RB Melvin Gordon Signs with the Baltimore Ravens

It was revealed on Friday that the Baltimore Ravens have signed veteran running back Melvin Gordon III to a one-season deal worth $3.1 million. He still needs to pass his physical.

While training camp warms up, head over to our NFL Futures for some long-term predictions about the 2023 season.

RB Melvin Gordon Signs with Ravens

This is the offseason when running backs can’t seem to catch a break. Blame the market, blame team needs, blame coaches’ perception of the position. Whatever the case, RBs aren’t signing massive deals. Look no further than the Saquon Barkley situation with the Giants. Or Joe Mixon taking significant pay cuts to remain with the Cincinnati Bengals for another two years.

It shouldn’t be a big surprise therefore that certain teams are picking up what might be described as crumbs with potential at low cost. The Baltimore Ravens aspire to spruce up their backfield with the 30-year-old Gordon. The nine-year veteran was a first-round draft pick of the then-San Diego Chargers. His best season came in 2017 when he dashed for 1,105 yards and reached the end zone eight times.

His time in California ended in 2020, which is when he joined the Denver Broncos. He came preciously close to 1,000 yards in both 2020 and 2021, but 2022 was a different story altogether. Fewer yards per carry (3.5) and too many fumbles at critical junctures led to the team cutting him. He was on the Kansas City Chiefs roster as they marched to another Super Bowl win last year but did not play in any games.

It’s ironic that Gordon should join the Baltimore Ravens. They’re already in the middle of contract negotiations with ball carrier J.K. Dobbins and it is said that those talks are not going as well as the parties concerned would like.