Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon was open to the idea of joining the Houston Texans early in the holdout process.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is expected to make his return to the team this week but is not likely to play as he works his way back into the Chargers’ plan for the rest of the season. However, his return isn’t without an impressive report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, who reported that Gordon was open to being traded to the Houston Texans during his holdout for a better contract.
Was told Melvin Gordon was open to being traded to the Houston Texans early in the process, but the Chargers never really made trading Gordon to any team a viable option. Only choice was to report eventually, accrue the season toward free agency.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 26, 2019
Gordon’s interest in Houston isn’t necessarily groundbreaking as Texans had substantial cap space to give him a deal that was suited to what he wanted to earn in his next contract, but the Texans were short in assets as they worked to land other players via trade.
Texans ended up with Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, Duke Johnson, and Carlos Hyde in exchange for two first-rounders, second-round draft choice, a conditional third-round selection, and Martinas Rankin. A player of Gordon’s caliber would have been intriguing to acquire, but his price tag could have been too steep for multiple teams if Chargers had decided to field offers.
It made sense for the Texans to inquire of Gordon’s availability after losing Lamar Miller for the season, but they have managed to find a talented duo of backs in Hyde and Johnson. It will be interesting to see if the Texans pursue Gordon once he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2020.