Pre-Combine NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Melvin Gordon Should Hear His Name Early
By Jim Oxley
ESPN – Mel Kiper Jr.
In Mel Kiper Jr.’s Mock Draft 2.0 (Insider subscription required), Gordon is tabbed as the number 17 overall pick to the San Diego Chargers.
Wisconsin Badgers
The Chargers backfield was a rotating cast pf players last season. Soon-to-be free agent Ryan Mathews and recent signee Donald Brown each missed time with injuries, and undrafted free agent Branden Oliver saw the most carries on the season. Ronnie Brown and Danny Woodhead are also in the mix, but the Chargers will be looking for stability, and could find it with Gordon.
Mathews has struggled for years with injuries, something Kiper isn’t too worried about with Gordon.
“He was simply unstoppable even when everybody in the stadium knew he was getting the ball in 2014, and while he piled up the reps, he emerged healthy.”
Kiper moved Gordon up several places in his second mock, as in his first he had projected Gordon number 24 overall to the Arizon Cardinals. Kiper ranks Gordon number 11 on his big board (Insider subscription required), and he’s the only running back in Kiper’s top 25.