players talked about this offseason when it comes to trades. Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks had down years in 2019 and some fans are calling for the Rams to trade them. Analysts have even mentioned Gurley as a candidate to be dealt because of his bloated contract, but it’s that same bloated contract that will make him difficult to move.

Cooks is even tougher to trade for the Rams, because it’ll cost them more money to ship him off than it will to keep him on the roster. Expect both to stay put, but with Snead and McVay, never rule anything out.

Poll: Which players do Chargers fans want signed in free agency?

Who should the Los Angeles Chargers sign this offseason?

Free agency will begin in just less than a month with the new league year starting at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 18. Over the past week, we’ve been taking a look at potential options for the Chargers by listing one pending free agent from each team in every division.

AFC West

AFC East

Los Angeles has major needs at the quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver and cornerback position with linebacker and defensive tackle being the other secondary needs.

We’ve attached a poll below allowing our readers to vote on which player they believe L.A. should sign when the free agency signing period begins by using some of the players mentioned in our recent series, along with others that the media has linked to the Bolts.

With that being said, we want your opinion to be known. Who do you want on the Chargers? If the player you want is not listed in the poll, let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

[polldaddy poll=10510111]

Bill Barnwell unveils his offseason plan for Chargers

The ESPN analyst lays out how the Los Angeles Chargers should go about their upcoming offseason.

The Los Angeles Chargers are set to embark one of the most intriguing offseasons in the past decade.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes the Bolts should make these five moves. They include franchise tagging tight end Hunter Henry, fixing the offensive line, finding a new quarterback, extending defensive end Joey Bosa and picking up wide receiver Mike Williams’ fifth-year option.

The first item on Barnwell’s list is tagging Henry, who is set to be a free agent.

With so many teams around the league desperate for tight end help and a middling class coming out of college in 2020, Henry has a significant market in free agency. Keeping him on a one-year deal for a projected $11.1 million makes a lot of sense for the Chargers, and he would even have some trade value at that price tag. Transitioning him also would give the Chargers the chance to match what Henry receives on the open market, which could be an appealing alternative.

Barnwell believes the Chargers can’t hold off on working a deal with Bosa.

With Bosa hitting his fifth-year option, it’s about time for this team to lock up its star defensive end. Bosa will look to top the five-year, $105 million deal DeMarcus Lawrence signed with the Cowboys last year, and if the Chargers are quick, they can get a Bosa deal done before Clowney signs a bigger contract in free agency. Bosa’s numbers compare favorably to Clowney’s, so if Clowney ends up getting five years and $120 million in free agency, Bosa will ask to top those numbers on an extension.

Barnwell thinks the Chargers will use their first-round selection to draft a quarterback. If not, they could sign someone like Marcus Mariota. To Barnwell, addressing the offensive line can be accomplished via the NFL Draft. However, he doesn’t mention free agency as an outlet. With Williams, a long-term deal isn’t a priority at the moment, but picking up his option should be.

Time will tell what happens in the coming months.

Dates to remember, offseason schedule until the 2020 NFL draft

Here’s a look at some important upcoming dates.

Today’s biggest NFL news is Marshawn Lynch will apparently have a cameo in the third season of Westworld on HBO. Thrilling as that is, it’s typical of a slow news day in a slow news month around the league.

Things are about to pick up, though. Beginning with next week’s scouting combine, the offseason schedule will start to accelerate.

Here’s a look at some important upcoming dates.

Feb. 25: First day to designate franchise or transition tags

Feb. 25 – Mar. 2: NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, IN

Mar. 10: Deadline to designate franchise or transition tags

Mar. 16 – Mar. 18: “Legal tampering period” ahead of free agency – teams can begin negotiatiating with certified reps of unrestricted free agents

Mar. 18: Teams must be under salary cap by 4:00 p.m. ET

Mar. 18: 2020 league year officially begins, free agency opens

Mar. 19 – Apr. 1: League meetings in Palm Beach, FL

Apr. 6: Teams with new head coaches (including the Panthers) can start offseason workout programs

Apr. 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign

Apr. 20: All teams may begin offseason workouts

Apr. 23 – Apr. 25: 2020 NFL draft in Las Vegas, NV

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Anthony Lynn says Tyrod Taylor could be Chargers starting quarterback

Tyrod Taylor could enter the 2020 regular season as the Los Angeles Chargers starting quarterback.

The Los Angeles Chargers parted way with Philip Rivers, who served as the team’s starting quarterback for the past 14 seasons.

One of the main focal points this offseason is figuring out who will be the starter under center going into the 2020 regular season. According to coach Anthony Lynn, that guy could already be on the roster.

“Tyrod Taylor is a heck of a quarterback,” Lynn told AM 570 L.A. Sports on Thursday, per ESPN’s Eric D. Williams. “We couldn’t have a better backup right now, and now he has an opportunity to maybe step up into a starting role. I’ve had Tyrod before [in Buffalo], and I know what this young man brings to the table, in the passing game and the running game.”

Taylor signed a two-year deal to back up Rivers last offseason, making only one appearance in 2019. However, he and 2019 fifth-round selection Easton Stick are now the only quarterbacks on the roster.

There’s been plenty of chatter on how Los Angeles will find a replacement to Rivers, whether that’s through free agency, a trade or the draft, but Taylor appears to have an inside track for the job already.

Taylor played for Lynn during his first two years with the Bills, which were the most productive seasons of his career. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015 while Lynn was the running backs coach, and spent most of 2016 with him as the team’s offensive coordinator.

During the three seasons that they were together in Buffalo, Taylor totaled 51 touchdown passes, along with 14 rushing scores.

Another thing that Lynn praised was Taylor’s ability to protect the football. Taylor, who has only thrown 16 interceptions in 44 games, ranks among the league’s best in turnovers.

“One of the things he does very well is take care of the football. I believe every year he’s started in this league he’s been the No. 1 quarterback in taking care of the football. I believe more games are lost than won. So if we can just take care of the football and take it away, we’ll be OK,” Lynn said.

That could be one of the reasons why they parted ways with Rivers as the 38-year old threw 20 interceptions to only 23 touchdowns last season.

Another key thing to note is that Lynn’s offensive philosophy has always been a run-heavy approach, but he hasn’t been able to do so without a mobile quarterback. Now with Taylor, they could look to shift the curve to the offense.

A new era means new play designs. https://t.co/pQV0U5UxVB

— Gavino Borquez (@GavinoBorquez) February 11, 2020

“There are some guys that can win from the pocket, but when you look around the league, most of these guys are mobile quarterbacks that can move,” Lynn said. “All you have to do is watch high school football on Friday nights. High school football told me 10 years ago the direction the NFL was headed.

“So that’s just the world that we’re in right now — you can do more things and be more cutting edge [with a mobile quarterback]. But that guy that can stand back there, pick up all those protections, throw the ball from the pocket and use the quick passing game [instead of] his legs, you can still win with a classic pocket passer.”

With Lynn saying that Taylor could start, this could be hinting that he might serve as a bridge to a rookie quarterback from this upcoming draft rather than looking to acquire one via free agency or a trade.

Taylor was last tasked with serving as the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback in 2018 before Baker Mayfield, who was the No. 1 overall selection in that draft, took over.