Melvin Gordon Says Chargers Teammates 'Got My Back' in Contract Holdout

Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon says he has the support of his teammates during his contract holdout.

"They're all behind me. They all got my back," he told ESPN. "They all told me you know what—we don't really speak on contracts—but you just go and do what's best for your family. And I'm glad I got that support from them."

"A lot of running backs have reached out to me just saying go out and get what you deserve," Gordon said. "A lot. A lot of starters. A lot, a lot of backs."

Gordon, 26, has emerged as one of the best backs in football. Last season he rushed for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns in 12 games, adding 50 receptions for another 490 yards and four scores.

He has averaged 65.9 rushing yards, 3.3 receptions, 28.6 receiving yards and 0.6 touchdowns per game in his career. Over a 16-game season, that averages out to 1,054 yards, 53 receptions, 458 receiving yards and almost 10 total touchdowns.

Gordon made $10.6 million in his first four seasons and will play this year on a $5.6 million fifth-year team option. To put that in perspective, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott—who also may hold out this summer—will have made $24.9 million on the first four years of his contract and will make $9 million in the 2020 season on his fifth-year team option.

Gordon has been an absolute bargain, and it isn't surprising to see him seek a lucrative extension this summer, especially since the Chargers could use the franchise tag on him after the season.

But the running back position has been severely undervalued in the modern NFL, the primary factor working against Gordon. Todd Gurley's average salary of $14.3 million is tops among running backs but just 62nd in the NFL, per Spotrac.

If Gordon takes his holdout into the 2019 season, he would be following the playbook of Le'Veon Bell, who sat out the entirety of the 2018 campaign.

"I'm prepared to do what I got to do, but like I said, I hope it doesn't come to that," he said.

If Gordon does hold out into the season, Justin Jackson and Austin Ekeler are the Chargers options at running back.