The Denver Broncos are expected to let Melvin Gordon hit free agency, but could bring back a familiar hometown kid.
Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon had been a solid option for the last two seasons. He accumulated 1,904 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns and added 60 receptions for 371 yards and three touchdowns in that time.
Now it appears the team is letting him hit free agency.
The Broncos are going to need to find another running back. They drafted Javonte Williams in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft but questions remain about his readiness. Who should the team pair with Williams for 2022?
Let me bring back a familiar name: Phillip Lindsay.
Lindsay reached 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first two years in the league but fell out of favor to Melvin Gordon in 2022. He left in free agency for the Houston Texans almost a year ago to the day, but was cut in the middle of that season and signed with the Miami Dolphins.
Lindsay could thrive in Nathaniel Hackett’s offensive scheme. The Broncos re-signed fullback/tight end Andrew Beck on Sunday, implying that they’ll use him as a hybrid player, including that fullback position.
When Lindsay ran for 1,000 yards to begin his career, the Broncos had Andy Janovich at the fullback position. This could be a similar situation with Andrew Beck.
The move to let Gordon hit free agency also implies that the Broncos have a plan. I previously took a look at some running back options the Broncos could sign if Gordon did in fact leave in free agency.
With the Packers, Hackett had a star running back in Aaron Jones, who has had two 1,000-yard seasons.
Maybe Lindsay is something the Broncos need going forward in Hackett’s system. It could be a fun experiment on a cheap, short-term deal.
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Lindsay’s usage with the Broncos was damaged with Gordon in the mix, but with Gordon expected to be gone, Lindsay is someone the Denver Broncos should take a look at.