Report: Former Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon in discussions with talented AFC team

Melvin Gordon could be close to finding a new home.

Gordon is in talks with the Baltimore Ravens on a potential contract, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He played the last two years with the Denver Broncos after five years with the Los Angeles chargers.

Last season, Gordon started all 16 games for the Broncos, taking 203 carries for 918 yards and eight touchdowns while splitting time with Javonte Williams. He entered free agency after the season, and now could be looking at a move to Baltimore to join forces with Lamar Jackson.

Before heading to the NFL, Gordon starred for Wisconsin from 2011-14. His best season came as a senior in 2014 when he rushed for 2,587 yards and 29 touchdowns en route to Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors. The Chargers then drafted him as the No. 15 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

The Ravens were decimated by injuries in the backfield last year. Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins both went down with season-ending injuries during training camp, and Baltimore turned to Devonta Freeman and Latavius Murray to fill those voids. The duo combined for 1,077 yards and 11 touchdowns to help lead the Ravens’ rushing attack.

Report: Baltimore Ravens sign John Harbaugh to contract extension

Last month, the Baltimore Ravens signed head coach John Harbaugh to a three-year contract extension, per ESPN reporter Jamison Hensley. Harbaugh was set to enter the final year of his original deal, so the extension keeps him with the team through 2025.

Having coached the Ravens since 2008, Harbaugh is the third-longest tenured active NFL coach behind Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin. He has compiled a 137-88 record in that span, leading Baltimore to nine playoff appearances and one Super Bowl in 2012 against the San Francisco 49ers who were coached by his brother, Jim, at the time. His regular season winning of .609 ranks the ninth-best among active coaches. He is just the third head coach in the history of the franchise, which was established in 1996.

Harbaugh got the Ravens off to an 8-3 start in the 2021 season, but the team struggled after star quarterback Lamar Jackson suffered an ankle injury to lose its final six games and miss the postseason. That was the longest losing streak in the Harbaugh era and just the second losing season under his watch. With Jackson having time to rehab this offseason and Harbaugh now locked up long term, Baltimore will aim to get back to the playoffs in 2022.