NFL analyst thinks Melvin Gordon and the Steelers are a good fit

A prominent NFL analyst recently wrote about why Chargers free agent running back Melvin Gordon makes sense on the Steelers. Is this scenario possible?

The Steelers are about to enter the 2020 free agency period with a lot of unanswered questions. With Javon Hargrave recently inking a deal to make the infamous Drew Rosenhaus his agent, we can assume he will not return to Pittsburgh this season. However, there are plenty of other areas of concern.

Bud Dupree is seeking a lucrative new deal and it will be interesting to see whether or not the Steelers can meet his demands. The hard part with all of this is that Pittsburgh is currently 30th in the NFL in cap space with less than $1.5 million to spare, according to Over the Cap. Fortunately, there are several easy cuts the Steelers could make to free up cap space in a hurry.

Recently, Gil Brant of NFL.com comprised a list of his top ten free agency fits. Number two on his list was Melvin Gordan and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s what Brant had to say:

"2) Melvin Gordon, RB: Pittsburgh SteelersThe Steelers (currently projected to have less than $2 million in cap space, per Over The Cap) might not be able to afford Gordon, who, at any rate, has publicly said he wants to stick with the Chargers. Still, it’s not hard to see Gordon ending up elsewhere, given the way last year’s holdout unfolded. Running back Le’Veon Bell’s absence in Pittsburgh over the past two seasons (as a holdout in 2018 and as a signee with the Jets in ’19) left a void that James Conner and others haven’t really been able to fill. The Steelers have a strong defense (ranking fifth in 2019) and a quarterback who is coming off a major elbow injury and turning 38 in March. Adding Gordon, who is a talented ball carrier and would mesh very well with Pittsburgh’s M.O. of releasing the ball to the running back coming out of the backfield, would surely help Ben Roethlisberger and Co. make the most out of their remaining window."

Brant believes that Gordon’s presence on the Steelers would “surely help out Ben Roethlisberger” and it’s not hard to understand why. When healthy, Gordon is one of the best all-around running backs in the league with his ability to win as a runner, pass protector, and receiver. In 2018, Gordon graded out as one of the NFL’s best backs with an 83.4 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

Gordon would instantly jump into a key role as the feature back on Pittsburgh’s offense – bumping the often-injured James Conner to a complementary role. The two-time Pro Bowl running back should immediately help improve the rushing attack and would give the Steelers some much-needed depth at the position.

While it’s fun to entertain Brant’s perfect fit, this is a hypothetical scenario that is very unlikely to unfold. With the Steelers being so tight against the cap ceiling, they will likely attempt to clear some space and use the remaining money to retain Bud Dupree. Mike Tomlin expressed earlier this offseason that Dupree’s extension was indeed a priority. In addition, Pittsburgh will need to find enough money left over to sign their 2020 rookie draft class before the start of the season.

Because of a severe lack of finances, Pittsburgh’s best option may be to look to address the running back position early in the NFL Draft. There are several solid prospects who could come in and compete with Conner for snaps from day one.

Seeing Gordon in a Steelers uniform would be nice, but it’s hard to invest that type of money into a free agent running back with so many other positions that need to be addressed. Let’s hope the Steeles are wise with their free-agent decisions in 2020.