The Winners and Losers of Round 1 of the NFL Draft

Winners: Melvin Gordon Goes to the Chargers at 15th

When I was in Draft Town and Selection Square in downtown Chicago on Thursday night, the cries of "L.T., L.T., L.T.!" by San Diego Chargers fans rang out across the night sky. The Chargers swapped up two picks in order to guarantee that they got their man, but when the dust cleared, it was all worth it. Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin Badgers running back, became the heir apparent to the legendary LaDainian Tomlinson and the above-average Ryan Mathews midway through the first round of the draft. You could see the giddiness on his face when his name was called.

Should fans and fantasy owners be just as giddy about his prospects?

Our own Joe Juan broke down Gordon's fit with the Bolts.

Melvin Gordon's arrival in San Diego instantly solves the problems the Chargers have had at this position ever since LaDainian Tomlinson left for New York. An instant upgrade to undersized Branden Oliver and veteran Donald Brown, Gordon not only brings to San Diego a three-down back to anchor the offense to, he also provides a big play ability ability that this team has been sorely lacking as of late. And running behind three large bulldozers in Orlando Franklin, King Dunlap, and D.J. Fluker, Gordon will get more than his fair share of chances to show opposing linebackers and safeties what he's got under his sleeve.

Perhaps the most interesting thing is that, by our READ metric, which provides historical prospect comparisons based on NFL Combine production and team situation, Gordon's best comps are Giovani Bernard, Alfred Morris, and a bit lower DeMarco Murray, Matt Forte, and Marshawn Lynch. All of these players have been productive in the NFL, and some feature backs. For Gordon, the prospects certainly look as bright as his smile did on Thursday.