Pre-Combine NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Melvin Gordon Should Hear His Name Early
By Jim Oxley
ESPN – Todd McShay
In Todd McShay’s NFL Mock Draft 2.0 (ESPN Insider access required), the ESPN analyst has Wisconsin’s Gordon going number 27 overall to the Dallas Cowboys.
Nov 29, 2014; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Melvin Gordon (25) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin won 34-24. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
As McShay reasons, Dallas will have a tough time resigning stud wide receiver Dez Bryant and the NFL’s best running back in 2014-15, DeMarco Murray. And, as McShay points out, the priority will likely go toward signing the 26-year-old freak-of-an-athlete Bryant instead of the 27-year-old Murray who has a history of injury problems.
Murray was stellar in 2014-15, but he had the added benefit of running behind one of (if not) the best offensive lines in the league. In this scenario, Dallas would be betting that they can get reasonable production out of a draft pick (Gordon, particularly) and a veteran signing for much cheaper than what Murray will demand in free agency.
This would be a win-win situation for Gordon and the Cowboys. Dallas gets a productive, explosive back and can resign their top wide receiver, and Gordon gets to start his career behind a top-notch NFL offensive line that includes a former teammate, Travis Frederick.
In this mock, McShay has Gordon going four spots ahead of Todd Gurley, who he projects at number 31 to the Seattle Seahawks. McShay’s first mock, released in December, had Gordon landing at number 23 to the Baltimore Ravens.
McShay ranks Gordon his number 15 overall prospect in version nine of his top 32 prospects (Insider subscription required). Todd Gurley is ranked 23.
Next: ESPN – Mel Kiper Jr.