Should the Detroit Lions add Melvin Gordon or Le’Veon Bell?

The Detroit Lions could be a team actively searching to add a running back before the 4 pm trade deadline today.  Which big-name back best fits in Detroit?

Should the Detroit Lions consider brining in Le’Veon Bell or Melvin Gordon?  News broke earlier today that the New York Jets would be shopping their franchise back in hopes of dealing him.  It’s a very odd situation in New York.

Sam Darnold contracted mono, and that essentially ended the Jets season after week one.  The logic behind the signing of Bell was fine, although he spent a year holding out, looking for a new contract as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jet’s wanted to take some pressure off of their young quarterback with a franchise runner.

The problem is, it’s hard to jump right back into the league after missing that much time, especially as a running back where timing is critical.  Then trying to learn a new scheme on a new team can be worrisome.  Plus, the Jet’s are not a good football team.

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It doesn’t help that the Jets hired a new head coach in Adam Gase, who exclaimed he didn’t back the free-agent splash signing. When your head coach doesn’t feel your skill-set fits his system, that all but signaled the beginning of the end.  Here we are, deadline day, and Le’Veon Bell is available.

With the Detroit Lions placing their lead back Kerryon Johnson on IR-R, should they consider trading for the former Michigan State Spartan standout?  As much as I think Bell is a game-changing talent, he’s just too expensive for the Lions to consider.  Bell is averaging a career-low 3.2 yards per carry this season with the New York Jets.  His 5.8 yards per catch is also a career-low. Proceed with caution.

The Detroit Lions have recently made their all-pro corner Darius Slay available for a very expensive price.  Why would they trade one of their best defensive players while their defense continues to struggle, in turn, bringing in an expensive running back?  It just wouldn’t make sense.

Bell is due $13,125,000 on average until 2023. That is a plethora of money for a back that is turning 28-years old in January.  Look around the league, Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon are seemingly regressing.  Gordon is due for a new contract, and the Chargers were reluctant to sign him to a massive deal.  The Chargers have the money to give Gordon an extension yet didn’t.  The Chargers remain open to dealing their former franchise back who is only 26-years old but seems to have the tread flying off his tires.

Through his first four games of the season, Gordon is only averaging 2.5 yards per carry with the Chargers.  He’s also fumbled the football twice, which is as much as the previous two seasons combined.  Melvin is only averaging 3.4 yards per reception, similar to Bell; both rushing/receiving averages are career lows. Again, proceed with caution.  Don’t add a player just for the name on his jersey. It needs to make sense.

In today’s NFL, franchises are choosing to use a running back by committee philosophy, and I don’t think that’s a bad approach.  The one difference between adding Melvin Gordon over Bell today is that Gordon is a pure rental.

He’s only making around $4.6 million this season, and the Chargers have already paid half.  He’s set to become a free agent at seasons’ end.  If the Lions are set on adding a running back with plenty of upside to see if they can get themselves back into contention within the NFC North Gordon is the better business choice.

As the clock strikes closer to 4 pm, the asking price could drop some on Gordon, and Detroit should continue to keep tabs on that.  If they can acquire Gordon for a third-round pick, it would be a very reasonable acquisition.

Remember, it’s difficult to add a good player without giving up something.  Giving away a third-round pick for a rental isn’t ideal, especially when you don’t currently sit in a playoff position, but if Detroit feels he’d correct the run game, it would be a valuable move.