The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a one-year deal with veteran rusher and former Super Bowl champion Melvin Gordon III ahead of training camp, scheduled to start on Tuesday, July 25.
Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the news, adding that Gordon and the Flock agreed to sign a deal "worth up to $3.1 million."
A RB deal: Veteran free-agent Melvin Gordon reached agreement today on a one-year deal worth up to $3.1 million with the Baltimore Ravens, per league source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 21, 2023
Whether this deal ends up materializing in terms of MG3 playing any actual snaps for the Ravens or not come regular-season play is still unknown.
That's because the Ravens' running back depth chart currently boasts three players clearly ahead of Gordon in the pecking order, not to mention a fourth one in UDFA Keaton Mitchell who will also fight for a role in the rotation through training camp.
Gordon last "played" for the Kansas City Chiefs on his way to becoming a Super Bowl Champ... without ever touching the rock or appearing in a single game. The truth, obviously, is that Gordon really last played for the Denver Broncos last year until he was waved having played 10 games for the Colorado franchise.
The fact that Gordon never played for KC, even through a deep postseason run, raised questions about Gordon's health and playability going forward. Welp, here are the Ravens to try and revitalize his career in 2023.
J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards the clear go-to rushers of the Ravens squad right now and will surely take on RB1 and RB2 roles next season.
Justice Hill, even though the clear third-string rusher of the team, should retain that role if nothing happens to any of the two players above him when it comes to staying healthy. Keywords: staying healthy.
Dobbins and Edwards have had their fair share of injuries in the past, so it's reasonable for Baltimore to at least explore the currently depressed and cheap running market in order to find a bargain, which they did by signing Gordon to a one-year pact.
Last year, Gordon rushed for 3.5 yards per carry last season before getting cut, but he was coming off back-to-back years in Denver in which he put up 986 and 918 total rushing yards averaging a much better 4.6 and 4.5 Y/A respectively.
Here's hoping MG3 can regain his mojo and return to his peak days in Maryland.